Legendary Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden was born on November 8, 1929 in Birmingham, Alabama. A standout football player in high school, Bowden went on to play quarterback for the University of Alabama before returning to Birmingham to marry his high school sweetheart, Ann Estock, in 1949. Bowden then transferred to Howard College (now Samford University) where he was a member of Alpha Pi Chapter and again played football, as well as baseball and track. After graduating from Howard College in 1953, Bowden held coaching positions at Howard, South Georgia College, Florida State, West Virginia University before becoming the head football coach at Florida State University in 1976, a position he would hold until 2009. During his 34 year tenure, the team had only one losing season - his very first in 1976. The team was especially dominant in the 1990s, winning or sharing 9 conference titles from 1992-2000 and winning the national championship in 1993 and 1999.
