When Bobby Bowden was forced out as stepped aside as Florida State’s head coach this offseason, the coach made it clear that his presence would be scarce around Tallahassee, in part because of his desire to travel and in part because he didn’t want new head coach Jimbo Fisher looking in his rearview mirror and see the legendary figure looming in the background.
Speaking to the Macon Telegraph Tuesday as he was at yet another speaking engagement, Bowden reiterated that while he’ll be rooting for the Seminoles, he’ll be doing it from afar. At least for this season.
Instead, Bowden said, he’ll take this opportunity to watch his sons Terry and Jeff head the program at Northern Alabama.
“Oh I will follow them on television and pull for them, but I want the other guy to have complete free reign,” Bowden told the Telegraph. “I don’t want anyone to think I am looking over his shoulder. I plan to get out of his way and let him go. But I will definitely be pulling for him.
“I think there is a greater chance that I will be following Terry and Jeffrey at Northern Alabama. It’s just something I have never been able to do, and it will be great to sit in the stands with my wife and watch my kids coach. There is no doubt that I will do that.”
The 80-year-old Bowden also told the paper that he just doesn’t think he “will get that itch” to coach again. Of course, being 80 makes it hard to pretty much scratch anything without assistance, so the legend not returning to the sidelines should probably go without saying.