As Georgia Tech fans we should not only be very proud of the winning effort by our team, but that they survived an emotional game in Tallahassee on a sad and somber note that will unfortunately go a long way in deciding the fate of a college football coaching legend, Bobby Bowden. All week long this game was looked upon as a referendum on the future of Coach Bowden at FSU. Like it or not, fair or unfair, Georgia Tech was cast as the evil Darth Vadar coming into Doak Campbell Stadium, on Bobby Bowden Field no less, to pin the final loss (or final straw) on the legendary coach.
Much to the delight of those faceless individuals who have never even buckled up a chin strap, the Yellow Jackets were selected to be the accelerant and fuel the ongoing fire Coach Bowden theme that had been stoked all week by the inflammatory statements from the Chairman of the Institution’s Board of Trustees. As a college football fan all I can say is; “You should be Ashamed of Yourself and I Can Only Hope That What Goes Around Comes Around.”
How unfair was it to transform a football game between two conference opponents into a misguided effort by ivory tower administrators who lack the fortitude to manage their own personnel issues behind closed doors by conveniently selecting an opposing football team to be their villain in the last chapter of the termination process of the Bobby Bowden Era at Florida State University after 34 years of coaching. This use of the Yellow Jackets as a ”convenient excuse” by the foregoing individuals to aid in the dismissal indictment of a legendary coach should cause us all to pause and reassess all that it is wrong in this misguided process.
Regardless of what you may think of Bobby Bowden, or Georgia Tech, this incendiary setting never should have been brought forth to the gridiron and laid upon the shoulders of the players on both sides of the line of scrimmage. This form of athletic impeachment is best handled in a conference room with some form of decorum and civility, if not just plain old fashioned courtesy. Hearken back to the AD at Boston College who told his football coach, who was still under contract; “if you interview for the Jets job you will be fired.” Fair enough. Or remember when old Chan after signing for a bunch of money went ahead and interviewed for both the Pittsburgh and Miami NFL head coaching jobs. Bobby Bowden did none of the above. He deserves better, as did Georgia Tech this past week!
Now that I have provided my viewpoint on the political and employment retention aspects of this game, I will return to my role as a fan and provide an article with a football analysis of the game on Monday. Remember, we are where we need to be at this juncture in the schedule, and now have an opportunity to move another step closer to our goal of winning the ACC Championship this coming Saturday against Virginia Tech. We took a very big step in that process Saturday night in Tallahassee. We should be proud of our team.
About Michael Goldfeder