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National Notebook
Thursday, September 7
Bowden doesn't like what happens after retirement



There are 21 grandchildren to spoil, numerous golf courses to enjoy, and a wife who loves traveling the world. But Ann Bowden knows better. Her husband isn't stepping down anytime soon, even if this appears to be the perfect time.

When better for Bobby Bowden to call it a career than after his 24th Florida State team finally presented him with an unbeaten season, something he had never accomplished in 34 years as a major college head coach?

Bobby Bowden
Bobby Bowden has 304 career victories and two national titles.

When better for him to say goodbye than after his Seminoles notched their second national championship and continued an amazing string of 13 straight 10-victory seasons and top-four national finishes?

When better to call it a career than after running the NCAA's best bowl record to 17-5-1 and notching his 304th career victory?

"Bobby wanted this championship very much," said Ann, his wife of 50 years. "He wants another next year."

In other words, no retirement speeches are imminent. There is no better time, of course, but Bowden does not look at it that way.

"I'm not interested in riding off into the sunset," he said. "Where does a 70-year-old ride off to?"

Bowden still loves the chase. Even after his team's 46-29 victory over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl, he talked with eagerness about the coming recruiting season, filling holes left by stars from the championship team, contending for another title in 2000.

"You can bet your life we'll be striving to get it back," he said.

Bowden has his program on cruise control and is enjoying the view from on top. He takes his cat-naps and delegates authority to assistant coaches, challenging them but staying out of their way. He saves his pep talks for the right moments, knows just what to say to an eager recruit, charms his constituents along the way.

Many who catch Bowden from afar believe his act is phony. But it is no act. Bowden is as gracious to an unknown stranger as he is to the president of the United States. In fact, when President Clinton called the Florida State locker room on Tuesday night at the Superdome, Bowden greeted the leader of the free world with one of his classic quips: "Hey, how come you're not working tonight?"

No doubt, Bowden has faced his share of controversy over the years. There have been numerous scrapes with the law among his players, a highly-publicized agent scandal and plenty of knocks that Bowden is too soft. In fact, he is the first to admit that back when he started coaching at South Georgia College in 1955, he was far more strict than he is today.

But the mellower Bowden has simply adapted to the times. A history buff, Bowden knows that the militaristic ways of previous coaching legends no longer works. He believes in second chances, because where else is a player to go if he no longer has a football field to roam? Let the criticism come, says Bowden, as secure as any man in such a high pressure profession.

"When I'm not excited anymore, that's when I'll know to get out," said Bowden in answering a question he's heard for some 10 years.

He often jokes that "there's just one big event left after retirement," and that "I've seen too many people retire and die." Plus, he said. "I like that nice paycheck."

It is football, however, that keeps him coming back. Bowden told the story of his first year at South Georgia College, and how he lay awake the night of the game.

"I was just as excited (Tuesday) night as I was back then," he said. "I couldn't sleep any better. I don't know why I'm that way. I still have that fear of losing, that desire to win, that love for the game."

Bowden will quit when his health or his hunger wanes. He has nothing left to prove, but doesn't do this to prove anything. Bowden keeps coaching because that's what he does.

"We'll strut around for a week," he said. "Then get ready for another season."

Bob Harig, who covers college football for the St. Petersburg Times, writes a weekly college football column for ESPN.com.

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