As 2010 Dawns, The Sun Sets On Two Saints and a Weiner
As 2009 draws to a close and 2010 prepares for its grand opening, there are so many issues which could draw debate, discussion and attention. But 01/01/10 will be the biggest day for college football in the state of Florida perhaps in history, as two of the most revered, loved and respected careers will come to end; and one successful career will hit the pause button. You see, Bobby Bowden and Tim Tebow will end their respective runs on New Year's Day 2010.
What else can be said about Bobby Bowden that hasn't really been discussed already. He has been hailed as a Saint by some, respected as a coach, a mentor, and sometimes as a father figure to thousands of young men over his 44 years as a head coach. He was innovative, colorful (but never profane), and perhaps most of all, sincere. Ironically, the events which stand out most to me as a FSU fan and Coach Bowden has nothing to do with the game played on the field. Rather it has to do with how he taught those young men about things that mattered, the life they lived off the field.
In 1987, FSU had an open date in September. On that Friday night, offensive lineman Pablo Lopez was shot and killed by some low-life scumbag who did not even attend FSU. The following day, Coach Bowden brought the entire team together for a meeting and every chair in the room was occupied, save one in the front. During the meeting Coach Bowden talked of his faith, and pointed to the empty chair. "You guys are 18- to 22-year-old men and you probably think you're going to live forever, just like Pablo did. If that had been you, do you know where you would spend eternity?" I don't find it to be any small irony that year marked the beginning of the most successful 14-year run of any football program in NCAA history. Sure there were other factors, but I think most of all it showed his complete commitment to those young men in their LIVES, not just their games.
In 1993, a little known recruit from Baton Rouge, LA named Warrick Dunn signed a football scholarship with FSU. Before his arrival on campus, his mother was ambushed and killed while making a night deposit at a bank. At 18 years and 2 days old, he became the head of his household, having to raise his siblings. Needless to say, these were some special circumstances and it would be tough for anyone to make it work. Certainly most of the praise should go to Warrick Dunn for overcoming the odds and the crushing weight of so much responsibility, but still the man he credits with helping him through the darkest times of his life and helping him to rise up to become the amazing man and human being he is today, is Bobby Bowden.
Sure FSU has suffered some hard times in the past decade. Many football programs have caught up to FSU on the field, and the competition is more fierce than ever. Staying on top now is a never ending battle against over a hundred other programs, the lure of the NFL, and the hundreds of distractions off the field. But, Coach Bowden will leave a legacy behind that transcends football, and leaves an imprint on the hearts, souls and minds of so many.
As for the other career which will end Friday, Tim Tebow brings about a much more volatile response. Certainly I have had varied reactions to him. I respect him far more than most would realize. His being a Gator is really his only flaw as a person in my book. To be a truly devoted Christian man, who walks what he talks, who has stayed out of the paper for parties at 2am, who has not "run around" on campus, when so many other souls in college sprint from bed to bed and party to party, is an achievement worthy of praise alone. But he also volunteers around the world, he is accountable and responsible, two things sorely missing from the younger generations today. And of course, much to my chagrin, he has been quite successful on the gridiron over the past 4 years.
Certainly the media hysteria and obsession with him is not his fault. I honestly think everyone is fascinated by him because someone who can be authentic in the glare of the spotlight and accountable which is virtually absent in the leaders of today. As a fan and someone who has coached a little football over the years, I see some flaws in his QB skills, his mechanics and even his passing. But, I will say there are very few who could even stake a claim over Tebow as the greatest college QB of all-time.
I hope he does well in his post-Gator life. It may shock many to hear me, one of the most celebrated Gator Haters of all-time say such a thing, but Tebow is the real deal and the world could use more people like him. Indeed I suspect Gator Nation (more like a few counties really) will sob like babies after the Sugar Bowl. The anointed one shall ascend to the next level and leave the un-mannered, foul-mouthed masses of Hog Town behind. He will leave a void behind almost as large as Coach Bowden's, at least in terms of trying to fill those shoes.
And lastly, and certainly least, Oscar Meyer, err sorry, Urban Legend, oops, Urban Meyer will take a leave of absence to attend to his health also after the game in New Orleans. I have much disdain for how he has handled this whole situation, for the perceived lack of respect he has shown his kids and his family in the up and down decision, but I do want him to get well soon and overcome his health obstacles. There can be little debate he has set a high bar for coaching in the past decade and as a UGA fan, I actually WANT to see him back on the sidelines again soon. I want to complete against the best, and I would dearly love for my Dawgs to let Urban test his new found calming techniques by kicking his team's ass at their earliest convenience. Hey Mark, call timeout with 45 seconds to go and leading by 24. Help Urban learn to channel his inner calm. :-)
Seriously though, I do wish Urban well in his recovery. I may question his devotion and methods with his family, but they deserve to have their father around for many years to come and he does seem to do (most) things right with the game of football. He is one of the best of the next generation of coaches for sure. So, get well soon.
