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sgunter@wmbb.com

Friday, April 18, 2008

Interview with Bobby Bowden

LYNN HAVEN- “We had a good spring training, and the main thing you want to do is to teach your kids fundamentals and see if they can improve. I really felt like every kid got a little bit better. I thought our spring training was a success,” said Florida State head football coach Bobby Bowden.

Success is something Coach Bobby Bowden knows very well, and even when he’s playing a round of golf at a fundraiser, there is still football on his mind.

One question Seminole fans might have about this season’s squad, is how year two of Jimbo Fisher’s offense is coming along.

“It aught to be better, because this time last year when we went into spring training, the kids didn’t know them, we had four new coaches. Coaches didn’t know the boys, put in a new system, they didn’t know the system. This spring was different; they knew what we were doing. They knew what the coaches expected. I think we have more play makers this year, than we’ve had in the past several years,” Bowden stated.

Coach Bowden thinks former Bay High standout, Bert Reed can be one of these play makers for the ‘Noles this fall.

“We’re counting on Bert to do that for us. Bert had a good spring for us. We really like him. Last year Preston Parker was the closest thing we had to a game breaker. I think Bert is going to be the same type of guy,” said Bowden.

The Seminoles open up the 2008 season against Championship Subdivision teams, Western Carolina and Chattanooga. Some might think this is a cupcake start, but there is a reason for the scheduling, and it has to do with the three game suspensions six starters will have to endure.

“With six starters out, who can win with that. Name me a team in the country that can take six starters out and beat Notre Dame. So, you’re going to schedule teams not quite as tough and hope that you can get by them and then get into your schedule,” said Bowden.

An always important question is the one about how long coach Bowden plans on coaching, and how important it is to know that Fisher will be his successor.

“I’ve always signed a five-year contract, but when you get 78, who are you trying to fool signing a five-year contract. I’m not going to coach until I’m 83. Our president felt like it was a good idea to name a successor, and that has helped me. When you resign from a job, all your coaches lose a job, and I worry about that. So, now then, we’ve already named a successor so we can just keep rolling. So, whenever I decide to hang it up, every year, I’ll make the decision whether or not I want to coach another year, but it’s working out real good,” said Bowden.

Boys Weightlifting

Arnold Finishes Second at Class 1A State Championship in Daytona Beach.

Gar Rosario Wins 238 lb. Weight Class
Rosario Sets New State Bench Press Record with 510 lb. Press. (Old Record 485 lbs.)

Raephael Garcia Wins 119 lb. Weight Class

High School Baseball

Rutherford 7
Wakulla 1

Rams Move to 19-6

College Baseball

Gulf Coast 6
Tallahassee 5

Commodores Move to 31-19 (6-13)

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