FAREWELL, COACH BOWDEN

After 34 seasons at Florida State, head coach Bobby Bowden announced that the 2009 season would be his last. The Seminoles sent Bobby off in style, defeating No. 18 West Virginia in the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, 33-21. Finishing with 388 career victories (304 with FSU), Bowden remains the second-winningest coach in major college football history. FSU icon Deion Sanders remembered his coach fondly, saying, “It should be Bobby Bowden University because Florida State is Bobby Bowden. Bobby Bowden is Florida State.” In March 2010, the Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Award was introduced, to be presented annually to the nation’s best head coach.