Called to Coach: Reflections on Life, Faith, and Football Hardcover – August 24, 2010

Bobby Bowden is the winningest college football coach in NCAA history * after 300 wins and two NCAA FLorida State University National Championships . Bowden explains his pathway as a committed Christian who credits his success to his faith . At 13 years old , he contacted Rheumantic fever and developed a heart issue . He joined the school band but wanted to play football . He prayed to God , “ If you will heal me and let we play football or coach , I will do my best to serve you “ . As a coach , he never wanted to have one of his football players say later in life that they never heard the message of personal salvation thru Jesus Christ . He was concerned where they would spend eternity. He used Christian principles in coaching. “ it’s not the team with the best players, it’s the team with the best players who work together and fight for each other , the players have to be unselfish. It’s basic Christian principles . The book is a good read for everyone. .....* the NCAA forgot to count his coach wins at Southern Georiga College and vacated 20 wins at FSU due to no fault of Bobby Bowden

I purchased this book for my son for Christmas. My husband and son were staunch Florida State fans. When my son was a junior in high school he was among several young football players honored at a dinner where Coach Bowden was the guest speaker The message he gave to those young men was a guiding force for my son to this day. " Set your priorities, first your god, second your familiy, and then your coaches and football. The first two will be there when all the glories on the field are long forgotten." Coach Bowden signed a hat for that boy but more importantly gave him a souvenier of a dream. Kevin has been a high school football coach for 12 years now and he still gives his young players Coach Bowden's message. He once said when he decided he wanted to teach and coach " If I can make the difference to just one kid." CALLED TO COACH says it all. I would hope Coach Bowden would know how many young men he has inspired.A grateful mother

We bought this book for a friend at Christmas.He enjoyed it especially since he was in Quarantine

This book for me was a great reminder of the great seasons and great players with a great coach! Coach Bowden put Florida State University ahead of everyone on the football field and did so with class and with the hIghest standards. Thank you Lord for your calling on his life and for encouraging him to follow your calling even when it was tough!

Over the years Bobby Bowden has written or contributed to quite a few books about himself and as an avid FSU fan I have read most of them. This by far isn't the best but it was fun to read because Bobby takes you on a journey of his career that was enjoyable to experience again. I particularly liked the chapters that spoke of the glory days and re-played the games of their winning seasons in the 90s. I remember watching all of the games Bobby talked about and reading his take on them brought back a lot of good memories.Bobby was quite frank about his faith in the book - making no apologies for the fact that he is a Christian and that he believes his career was a calling to lead young men to Christ through coaching. That was refreshing to read and good to know that no matter when the chips were up or down he wasn't willing to back away from professing his faith.Bobby also talks about a lot of the flack he got over the years for giving a lot of his players second chances after they got into trouble but if you read the book you will get a good perspective as to why he did this. He makes the point that though they were football players playing on a national stage they were still kids - in a part of life where they were still developing character and trying to find out what was right and what was wrong - a stage of life where we all are prone to make mistakes - and also a part of life where most of us get a second a chance.Not being alumni at FSU - it was bittersweet reading this book because for me - so much of being an FSU fan was being a Bobby Bowden fan. I grew up watching him on the sidelines. Like everyone else I was frustrated by how poorly his teams performed toward the end of his career but seeing him go was still tough. Seeing the way he went was tougher. Though he never comes out and says it you get the sense from reading the book that Bobby felt betrayed by the athletic director and his staff at FSU. After reading the book I wouldn't blame him at all for feeling that way.Coaches come and coaches go but this is one that stayed for awhile and left a lasting legacy - a great book to get a snapshot of that legacy.

What else do you buy the Bobby Bowden fan in your life? My wife grew up in Florida where you rooted for the Noles or the Gators. My wife was a Noles fan and even more a Bobby Bowden fan. When this came out, I knew she needed a copy. Additional copies were bought for family - they all love Bobby. I have seen Bobby speak several times and always enjoyed it. Buy this book!

Enjoyable and easy reading of stories by a Christian man who sought to provide morals standards to young men playing the competitive game of football. His success stories are heart-warming from the 1950s and onward with football players at the high-school to the college level. B.B. is aremarkable man who practices his Christian values personally and professionally.

Coach Bowden takes us on a journey that spanned many decades during his career. This book was a great read. He adapted to players and never wavered in his commitment to his faith. Highly recommend this book.