Bowden family won't go gently into that good night

By: By Ray Glier | THE NEW YORK TIMES
Published: August 30, 2009

The Bowden brand is tattered these days, left nicked and scarred by the turmoil that can come with coaching college football.

Bobby Bowden, the Florida State football coach who is second on the career list for major-college victories behind Penn State's Joe Paterno, could be stripped of 14 wins by the NCAA, pending an appeal, because of an academic scandal.

His son Tommy resigned from Clemson in the middle of last season. His brother Terry was snubbed by his alma mater, West Virginia, when he pursued the coaching job there after the 2007 season, which was taken as a sign that the Bowden coaching tree had wilted.

There was disgrace when disgruntled boosters forced Jeff Bowden, another of Bobby's sons, to resign as the offensive coordinator at Florida State in 2006. His father's clout could not save him.

All that seems to remain is the gong to be wheeled out to get the family off the stage. They just won't go quietly.

"This game ain't over yet," said Terry Bowden, whose first season as the head coach of Division II North Alabama began last night at Southern Arkansas. "There is nothing less important in life than the score at halftime. Well, it's halftime with the Bowden family. I'm ready for the second half, and dad has a finish on his career that has yet to be written."

He added: "Who else has three family members that coached teams that were undefeated in Division I? Who else had a father-son coach at the same time, or coach against each other? Nobody, and they never will. Who has 70 years of head coaching in one family and 500-and-something wins? Darn it, heck with y'all."

Terry Bowden, 53, spent 10 seasons as a college-football TV and radio analyst before being named the North Alabama coach on Jan. 1 with a $100,000-a-year salary. His last coaching job was at Auburn, where he was 47-17-1 from 1993 to 1998, including 11-0 in 1993.

When the Tigers started 1-5 in 1998, influential boosters pressed for Bowden's ouster.

North Alabama is not a novelty item, something to be used merely as a steppingstone back to the game's highest reaches. The Lions have won three Division II national championships and have been to the playoffs 14 times, including the past four seasons.

UNA has hosted the Division II national title since 1986, and, considering the talent Bowden has amassed in his eight months on the job, North Alabama could welcome the title game in December -- and be its guest of honor.

Bowden has signed 25 Division I transfers to help make up for the loss of 15 starters from last year's 12-2 team.

Defensive end Brandon Fanney started at linebacker for Alabama in 2008, but he transferred after disagreements with the coaching staff. Quinton Andrews, a three-year starter at defensive back for West Virginia, transferred to North Alabama after some contentious seasons in Morgantown. Quarterback Harrison Beck transferred from N.C. State after he was nudged out as the starter.

Seven transfers are on the roster from Florida State alone, including Preston Parker, a leading receiver for the Seminoles in 2008. He was dismissed from Florida State after being arrested and charged with driving under the influence. That came after an arrest on drug and weapons charges prompted a two-game suspension to start the season.

"We didn't invent the idea of kids transferring down to Division II from Division I," Terry Bowden said.