FSU to honor Bowden on uniforms, in stadium

Florida State will pay tribute to longtime coach Bobby Bowden with helmet decals, markings on the field and banners at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.

Bowden passed away Aug. 8 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 91.

The white bumpers at the bottom of the players’ helmets will feature Bowden’s signature on garnet-colored ink. The game-day shirts worn by coaches will have a patch on one sleeve that bears a drawing of the hat Bowden was known to wear, with his signature underneath it. The same artwork will be painted on the 25yard lines of the stadium, and a similar banner will hang in the south end zone.

The field at the stadium already was named in his honor.

Bowden served as the coach at West Virginia from 197075 before joining the Florida State program in 1976. He posted a 315-98-4 record with the Seminoles and guided the school to two national titles (1993, 1999) and 12 ACC championships (19922000, 2002-03, 2005).

Bowden was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

The Seminoles will host Notre Dame on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. to open the season.

Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS Florida State linebacker Michael Boulware (58) and nose guard Travis Johnson (99) carry head coach Bobby Bowden across the field after beating Wake Forest at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Fla., on Oct. 25, 2003. The win gave Bowden the record for the most wins in Division I college football.