Terry Bowden reveals what made his father Bobby Bowden special

College football coaching legend Bobby Bowden passed away last year and brought many current and former coaches, players and fans together to remember his life and impact on those he met. With his family legacy still present in the coaching world thanks to his son Terry, the stories of Bobby Bowden continue to spread after his death.

During an appearance on the Paul Finebaum Show, Terry Bowden spoke about what made his father, Bobby Bowden, special, reflecting on the years he spent watching him lead football teams to success.

“I think most importantly, the thing that differentiates, he never let his spiritual life separate from his professional life,” said Bowden. “He won’t be known for the most wins – although he was close – definitely not the most championships, but the most spiritual impact on student-athletes over the last 55, 50 years.

“I think that’s what most of his players, most of those who spoke about him – like Deion (Sanders), like Charlie Ward, Warrick Dunn, Derrick Brooks, Mark Richt – they spoke about the spiritual impact he had on them. I think that’s what differentiates him, and I think that’s what he would want to differentiate him is that he never let his spiritual life take backseat to his professional life.”

Paul Finebaum then went on to joke about his recollection of a church service where Bobby Bowden spoke, then laughing with Terry about his past and how he now appreciates his father’s approach.

Bobby Bowden on his legacy

In 2009, Mike Freeman wrote BOWDEN – How Bobby Bowden Forged a College Football Dynasty. In it, Bobby Bowden detailed how we wanted to be remembered.

“A lot of people in the past have asked me what about my legacy,” Bowden shared with Freeman.  “I’ve said this and that and I don’t like talking about it all that much, but I answer the question the best I can.  I want people to say, ‘He was one of the best.’ Not the best.  Just one of the best.  I want people to say I didn’t cheat.  We made some mistakes here, but I never had a win-at-all-costs mentality.  We had that dadgum Free Shoes University thing, but we didn’t know what the players were doing and anyone who says we did isn’t telling the truth.  I would’ve rather lost than be seen as a guy who won and cheated.  I guess I want my legacy to be we won and we mostly won the right way, and along the way, people had fun, and I treated people with respect and decency.  I was something Florida State could be proud of.  They’d say, ‘That dadgum Bowden was a good guy.’  That’s how I hope I’ll be remembered.”