Coach Bowden Is FSU, Not Jim Smith

This is being written from a former players prospective. I had the pleasure and good fortune to be part of the Seminole building program in the early 80's. Back when we were trying to establish a winning tradition and put FSU on the map from a RESPECT and finacial standpoint. I am and always will be proud of what has been accomplished by the Seminole Nation with Coach Bowden at the wheel.

I have to say it deeply saddens me to see a man that has given so much of himself and his life to current and former players, boosters, and to the university that a chairman thinks he has to air his dirty laundry in the media to cash in on his fifteen minutes of fame. I sure hope Jim Smith never goes through a rough patch in his life and someone close to him reports it to the media.

Lets look at the scoreboard for last 30-plus years:

Bobby Bowden:                                                 University/ Board of Directors:

Winning Tradition                                        Spend money

National respect                                         Raise tuition

Two National Championships                         Raise booster donation prices

Several top ten recuiting classes                   Cut booster ticket allocations

Booster & Donation growth

Consecative bowl games

TV revenue

New Stadium and Field House

.....etc....etc....etc

I WAS a season ticket holder and booster from 1982 through 2005. Thats when the Unviresity decided to double donation requirments and reduce the number tickets from 6 to 4. This was due to the fact that had new boosters that wanted better seats. Not much consideration for long time Seminole boosters. I wonder where these come to the party late boosters are now. Treating long term Seminoles in an appaulling manner seems to be a pattern in the Seminoles recent history (last 5 to 6 years). I would say this and the economy have more to do with fund raising being down than more than Coach Bowden.

Coach Bowden said something to the TEAM my freshman year that made a lot sense then and still does in today's enviroment: " It only takes one cock roach to fall in the batch of soup to ruin the whole thing". I wonder who the cock roach could possibly be in this development.  

Jim Smith made some comments to the media that he should have never made and he may want to reconsider.