Bobby Bowden visited Florida State’s practice as a guest of new head coach Willie Taggart.
The Seminoles are making preparations for the upcoming season under Taggart. On Wednesday, the team welcomed the man who guided the program for over three decades.
Bowden had a standing invitation from Taggart to stop by and visit a football practice, which was extended when Taggart met with the coach. Bowden decided to take Taggart up on the offer this week. While his status at the university is legendary, Bowden made sure to emphasize he’s not looking over Taggart’s shoulder.
“I don’t want to be looking over Willie. I don’t want people to think I’m looking over his shoulder,” Bowden told The Orlando Sentinel. “I’m behind him all the way. He’s our man.”
Bowden made a point to not go to practices when Jimbo Fisher was Florida State’s head coach for the reason he stated. However, this is a different time for the Seminoles and there is not a dynamic between Bowden and Taggart like there was with Bowden and Fisher, who served as Bowden’s offensive coordinator.
Bowden spent 34 seasons as the Seminoles head coach. He led them to 417 wins and two national championships. It goes without saying that his presence will always be appreciated and welcomed around campus. It was a nice gesture by Taggart to open the doors of the practice facility to one of the game’s great coaches.
