The WVU Chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes will honor former WVU Coach Bobby Bowden at its Night of Champions Dinner April 8 at the Waterfront Marriott. As the keynote speaker, Bowden will be inducted into the WVU FCA Legacy of Champions.
From Birmingham, Bowden played quarterback at the University of Alabama before transferring to Howard College (now Samford University) where he captained the football team. Married to his high school sweetheart Ann Estock, the couple had six children, thus creating the Bowden Dynasty with sons Tommy, Terry and Jeff coaching college football.
Prior to becoming the legendary head coach of Florida State University from 1976-2009 and one of the winningest coaches in major college football history, Bowden coached at WVU from 1970-1975. It was there that he experienced two of his most vivid memories. Both involved the Backyard Brawl—the loss to Pitt in 1970 and the win over Pitt in 1975.
The iconic coach has received numerous awards—such as the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year, the Walter Camp Coach of the Year, and the United States Sports Academy’s Amos Alonzo Stagg Coaching Award. Other honors carry his name-- the Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award and the field at the Doak Campbell Stadium at Florida State.
A co-author of several books and an inductee into the College Hall of Fame, Bowden has repeatedly stated that his faith and family have always been most important to him. It was not unusual for him to teach Sunday School during football season. Because of his philanthropic efforts, FCA recognized him with the Children's Champion Award for Leadership Development in 2011.
Described as a “committed Christian who credits his success in football to his faith,”
Bowden said, “I really believe God called on me to coach, and that is the reason I stayed in it for so long.”
And he is proud that so many players he coached became ministers.
Tickets are still available for the event and may be obtained on the WVU FCA website or by contacting Teresa Igono at 301.873.5539 or tigono@fca.org.