THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 6, 1995 TAG: 9511060174
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Thursday night, Bobby Bowden was on the sidelines at Virginia, trying to win a football game.
Sunday night, he was back in Virginia, this time in a pulpit, trying to win souls.
Bowden, Florida State's football coach, spoke to approximately 1,500 men and boys at First Baptist Church of Norfolk about why he believes in Jesus Christ. With his Bible in hand, college football's second-winningest active coach told the men they need to accept, believe, trust and commit their lives to Christ to get to heaven.
``Football is a priority in life,'' Bowden said, ``but not the priority. I'm not going to sell my soul for football. . . . You can't go to that grave without making a decision.''
Bowden flew in from Tallahassee, Fla., Sunday afternoon and returned home after the evening service. The church paid for his air fare, but Bowden did not receive an honorarium for speaking.
Bowden, 66, said in an interview before his talk that he shares his testimony frequently with groups and churches during the offseason. He probably has to turn down five invitations for every one he accepts.
``I know he does quite a bit of speaking around the country to Christian groups,'' said John Damoose, one of the leaders of First Baptist's men's ministry. ``We had high doubts he'd accept this, rolling along in the middle of a No. 1 season.''
Bowden's Florida State team is no longer No. 1, or No. 2, which it was last week, thanks to the 33-28 upset loss Thursday at U.Va. Bowden said a game early in the week enabled him to accept this speaking request.
``I feel God has given me an opportunity as a football coach to witness to young men,'' Bowden said. ``I speak to all ages, but the group I'm aiming at is that young boy out there or young girl out there who's not getting it in their home or not getting it from anywhere. I just want to plant a seed, and the Lord takes it from there.''
Roughly half the men and boys in attendance were members of the men's ministry at the church. Among the guests were players from 10 area high school football teams.
Before he spoke, Bowden spent about 45 minutes seated at a table signing autographs and chatting. Some had him autograph his book, ``More Than Just a Game; My Life On and Off the Sidelines.''
On the sidelines Thursday, Bowden watched a team that had national championship capability probably fritter away any chance at a title. That's something Bowden has experienced before.
``We've always managed to lose one,'' he said. ``It's frustrating, but it beats losing three.''
The loss, Florida State's first to an ACC team since it joined the league four years ago, dropped the Seminoles to No. 6 in the polls.
``We're on the outside looking in right now,'' he said. ``We'll have to have help.''
Bowden stressed he has two jobs: coaching football and serving Christ. He was off this weekend from the former, so he came to Norfolk to do the latter.
``There's life beyond here,'' Bowden said. ``Our life on earth is very short. Life's only a preparation for eternity.'' ILLUSTRATION: RICHARD L. DUNSTON
The Virginian-Pilot
``I feel God has given me an opportunity as a football coach to
witness to young men,'' Bobby Bowden said Sunday in Norfolk.
by CNB