Bowden: Academic Scandal 'Didn't Bother Me'

Bobby Bowden is close to last on the list of people to know what's going on with his football team.

The last: his staff. Which obviously includes "Head Coach In Waiting" Jimbo Fisher.

And that doesn't particularly bother him.

As long as he doesn't know about it, and didn't have anything to do with it, the actions of his players are apparently of no concern to him.

Sound incredible? If you find it hard to believe that a head coach of a national football power could say such a thing, you're not alone. But you can easily imagine Bowden's familiar southern drawl as he speaks on FSU's academic cheating scandal:

Q: There was an academic cheating scandal at Florida State that involved a significant number of football players. As the head coach how did that affect you and did you feel responsible?
A: It didn't bother me because I knew there was no involvement by me or my staff. But I didn't know about it until the president told me. My staff didn't know about it until I told them. I know some people will say 'you're the head coach' but there are a number of things like this that the head coach does not know.

So many levels... so many layers. Where to begin?

For starters: how about the fact that the long-term implications of FSU's cheating scandal have yet to be felt? 36 players were ruled ineligible for last year's Music City Bowl. Since that time, OT Daron Rose was ruled academically ineligible, LB Marcus Ball -- one of the suspended players -- was released from his scholarship and Preston Parker was arrested on a drugs-'n-gun charge. (Parker is likely to return if his charges are reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor.) At least 7 starters (and roughly 20 subs) will be unable to play in Florida State's first three games of the season; no doubt school officials are praying nightly that the NCAA will agree that the actions they've taken to flagellate themselves have been sufficient.

Surely this must bother one who molds and leads young men?

Bowden, who turns 79 on Nov. 8, remains undeterred. He insists that it is possible to rebuild the program and win his third national championship.

"Undeterred" is the central theme of FSU's legendary football coach's long farewell tour and should probably replace the Seminoles' ill-timed "Unconquered" campaign, which emerged just in time to kick off back-to-back 7-6 seasons. You've got to give Bobby Bowden credit: he is capable of cutting through his critics with laser-like precision by simply not caring what they have to say. It is an unerring and mind-numbingly effective strategy, and it's tailor-made for him. After all, Bowden is firmly entrenched, he has many powerful allies and no amount of angst from the Seminole fan-base will remove "St. Bobby" until he's ready to move on.

As a result, Bowden provides college football with memorable quotes such as these which tarnish his vast and otherwise enviable legacy. Just a tip, coach: this is one of those things that really ought to bother you.