When Steve Spurrier was racking up SEC titles at Florida, the banter between the Head Ball Coach and Bobby Bowden was priceless. Spurrier’s shots were a bit more direct and harsh, while Saint Bobby would rely more on subtlety and the Southern “dab-nabbit” role.
It was tit-for-tat, and we all loved it.
Two coaches of hated rivals—drastically different in style and approach—running an on and off the field feud all season until the end-of-the-year game of bragging rights would settle the score.
But times change.
While Spurrier’s and Bowden’s teams from the past would typically be competing for a national title, both coaches are now struggling to compete even in their conference races.
Spurrier’s challenge at tradition-poor South Carolina is certainly an uphill battle, but his team has taken steps each year toward being competitive each week in the tough SEC. This upcoming season looks to have promise.
Meanwhile, it appears that while Bowden’s team was headed in the right direction after a new set of coaches came on board, but now FSU’s uphill journey just got a lot harder.
As if last season’s test scandal and consequent suspensions weren’t ugly enough, now there's more. Preston Parker, the team’s MVP, was arrested on charges of carrying a concealed .45-caliber pistol and a small amount of marijuana.
Marijuana is nothing new to college football, but the handgun charge is a felony. That is serious business, even at the professional level.
FSU’s athletic department policy states that athletes charged with felonies "will not be permitted to represent FSU Athletics in game competition until such time as the charge is resolved and all court, university and athletics department conditions for reinstatement have been met."
Allegedly, Parker admitted the gun was his. If this is the case, it likely signals Parker’s last day as a Seminole.
Even for a program historically known for being less than strict with its troubled players, the decision seems like an easy one. Parker has to go.
Consider that effects of the cheating scandal are still ongoing, as those players—roughly a dozen of them, including six starters—are suspended for the first three games of the upcoming season. Can Florida State’s image really survive if they don’t send Parker packing?
And if the school isn’t willing to part ways with Parker, then someone needs to leave.
Say, for example, Bobby Bowden.
Comments (13) Add a comment »
from 18 days ago
I am not certain how you equate Bobby Bowden needing to leave on account of Preston's situation. None of this had anything to do with FSU or Bobby Bowden per se. Also, I guess I am not quite sure where you are getting this idea that FSU has been lenient with its players in the past. For a big time program, like FSU -- I'd say they've been pretty strict when an issue came up -- even dismissing key players off the team.
from 18 days ago
"None of this had anything to do with FSU or Bobby Bowden per se."
Parker plays for FSU, right? And Bowden is his coach, right? What am I missing?
I would love to hear some of the key players FSU has dismissed, though, and please don't include Randy Moss since he never actually played for the team.
from 17 days ago
"I would love to hear some of the key players FSU has dismissed"
Jared Jones, Laveraneus Coles, Adrian McPherson, Wyatt Sexton, A.J. Nicholson, Fred Rouse...to name a few. Those are the only ones I can think of right off the top of my head, and all those were booted within the last 8 seasons. All of those names should be familiar if you know anything about Seminole football.
All were starters except for Jones. He was the incumbent after the Chris Weinke run, serving as his understudy for 2 years. Jones was one of the top High School QB's in the country in 1997, and was highly touted. He got booted in the Spring of 2001, leaving the door open for freshman Chris Rix to become the starter. The rest is (horrendous) history.
Bowden has always taken the hush-hush route when dismissing kids. There are quite a few more from the 80's and 90's, but I can't recall who they were.
from 17 days ago
Yes I understand Preston plays (played) for FSU. But, what I meant was this didn't happen under Bowden's supervision (unless you are thinking the coach and staff have got to follow each of the players around until they are officially in the NFL), didn't happen while he was in pads or during practice, heck it didn't happen at FSU -- much less Tallahassee. So, how is this Bowden's responsibility? I mean football season is over/not yet begun. Its not quite the same if you know what I mean.... In any case, FSU's policy is as follows (quotes from Nolesports.com):
...A student-athlete charged with a felony is barred from participating in games until "such time as the charge is resolved and all court, university, and athletic department conditions for reinstatement have been met" according to the FSU Athletics Code of Conduct/Discipline Policy...
Bowden has no say whatsoever with this sort of stuff. I just didn't think it was right that you incorporated Bowden into this whole thing. What was he suppose to be doing to prevent this or deal with this? Its totally out of his hands (as it should be).
from 17 days ago
Your boy Tony walked into the trap. Look at the list of hooligans Bowden has brought in--and so many more have survived rather than getting the ax.
Coles, despite multiple arrests, made it to his senior year. After the Dillard's incident (grand theft), they had to let him go. Peter Warrick, the better WR and in on Dillard's-Gate as well, somehow made it to the end of the year.
Nicholson and Rouse broke into a TEAMMATE's apartment and stole stuff.
McPherson and Sexton: Neither started for an entire season and neither proved their worth, and McPherson racked up 2 arrests in the little time he was there (one for gambling), while Sexton flipped out on drugs and called himself God at Bonarroo...I'd say he kicked himself off the team.
Let's just not pretend a coach isn't linked to his players just because it's the offseason.
from 17 days ago
Tim, I can see based on your articles that you have a broad range of sports opinions. But, I am wondering if perhaps you have a major gap in your understanding of what FSU football is all about. I assure you I am not pretending anything and Tony is "not my boy".
