Former Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden Announces Terminal Diagnosis

Hall of Fame varsity football coach Bobby Bowden announced on Wednesday that he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

“I’ve always tried to serve God’s purpose for my life, on and off the pitch, and I’m ready for what’s to come,” Bowden said in a statement to news outlets, including The Associated Press. “My wife Ann and our family have been the greatest blessing in life. I am at peace. “

Bowden, 91, was hospitalized last October after testing positive for COVID-19. The positive test came days after returning home in Tallahassee after a long hospital stay with a leg infection. He did not disclose his condition in his statement.

During his 34 years of training at Florida State, Bowden amassed a record 315-98-4 and made the Seminoles a national powerhouse, winning 12 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships and National titles in 1993 and 1999. He won 357 games in his 40 years at college. coach and was selected for the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Bowden coached Florida State for 34 years and is second on the college football career winning list at 357, behind only the late Joe Paterno of Penn State. Its teams won the national championships in 1993 and 1999.