Nobody who loves college football can be happy about what has happened to Bobby Bowden.
As you've certainly heard by now, the NCAA on Friday handed down a harsh punishment on Bowden's Florida State program, ordering the school to "vacate" an undetermined number of victories because of rules violations that occurred in 2006-2007. According to the NCAA, 10 different Florida State sports programs (including football) competed with 61 ineligible athletes—players who allegedly cheated in classes with the help of a, well, overly helpful tutor.
The cheating scandal first came to light back in 2007. At the time, and to their credit, Florida State officials acted fairly swiftly, suspending more than 20 football players for the team's Music City Bowl showdown against Kentucky (which they lost, 35-28) and 10 players for the first three games of the 2008 season. With such harsh action, Florida State clearly hoped to avoid more harsh penalties from the NCAA.
The plan didn't work.
After taking its good old time to complete its investigation, the NCAA finally ruled this week that Florida State must give up any win they achieved while fielding any ineligible player. Though Florida State will likely challenge the ruling, it's very clear that this scandal could cost Bowden several wins from his career record. That's why so many of the stories written in the past couple days have focused on how the vacated wins will hurt Bowden's chances of catching Penn State's Joe Paterno in their battle to become college football's all-time Division I wins leader.
But that record isn't what's important here. What's important is Bowden's legacy.
It's a legacy that, unfortunately, is in real danger of being tarnished forever.
Remember, folks, this is a man who, for years, was absolutely revered in Florida—revered in all of the South, even—for what he achieved at Florida State. Bowden made this program. It was a train wreck when he arrived. A college football graveyard. And all he did was turn it, for a time, into the most dominant program in the country.
But now?
Well, it appears Bowden has destroyed everything he worked so hard build.
The program was already suffering before these sanctions hit. But now, in the wake of this devastating news, it's just clearer than ever that Florida State isn't even close to what it once was.
This program is not among the college football elite. It's not even the best program in its own state.
Instead, Florida State has become just another program.
And unless that somehow changes, and quick, Bowden may end up retiring as ... just another coach.
Photo: Bobby Bowden is facing big troubles at Florida State. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
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