See what I mean. 01/01/10 is a big day for Florida, and for football. A couple of major curtain calls, and lots of changes on the horizon. To Coach Bowden, to Tim Tebow and (oh this is painful) to Urban Meyer: Best of Luck in your coming years. Please know you have the profound thanks of a dyed-in-the-wool college football fan and may God bless you all in 2010 and beyond.
What else can be said about Bobby Bowden that hasn't really been discussed already. He has been hailed as a Saint by some, respected as a coach, a mentor, and sometimes as a father figure to thousands of young men over his 44 years as a head coach. He was innovative, colorful (but never profane), and perhaps most of all, sincere. Ironically, the events which stand out most to me as a FSU fan and Coach Bowden has nothing to do with the game played on the field. Rather it has to do with how he taught those young men about things that mattered, the life they lived off the field.
In 1987, FSU had an open date in September. On that Friday night, offensive lineman Pablo Lopez was shot and killed by some low-life scumbag who did not even attend FSU. The following day, Coach Bowden brought the entire team together for a meeting and every chair in the room was occupied, save one in the front. During the meeting Coach Bowden talked of his faith, and pointed to the empty chair. "You guys are 18- to 22-year-old men and you probably think you're going to live forever, just like Pablo did. If that had been you, do you know where you would spend eternity?" I don't find it to be any small irony that year marked the beginning of the most successful 14-year run of any football program in NCAA history. Sure there were other factors, but I think most of all it showed his complete commitment to those young men in their LIVES, not just their games.
In 1993, a little known recruit from Baton Rouge, LA named Warrick Dunn signed a football scholarship with FSU. Before his arrival on campus, his mother was ambushed and killed while making a night deposit at a bank. At 18 years and 2 days old, he became the head of his household, having to raise his siblings. Needless to say, these were some special circumstances and it would be tough for anyone to make it work. Certainly most of the praise should go to Warrick Dunn for overcoming the odds and the crushing weight of so much responsibility, but still the man he credits with helping him through the darkest times of his life and helping him to rise up to become the amazing man and human being he is today, is Bobby Bowden.
Sure FSU has suffered some hard times in the past decade. Many football programs have caught up to FSU on the field, and the competition is more fierce than ever. Staying on top now is a never ending battle against over a hundred other programs, the lure of the NFL, and the hundreds of distractions off the field. But, Coach Bowden will leave a legacy behind that transcends football, and leaves an imprint on the hearts, souls and minds of so many.
As for the other career which will end Friday, Tim Tebow brings about a much more volatile response. Certainly I have had varied reactions to him. I respect him far more than most would realize. His being a Gator is really his only flaw as a person in my book. To be a truly devoted Christian man, who walks what he talks, who has stayed out of the paper for parties at 2am, who has not "run around" on campus, when so many other souls in college sprint from bed to bed and party to party, is an achievement worthy of praise alone. But he also volunteers around the world, he is accountable and responsible, two things sorely missing from the younger generations today. And of course, much to my chagrin, he has been quite successful on the gridiron over the past 4 years.
Certainly the media hysteria and obsession with him is not his fault. I honestly think everyone is fascinated by him because someone who can be authentic in the glare of the spotlight and accountable which is virtually absent in the leaders of today. As a fan and someone who has coached a little football over the years, I see some flaws in his QB skills, his mechanics and even his passing. But, I will say there are very few who could even stake a claim over Tebow as the greatest college QB of all-time.
I hope he does well in his post-Gator life. It may shock many to hear me, one of the most celebrated Gator Haters of all-time say such a thing, but Tebow is the real deal and the world could use more people like him. Indeed I suspect Gator Nation (more like a few counties really) will sob like babies after the Sugar Bowl. The anointed one shall ascend to the next level and leave the un-mannered, foul-mouthed masses of Hog Town behind. He will leave a void behind almost as large as Coach Bowden's, at least in terms of trying to fill those shoes.
And lastly, and certainly least, Oscar Meyer, err sorry, Urban Legend, oops, Urban Meyer will take a leave of absence to attend to his health also after the game in New Orleans. I have much disdain for how he has handled this whole situation, for the perceived lack of respect he has shown his kids and his family in the up and down decision, but I do want him to get well soon and overcome his health obstacles. There can be little debate he has set a high bar for coaching in the past decade and as a UGA fan, I actually WANT to see him back on the sidelines again soon. I want to complete against the best, and I would dearly love for my Dawgs to let Urban test his new found calming techniques by kicking his team's ass at their earliest convenience. Hey Mark, call timeout with 45 seconds to go and leading by 24. Help Urban learn to channel his inner calm. :-)
Seriously though, I do wish Urban well in his recovery. I may question his devotion and methods with his family, but they deserve to have their father around for many years to come and he does seem to do (most) things right with the game of football. He is one of the best of the next generation of coaches for sure. So, get well soon.
See what I mean. 01/01/10 is a big day for Florida, and for football. A couple of major curtain calls, and lots of changes on the horizon. To Coach Bowden, to Tim Tebow and (oh this is painful) to Urban Meyer: Best of Luck in your coming years. Please know you have the profound thanks of a dyed-in-the-wool college football fan and may God bless you all in 2010 and beyond.
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