About the Book
In this New York Times bestseller, legendary coach Bobby Bowden gives readers an inside look at the path that led him to become one of college football's most successful coaches. Coach Bobby Bowden was an icon of college football who ran his legendary, top-ranking program with a trademark southern charm. Here, Bowden gives fans and readers the behind-the-scenes story of his 55-year career and the path that helped him become one of college football's most successful coaches and patriarch of the sport's most famous coaching family.
In this book, Bowden shares never-before-published details of the moments and events that have defined his life, including:
* The tragic death of his grandson and son-in-law in a 2004 automobile accident.
* The details of his retirement as FSU's coach at the end of the 2009 season.
About the Author :
Bobby Bowden was known as much for his affable charm as for his championship teams. Having coached young men over seven decades, he was the second-winningest coach in major college football history. The patriarch of college football's most famous coaching family, Bowden was heavily involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Bowden was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He died in 2021. Mark Schlabach is the coauthor of the New York Times bestselling books, Happy, Happy, Happy, Si-cology 1, and The Duck Commander Family. He is one of the most respected and popular college football columnists in the country. He and his wife live in Madison, Georgia, with their three children.
Tony Dungy and his wife Lauren Dungy are active members of a number of family, faith, and community-based organizations, including All Pro Dad, iMom, Fellowship of Chrstian Athletes, Mentors for Life, Family First, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and the Boys and Girls Club of America. Tony is a former NFL player and retired head coach of the 2006 Superbowl Champions, the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League.
Review :
"Bobby Bowden was coach and mentor to thousands of young men throughout his remarkable 55-year career, and he took that responsibility very seriously. He provided a living example of character and integrity; nurturing not only great football players, but also fine husbands, fathers and role models for future generations. "Called to Coach" is a story about one of our true national treasures."--President Jimmy Carter
"Coach Bowden has had an enduring impact on an untold number lives for such a long period of time. Aside from my father, Coach Bowden is the most influential man in my life. I'm certain there are countless others who could say the same thing. Any success I have in the coaching business I owe mostly to Coach Bowden."--Mark Richt, Head Coach, University of Georgia
"Coach Bowden transcends football. He is a man who leveraged his position as a winning football coach into a living example of the Christian values he believed in. Then he shared them with his players. He personifies the ultimate father in that he inspired us to be the best that we could be, helping us build our mind, body, and spirit through the game he loved. This book will deliver his message to others who will benefit--just like I have, from the life, the wisdom, and the grace, that is, Coach Bobby Bowden."--Warrick Dunn
"I've had the privilege of knowing Bobby Bowden for more than thirty years. During my years of coaching at Nebraska, between 1980 and my last year of coaching in 1997, we played Florida State eight times. We won only twice and lost six times. Many of the games were very close and the winner would win the National Championship. Through all of those years of competition, I always respected and admired Bobby Bowden greatly. He stands for the right things, is a man of principle, was always honest in recruiting and exemplifies all that a Christian person should be. "Called to Coach "is a very interesting narrative of life in the coaching profession spanning nearly fifty years. I recommend the book highly."--Tom Osborne, Athletic Director, University of Nebraska
"We all know about Coach Bowden's accomplishments on the field and we probably won't see that again in college football in this day and age. What people might not know about Bobby Bowden is the man that he is, the person that he is, and the number of people he impacted, influenced, and inspired. He did it with such class and dignity in every way. As coaches, you wish maybe someday to be thought of as well as he is, not only in terms of what he accomplished, but the way he did it."--Nick Saban, Head Coach, University of Alabama
"We all know Bobby has been incredibly successful on the football field, but I believe his real success lies in how many lives he has touched as a mentor, teacher, and friend! I know he has touched my life and I am better for it."--Kenny Chesney
"When Bobby speaks, I listen. When he writes, I read. You will be grateful you read this book. Then you will know why I, and millions of people, love and respect Bobby Bowden."--Lou Holtz, Former Coach, College Football Analyst, ESPN
"When I was a young coach, Bobby Bowden was a hero to me. As I got older, he became an example. For all of us, he has been a benchmark. He did things the right way and reached out to help so many of us through the years. He left anyone who was fortunate enough to be around him with a true understanding of what it means to be a coach."--Mack Brown, Head Coach, University of Texas
"Where would college football be without men like Bobby Bowden? I have long been a fan of his tireless dedication to athletic excellence, but it is his work off the field that makes me admire him even more. It is impossible to count the number of lives that have been influenced for the better by this great man. His leadership of young men made them champions both on and off the field."--S. Truett Cathy, CEO, Founder, Chick-fil-A, Inc.
“Bobby Bowden was coach and mentor to thousands of young men throughout his remarkable 55-year career, and he took that responsibility very seriously. He provided a living example of character and integrity; nurturing not only great football players, but also fine husbands, fathers and role models for future generations. "Called to Coach" is a story about one of our true national treasures.” —President Jimmy Carter
“Coach Bowden has had an enduring impact on an untold number lives for such a long period of time. Aside from my father, Coach Bowden is the most influential man in my life. I’m certain there are countless others who could say the same thing. Any success I have in the coaching business I owe mostly to Coach Bowden.” —Mark Richt, Head Coach, University of Georgia
“Coach Bowden transcends football. He is a man who leveraged his position as a winning football coach into a living example of the Christian values he believed in. Then he shared them with his players. He personifies the ultimate father in that he inspired us to be the best that we could be, helping us build our mind, body, and spirit through the game he loved. This book will deliver his message to others who will benefit—just like I have, from the life, the wisdom, and the grace, that is, Coach Bobby Bowden.” —Warrick Dunn
“I’ve had the privilege of knowing Bobby Bowden for more than thirty years. During my years of coaching at Nebraska, between 1980 and my last year of coaching in 1997, we played Florida State eight times. We won only twice and lost six times. Many of the games were very close and the winner would win the National Championship. Through all of those years of competition, I always respected and admired Bobby Bowden greatly. He stands for the right things, is a man of principle, was always honest in recruiting and exemplifies all that a Christian person should be. "Called to Coach "is a very interesting narrative of life in the coaching profession spanning nearly fifty years. I recommend the book highly.” —Tom Osborne, Athletic Director, University of Nebraska
“When Bobby speaks, I listen. When he writes, I read. You will be grateful you read this book. Then you will know why I, and millions of people, love and respect Bobby Bowden.” —Lou Holtz, Former Coach, College Football Analyst, ESPN
“When I was a young coach, Bobby Bowden was a hero to me. As I got older, he became an example. For all of us, he has been a benchmark. He did things the right way and reached out to help so many of us through the years. He left anyone who was fortunate enough to be around him with a true understanding of what it means to be a coach.” —Mack Brown, Head Coach, University of Texas
