Posted on 08/09/2002 2:09:54 PM PDT by Major Matt Mason
The school spokesman was working damage control on the telephone, insisting, "There's no more patriotic person than coach Bowden," and you could see this coming all the way from Tallahassee: Florida State's coach was determined to wrap himself in the Stars and Stripes as a defense for his dreadful declaration of "Let's Roll" as the rallying cry for the Seminoles this season.
As criticism grew louder for turning something sacred into something sleazy, this good old boy turned out to be as predictable as wide right in a big game.
"They have to be unpatriotic to say what they are saying," Bowden said of critics this week.
Somebody do Bowden a favor and shut him up. Every day, the pilfering of "Let's Roll" as the Seminoles' season motto gets worse. Every day, his tired act digs himself deeper and deeper into trouble.
Patriotism? This isn't an issue of patriotism.
Try perspective. For once, Coach Legend, try perspective.
"We are going with "Let's Roll,' based on the Airplane Guy making that remark when he knew he was going to die," Bowden declared the other day.
The Airplane Guy?
Maybe this wouldn't seem as unseemly if Bowden had bothered to learn the Airplane Guy's name on Flight 93 out of Newark on Sept. 11. He's not just the Airplane Guy. He's Todd Beamer, out of Cranbury, N.J., the man the air phone operator heard say, "Let's roll," to his fellow freedom fighters, Jeremy Glick, Mark Bingham and Thomas Burnett, before they stormed the cockpit for a fight to the death with the terrorists. You know, the other Airplane Guys. Officials were sure the hijacked flight was on course for a major Washington landmark, probably the White House. The Airplane Guys saved untold lives as the plane crashed into a Pennsylvania field.
"I thought that would be an excellent motto," Bowden said.
Good lord, help him. Finally, the Beamer Foundation rescued Bowden on Wednesday, the charity's CEO insisting he and Todd's widow, Lisa, had no issue with Florida State's use of "Let's Roll." Perhaps they'll even do Bowden another favor and tell him the tale about the Airplane Guy, so he doesn't sound like a fraud on this issue.
At the highest levels, college coaches are users. From stealing assistant's systems and ideas and passing them off as their own genius, to holding schools hostage for rich contract extensions, to the star athletes they recruit to campus, "Let's Roll" is just something else in a long line to be stolen for self-absorbed interests.
All that, and he needs to take something as sacred and sobering as "Let's Roll," two unforgettable words used in the moment of unimaginable bravery, words promising to forever symbolize the moment America started to fight back on terrorism? He needs to transform that into a device that will turn up on bumper stickers and stadium signs and T-shirts so Florida State can beat Clemson?
"The season is here, the challenges are here, "Let's roll,' " Bowden said.
Let's forget it. Do you think Bowden stopped to tell his players the story of those four heroes and the passengers on Flight 93? Before he started to catch heat for this? Do you think he even bothered to learn the names? The Airplane Guy. That's it. Just a prop for a coach, just a myth to start screaming at some kid throwing up at the end of double sessions.
Lisa Beamer trademarked "Let's Roll" so opportunists couldn't pirate those words, but you better believe it will happen here. Whatever money the Let's Roll Foundation makes goes to her charitable foundation, but it won't see a cent of the knockoff items sprouting in Tallahassee. There will be bumper stickers and T-shirts and signs in the stands. Just watch as you slink a little lower in your seat.
Between now and then, this good old boy gym teacher ought to learn that the Airplane Guy was Todd Beamer. He was on Flight 93 with Jeremy Glick, Mark Bingham and Thomas Burnett. These lost fathers and husbands and sons aren't props to use for Saturday afternoon games but angels to pray for during Sunday morning services. Between now and then, someone ought to teach that great American patriot, Bobby Bowden, the difference.
I worked for a few months as an intern (for lack of a better word) covering hockey, and I can tell you that most of these sportswriters are every bit as miserable as they come across in their writing. And these are sportswriters! They don't even cover politics, but ideology infects their writing, nonetheless.
Truly disgraceful.
I have seen a lot of people on this forum use the "Let's Roll". Are they total asses too?
"Let's Roll" isn't in and of itself offensive (though some of the more idiotic ways that it has been employed are) it's the fact that this coach doesn't know the history behind the phrase, or even the name of the man who used it. This isn't some goddamn sunday football chant that you yell when you're 7 points back! A man DIED killing his enemies and saving lives after uttering that phrase, seeing it used in this way, by this man, is offensive.
Sports almost always use war analogies. "Kill em", "In the trenches", "bomb", etc. There is nothing holy about the words "Let's roll". The language of sports tends to be cheesy.
Talk about a self-righteous, sanctimoneus SOB.
I presume he has now appointed himself as arbiter of what is the proper thing to say and not say in this politically correct world?
What a maroon...
I agree with you for different reasons. The article is a bit over the top but do you think it would have been appropriate in 1942 for a football coach to call a a bad loss(possibly a missed field goal) " date that will live in infamy". I've played ball and while I am very aware of the mental and imagery similarities to combat and the comradery you feel with your teammates, I think it's pretty crass to use "Let's Roll" as an official slogan for a football team.
He didn't invent this phrase on an airplane last year - he used a familiar phrase. The idea that it is somehow "sacred" because it was proclaimed by some men who, without a doubt were brave beyond believe, is crazy. Let's everybody get real, and get a life!
Bowden could at least learn Beamers name and not refer to him as the AIRPLANE GUY!!!
Bowden is an idiot!!!!!!!
Obviously he does, otherwise he wouldn't be using it. I'll bet you that 98% of Americans can't identify Todd Beamer by name, or what he is associated with, but I'll also bet you that almost that big a percentage probably has uttered the phrase "Let's Roll" in the past year. Are all these people as sleazy as you seem to think Mr. Bowden is? Heck, we're a bunch of sleazes here at FR, if that is the case.
My dad has used the phrase "Let's roll," to mean let's go, for as long as I can remember. I've used it for as long as I can remember.
There is nothing holy or sacred about the phrase.
I think it's inspirational that Todd Beamer uttered the phrase as his last words to the ground on Flight 93. It was equally inspired for President Bush to adopt the phrase for his war cry. But to go nuts over a muscle-headed football coach is a bit over the top. Get a grip.
"They have to be unpatriotic to say what they are saying," Bowden said of critics this week.
“You’d have to be unpatriotic to call somebody unpatriotic.”
“Oh yeah? We’ll I say it’s unpatriotic to call somebody unpatriotic for calling somebody unpatriotic.”
Just because the author is a hump, that doesn’t mean Bowden isn’t an ass. What's his cut on the "Let's Roll" t-shirt concession?
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