To understand the furor over the Florida State Seminoles’ recent struggle, realize how strong their talent lineage is.
Bobby Bowden’s Vision
As Florida State struggled in 2024, you can’t help but look back at how this school dominated under the watchful eye of the late Bobby Bowden. From 1976-2009, the legendary coach led the school to 304 wins, two national championships, fifteen ten-win seasons, and 21 bowl victories.
Of the thousands of players that Bowden coached, three always came to mind when he discussed the most important in the foundational success of his program. In Bowden’s estimation, defensive lineman Ron Simmons, cornerback, and quarterback Charlie Ward always earned that distinction from their former coach.
Ron Simmons
Now, long before he became a world-renowned championship professional wrestler, Simmons battled in the trenches for Bowden. A two-time consensus All-American, Bowden struck gold with Simmons.
A nose guard with the quickness to flow past guards but the strength the forklift and move them out of the way as well, Simmons’s exploits garnered the program on-field recognition. Finishing ninth in the Heisman Trophy voting, Simmons redefined what playing over the center became. At just 240 pounds, that level of power became a real issue for opposing players. Despite making bushels of money in wrestling, Simmons attributes his time in Tallahassee.
Ron Simmons, aged 21.
Simmons was a 2x All-American at Florida State and was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008.
Bobby Bowden said that Ron Simmons along with Deion Sanders and Charlie Ward were the most important players he had ever recruited. pic.twitter.com/7QBXKNFZRX
— Allan (@allan_cheapshot) February 11, 2025
“I have not had an experience in my life that I cannot relate back to my college football days and being under his tutelage,” Simmons says. “Every aspect of my life has something to do with him and his college football program. You put him in a four-point stance,” Bowden said, “he wasn’t as big, but he could fly.”
Bowden understood what Simmons’s class meant to Florida State University,
“Many football observers in the South believe this will be the finest group of freshmen recruited at Florida State,” he stated.
Deion Sanders
Long before he patrolled the sidelines in Boulder, Deion Sanders became the first must-see cornerback. In an era where separating the ball from the receiver, Sanders took a fairly different tact, choosing to shut down an entire half of the field.
From the jump, Bowden knew what Sanders would unleash on the college football world. What he didn’t know was how profound Sanders’ footprint would stay on the NFL to this very day. When Coach Bowden passed away in 2021, his star cornerback left this message after processing the loss.
“My prayers go out to the entire Bowden Family, Friend, loved ones, Staff and All former Players,” Sanders wrote at the time. “I’ve lost one of the BEST COACHES I’ve ever had, a man of God and a true Father Figure when most young men arrived on college campuses without the love, affection and correction of a father. Love you 4Ever Coach Bowden.”
Charlie Ward
Before Lamar Jackson and Michael Vick, just after Randall Cunningham, there was Charlie Ward. Now, for a school that boasts Chris Weinke and Jameis Winston, Charlie Ward is the lone standard for Florida State quarterbacks.
One of Thomasville, Georgia’s favorite football sons, arrived at FSU as a punter and scout team quarterback. Bowden saw enough of Ward to allow him to play quarterback.
In the previous couple of seasons, errant field goal attempts derailed Florida State, earning the program the ignominious distinction of failing to win the big one.
With the game on the line against Nebraska, Ward drove the team down the field, setting up the game-winning field goal. Ward never tasted NFL success, as general managers still harbored antiquated thoughts about quarterbacks. Ward enjoyed a lengthy NBA career. Bowden shares a kinship with his quarterback.
“I’m just so tickled to see somebody around like him,” said Bowden. “He takes you back about 30 years. So much of college football now is about I and me. But with Charlie, it’s about us and us.”
KEEP READING: Mike Norvell Arrives on Recruiting Trips in Style
Bowden left a legacy that continues to this very day. Yet, their importance will never go unnoticed for those three players he brought to the spotlight, three game-changers who affected the sport. Bowden’s importance to them stays with them and always will.
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