College football legend Bobby Bowden receives ultimate honor five years after death originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There is some light to shine on the Florida State Seminoles football program with the recent announcement that Tallahassee International Airport will be renamed “Bobby Bowden International Airport.”
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The renaming of the airport was approved in mid-March under bill SB 628 after being amended by former Seminole football player turned Florida State Senator, Corey Simon. Simon played under Bowden in the 1999 season, winning a National Championship together before going on to play seven seasons in the NFL.
“I’m really excited to be able to do this,” said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. “I know a lot of people here will appreciate it—just think when Florida plays in Tallahassee at Florida State every Gator fan is going to have to fly in to Bobby Bowden International Airport.”
Coach Bowden served as head coach in Tallahassee for 34 seasons, leading them to a 316-97-4 record during his tenure and winning two National Championships as well. He also had the Noles finish as a top-10 ranked team 15 times between 1979 and 2000.
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He later retired in the 2009 season as the second-winningest college football coach of all time with 346 total wins. Unfortunately, Bowden passed away on August 8th, 2021, at age 91 due to pancreatic cancer.
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This now adds to a list of honors for the legendary head coach as he also has two collegiate football fields named after him in “Bobby Bowden Field” at Doak S. Campbell Stadium and at Pete Hanna Stadium at Samford University, where he served as the Bulldogs QB and head coach.
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