Mike Norvell honors Bobby Bowden, speaks on his legacy at ACC Media Days

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell is fresh off of his best season to date with the Seminoles, as he looks to continue building on his legacy with the program ahead of his sixth season at the helm in Tallahassee.

But arguably the most prominent figure in Florida State’s football history with the strongest legacy is late head coach Bobby Bowden. Who Norvell honored during ACC Media Days in Charlotte on Monday with a Bowden Society tie. And when he took the podium, he spoke about the legendary former head coach’s legacy.

“Coach Bowden was just such a wonderful example for anybody that’s in coaching, college football as a whole, and just what he means and meant to Florida State in his time there leading the program,” Norvell said. “He’s such an icon for us.”

Bowden spent 34 consecutive seasons as the head coach for Florida State starting in 1976. Guiding the program from an independent powerhouse to the ACC where he led the Seminoles to 12 conference titles, two national championship wins, and 33 consecutive winning seasons.

His legacy off the field matched his success off the field, with numerous awards named after Bowden along with the field in Doak Campbell Stadium. With The Bowden Society representing the latest of his namesake follwoing his passing in 2021.

“I was fortunate to be able to get to know him when I first took the job and a little over a year ago we started The Bowden Society,” Norvell said. “It’s a special group of supporters that committed to continuing to push and elevate this program moving forward while representing you his legacy and the gift that he was for for FSU.”

“And so a year ago I wore this same tie and I’m going to continue to do so understanding the great responsibility that I have, and just so grateful for the position I hold to represent him and his honor.”

Bowden set the gold standard at Florida State that will nearly be impossible to match. But Norvell doing his best uphold that same standard both on and off the field is surely something the Bowden and other FSU legends would certainly be proud of. As Norvell will look to lead the Seminoles to their second straight ACC Championship win this upcoming and continue pushing the program forward in the right direction overall.