FSU Football: How close were Noles to losing Bobby Bowden to Alabama?

FSU football is where it is today because of what Bobby Bowden did during his time – but it could have been him leading the Tide back to glory instead.

For many people, there truly is no place like home. While a lot of people break free for a while – whether it’s moving somewhere else for school or work – they usually return to where they grew up and what they know. For FSU football, the program and its fans should be counting their lucky stars that one person influential to the program didn’t follow that saying.

In 1976, Bobby Bowden arrived from West Virginia and became the head coach of a Seminoles program who was no where near what it is today. 34 seasons and two national titles later, Bowden left as not just the face of the Noles and the man who the program will forever be in debt to – he left as maybe the best coach in college football history.

But, could it all have not happen? To hear the coach say it, yes – if Alabama had done the right thing.

During a recent interview with the Tampa Bay Times, the Birmingham native who played one semester at Alabama before transferring to what is now Samford University told the story of how he was all set to leave FSU football and coach the Crimson Tide – until the school cooled on him and made him audition for the job.

An offer would come again after the 1990 season – but Bowden knew he had something special in Tallahassee:

"Alabama athletic director Hootie Ingram phoned Bowden. The job is yours, just say the word.“I thought about it for about an hour,” Bowden said. “It was too late. I was (61). Florida State was home. It had become home. And we had things rolling pretty good.”"

Without that decision, FSU football doesn’t have the dynasty run in the 1990’s and likely doesn’t have two national titles. It was Bowden who brought in the best players and quality assistants during that time – he is the reason the Seminoles are where they are as a national brand.

Next: Top FSU Football Wins Over Miami and Florida

When FSU football takes the field Saturday against Alabama, the man who grew up rooting for the Crimson Tide will more than likely be rooting against that program – and cheering for the one who he built.