Well, it's official. After 34 seasons as Florida State University's head football coach, Bobby Bowden is calling it quits. Having been under pressure to retire for the past few seasons, Bowden feels that now is the right time to step down. I personally think that it's bad form on the part of FSU officials because honestly, where was the FSU football program prior to Bowden's arrival? When a program is lucky enough to have a leader like Bobby Bowden come along, you don't force him out because the going's been a little tough. Mind you, it hasn't been all that terrible. I'm sure Charlie Weis and Notre Dame fans would love to have to deal with the failure of 26 straight bowl games. Anyway, before I digress any further, here are 5 interesting facts about the man who built Florida State's football program.

1. Bobby Bowden started coaching the Florida State Seminoles in 1976, taking over for Darrell Mudra. The Seminoles had a 4-18 record in the two seasons prior to Bowden's arrival. In the 1976 season, the Seminoles went 5-6. It would be Bowden's only losing season at FSU.
2. Prior to Bobby Bowden's arrival, FSU football had a lifetime record of 150-130-13. Since Bowden took over 34 seasons ago, the Seminoles have gone 315-97-4. The Seminoles won as many games in Bowden's first 16 years as they won in the 29 seasons prior to his arrival.
3. Bobby Bowden had just completed his first season as West Virginia's head football coach in 1971 when Marshall University suffered the tragic airplane crash that decimated its entire football team. Nearly all of Marshall's players and coaches died in the plane crash, and it was Bowden who assisted new Marshall coach Jack Lengyel in rebuilding the team. Lengyel arrived with only 31 days until spring practice, and lacked the talent to run a traditional offense. Bobby Bowden and his coaching staff spent 3 straight days teaching the option-based "veer" offense to Lengyel and his staff. To this day, Lengyel credits Bowden for Marshall's quick recovery: "There's no way we could have recovered as well as we did without coach Bowden's help. We were pressed for time, and [Bowden's staff] gave us all the teaching points for a new offense."
4. Bobby Bowden played quarterback at the University of Alabama for his freshman season in 1946. He would transfer to Howard College (now Samford University) to be closer to his high school sweetheart Ann Estock. They would get married in 1949, and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this past April.
5. Bobby Bowden is the 2nd winningest coach in Division I FBS history, behind only Joe Paterno. He was ahead of Paterno for a while, but Penn State has enjoyed success over the last few seasons, while FSU has gone in the other direction. Also, FSU is dealing with an academic cheating scandal which could cause Bowden to have to vacate 14 wins.

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Bobby Bowden. I love the Gators, but I would have to be ignorant to ignore the accomplishments of the man who changed college football.