I am not denying that Bowden is linked to his players (when it comes to football). But, you are making a hasty generalization that every aspect of an athlete's life is fully accountable to his coach throughout the whole year. Perhaps the one point you could argue with regards to Bowden is that he obviously was a key participant in their recruitment (and thats a whole another topic if you want to hash that one out). But, just like the fans, he suffers just like we do (maybe even more so) when a recruit doesn't turn out to meet expectations. Certainly there are consequences to a player's actions that the FSU Athletics Dept is obligated to act upon. And to my knowledge -- they do take action (very quickly).
That said, I know Bowden and his staff take each incident very seriously and while I suspect you will scrutinize the fact that they are committed to reviewing each one case by case -- they do so for two reasons: 1) the obvious one is that FSU has invested money, time, and energy in bringing that player to the school -- so it is natural that they try and see if outright dismissal from the team can be avoided -- afterall this is a nationally recognized program that is considered extremely competitive. Every recruit matters. We don't have to go into the pressures of what that entails. 2) the not so obvious one is that Bowden tries to take each player under his wing and does try to find something redeemable in each player -- if anything to help them develop above and beyond their present situation. If he can grant them a 2nd chance -- he will -- but not solely because its good for the team if the player can still play -- but because being a man of faith, he does generally care about those kids and wants to see them succeed -- even in the midst of failures. And he'll continue to try and save these kids -- even under the intense and sometimes harsh scrutiny of the public spotlight. Still, I have yet to hear Bowden get in the way of authorities or the NCAA and I think he understands the boundaries that are set for him. And, yes he will dismiss players from the team as quickly as you can say "I'm sorry." if he has no other options.
All of this becomes pretty evident if you've read his biography or you get a glimpse of the classiness when you watch movies like "We Are Marshall".
from 17 days ago
I think what Tim is saying is that Bowden in some respects is responsible to what his athletes do away from the field. Look at other D1 programs around the country. Even in the same state. How many players have USC or Florida or Texas kicked off of their teams in the past 10 years. And on the reverse of that look at Tennessee.
I'd put Phil in the same boat as Bobby and make the claim that they're both out of touch with their players and don't have a firm grasp on the program. It’s a yearly incident that someone is getting the boot at one or both of those programs.
Bobby doesn't call plays and doesn't coach defense. He even has a hard time with his player’s names at times. I think we all remember about "give the ball to #9". But if he isn't filling the coaching rolls, and he can't keep his kids from getting into trouble, then what purpose does he serve at the university. The team isn't nearly as good as they once were and the program gets more and more tarnished every time something like this happens.
The point is that when players at one particular school are making monumental mistakes; things that get them released from their scholarships and kicked out of school time and time again, don't you think it has something to do with the leadership they follow. Bobby isn't cutting it any more. It's time for him to go.
from 16 days ago
I understand your point. I think there are many factors involved with FSU's fall from the ultra-elite... I guess an argument could be made that Coach Bowden is "out of touch" -- but unless you know something I don't -- I think thats more speculative than anything else.
To me a better assessment of FSU's situation and why it is in the state it is in was something Pete Fiutak wrote last year for collegefootballnews.com.
The link can be found here:
http://cfn.scout.com/2/686491.html
from 16 days ago
Glad to know people are arguing about who's "boy" I am...
I walked into a trap? That's funny. There's no shame on my part mentioning names of kids who have been kicked off the FSU football team.
Kids get in trouble at nearly EVERY SCHOOL in the US. It's how the coaches and administrators deal with those infractions that tell the true tale.
So yes, all those kids I mentioned got kicked off the team.
Now, let me turn the table here a bit. In 2007, 8 Gator football players were arrested between March and October. 8 players arrested in 9 months, and at least 1 of them (Tony Joiner) was charged with a felony. How many of those players got kicked off the Gator football team?
It's how the school deals with the situation that counts, as far as I'm concerned. FSU kicks kids off the team (and out of school) when they get arrested and charged with major crimes. Other schools (like UF) do not.
from 16 days ago
I'll tell you what the REAL problem here is, and it's nationwide. It's RECRUITING.
Coaching staffs are placing too much emphasis on 40 times, arm strength and agility, rather than on CHARACTER. Schools are bringing in football players who are prone to getting into trouble because they are focusing solely on their ability on the field.
Unfortunately, they have 18-20 hours a day when they are NOT on the football field, and this is where the problem lies.
from 16 days ago
Tony, to your first comment, I'd say take off your Seminole goggles and realize that pretty much everyone outside of Tally sees FSU as a program extremely lenient with its players.
But please be more specific with your assessment of the UF players and the way their coaching staff deals with them. You only mentioned one player, and that guy's felony charge was dismissed.
To your second comment, I couldn't agree more.
from 16 days ago
Seminole Goggles?! That's a good one. I hope you don't mind if I use that in an editorial someday...
I don't want to raise any banter about which school has the most thugs. The fact is, all three FL schools have a few. Can't hide the fact that quite a few Seminoles make the news for the wrong reasons.
But talking about leniency: everyone seems to forget that down at UM, Andre Johnson was caught cheating on final exams two semesters in a row, and the only punishment he got was a suspension from the team...for the month of June. And how many UM players got kicked off the team that took part in that brawl with FIU? Answer: not nearly as many as got kicked off FIU's team.
I agree with you 100%. All I'm saying is, don't put the spotlight on Bobby B and the FSU program like the "absurdities" going on there are completely alien to other programs. For every FSU-type program, there's a program out there covering up it's players' infractions (like Antwain Easterling's incident at Miami Northwestern)...
from 6 days ago
"You only mentioned one player, and that guy's felony charge was dismissed."
So by your logic, if Preston's felony charge is dismissed, is all forgiven?
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