Even as it’s been four years since he stepped off the sidelines, Bobby Bowden‘s patented “dadgum” is still relevant. Well, it’s still relevant in my eyes, at least.
Shortly after the latest College Football Playoff rankings were released Tuesday night, the legendary former Florida State head coach took to Facebook-- yes, the 85-year-old Facebooks -- to decry the undefeated Seminoles’ placement at No. 3, behind a pair of one-loss teams.
A day later, the slotting of a team that’s won 26 straight games still wasn’t sitting well with the Hall of Famer.
“I don’t care for it one bit,” Bowden told the Tallahassee Democrat. “I really don’t care for it one dadgum bit.
“But that’s what they’ve decided to do and I’ll be pulling for it to work. But just think of all the scrutiny you see nowadays. This team or that team or this team or that team. Why don’t they vote like they did last year, they end up with two and that decides it?”
The reasons for Bowden lashing out at the rankings is likely twofold, aside from his obvious loyalties.
One, he, as a coach, places more value on wins and losses. The committee, obviously, places more importance on résumés and contrived “game control” stats than they do the loss side of the ledger.
And, two, he’s simply not a fan of the new system that will determine a national champion.
“I always thought they got one and two right. Really people don’t care about three and four,” Bowden said back in late August. “It’s going to give more teams an opportunity to play for the national championship, but I like it the way it was. I’m not sure it’s going to work. Maybe it will turn out better. …
“Now No. 5 is really upset. No. 5 says we should have been in that dadgum top four. That’s what three said. You get the same debate going on down the line.”
I don’t agree one bit, but keep railing, dadgummit. Keep railing.
(Photo credit: ACC’s Facebook page)
(Also, thoughts out to the FSU community on the tragedy that hit the campus overnight.)