Bobby Bowden has no class

ABC Radio through SportsPages.com ^ | 08/06/02 | Keith Olbermann

[bigeasy_70118]

First Bowden, now BOWDEN.

Another inexplicable, indefensible vulgarization of the overarching human tragedy of September 11th by a sports figure. First Reds' General Manager Jim Bowden's bad jokes about a baseball strike resembling the suicide hijackings, now Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden announcing the Seminoles' 2002 team slogan is "Let's Roll."

"Let's Roll" were among the last words said by one of the passengers on Flight 93, Todd Beamer. Beamer and other civilians overpowered the criminals, preventing a fourth building crash; all on board died near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Bobby Bowden has turned those stirring, chilling, heartbreaking words, into something to be stamped on t-shirts and worn by inebriated fans at so-called "college" football games. This was the coach's idea alone, he is quoted on a Florida State fans' website as saying "We are going to go with 'Let's Roll,' based on the airplane guy making that remark... Not only for that but the season is here, the challenges are here, let's roll." Unquote.

“The airplane guy”? How insulting.

And of course, the foundation started in Todd Beamer's memory by his widow Lisa has sought to trademark that phrase so that when people do make money off of it, that money goes to the kids of the victims of September 11th, not to a pro franchise masquerading as college sports. There is no evidence Florida State contacted the Beamer Foundation or even thought to do so.

[Let's Roll]

Not a Bobby fan but appropriateness aside, maybe someone should remind him that "his" new slogan will also remind people of regional rival Alabama's war cry, "Roll Tide". The University of Alabama athletics website is even named rolltide.com.

[Constitution Day]

Hey, I hadn't thought of that.
Guess he didn't either.

[Jemian]

I thought of it. It's the first thing I thought of. I bet everyone in the state of Alabama and many throughout the SEC thought of it.

[Let's Roll]

Jem, I'm a Big 12 fan myself but even I made the connection instantly. One of my closest friends is from Alabama - Sheffield.

!! ROLL TIDE !!

[Jemian]

I'm from Auburn.

I'll overlook your last remark.

[RobFromGa]

NCSU vs. Georgia Tech - 11/02/2002 - Raleigh

I'll actually be at that game. Any other FReepers? Go Jackets!!!

[Constitution Day]

I'll actually be at that game. Any other FReepers? Go Jackets!!!

I don't have season tickets, but my wife & I do go to the games.
Maybe we'll try to make it!

PS - We were there when the Pack beat the 'Noles back in 1998.
You may remember it was only FSU's 2nd ACC loss... I'll never forget it!

[Let's Roll]

My friend went to Auburn too! I was just being polite to the 'Bama fans.

[Jemian]

LOL!

[subterfuge]

Bobby Bowden and his bow-ayz are morally bankrupt when it comes to ethical behavior. He and his bow-ayz coach their bow-ayz to "hit 'em till you hear the ECHO of the whistle" and they don't deny it. Its their way of explaning away their bow-ayz late hits.

As the overrated Peter Warrick once said after getting busted in the Foot Locker store scheme,"hey, it's not like I shot the President."

Also, nobody "in this part of the country" as Icthus wrote, loves the guy except the win-at-all-costs Seminole fans.

That said, the Lets Roll flap is way overblown.

[Icthus]

"hit 'em till you hear the ECHO of the whistle"

Close...but a misquote. The actual quote came from Mickey Andrews and he told his Defense to "play through the echo of the whistle". Which by the way, is what you do if you are focused on winning, and not whining.

FSU/Bowden has managed to do what very few other schools have....the equivalant of going to the Final Four for 11 or 12 straight seasons. Over 60% of FSU starters in the last 10 years went to the NFL. Bowden is currently tied with Bear Bryant for wins.

The complaints sound more like envy than justifiable accusations of cheating.