The Bowden family will return to Tallahassee this Labor Day weekend for an early birthday celebration and football.
Ann Bowden – Florida State’s legendary matriarch – turns 93 on Sept. 7. Husband Bobby Bowden, who resurrected the Seminoles’ football program and won two national championships during his 34-year coaching tenure at FSU, died in 2021 at the age of 91.
Ann’s early birthday celebration – around 40 to 50 family members are expected – at the Killearn Estates home she has lived in since 1976 coincides with another big event.
The highly-anticipated Florida State-Alabama opener is Aug. 30 at newly-renovated Doak Campbell Stadium at 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
“The FSU vs. Alabama game will be on every TV,” Terry Bowden said. “Dad may have been the HC, but mom was clearly the AD and she ruled the roost.
“Still does.”
Ann Bowden in good health despite physical limitations
Ann Bowden remains in good health despite physical limitations due to her age and has 24-hour care, according to son Tommy. She still fusses about her hair, watches television and keeps in contact with family and friends.
“She doesn’t have any major issues, other than the natural progression of (declining) mobility and memory, but her heart’s good, she sounds good, and it looks like she’s going to be around for awhile,” Tommy said.
“I just turned 71… I hope I can last that long”
Bobby Bowden, a native of Birmingham, Alabama, was married 72 years to childhood sweetheart Ann Estock.
Bowden was 19, Ann 16 when they married at the home of the Justice of the Peace across the state line in Georgia. The couple raised six children – four boys, two girls. Three of the boys followed their father into coaching.
Bowden had one losing season at FSU – 5-6 during his first year in 1976 – and was forced into retirement following a 7-6 record in 2009.
Tommy recalled when he was a youth his mother handled the discipline at home when dad was away coaching.
“We’ve always told mom she was the backbone of the family,” said Tommy, who was the head coach at Clemson from 1999 to 2008 and coached in nine Bowden Bowls against his father when Bobby was at FSU.
“We laugh and tell her she was tougher than (Bobby), she was meaner.”
Tommy added tongue-in-cheek with a laugh, “We also tell her she’s not too old that we won’t report her to CPS (Child Protective Services). The thing about mother, and when you are in the coaching profession, you better have a strong, independent wife. Mother is that. And was always there (for Bobby).”
Terry Bowden, who coached at Salem, Samford, Auburn, North Alabama, Akron and Louisiana-Monroe, good-naturedly added his mother did not win every decision with Bobby during her marriage. One story the children like to affectionally remind her of was when she wanted Bobby to purchase a nearby country estate.
“Dad was a penny pincher and said no,” Terry said. “The estate had horses and everything. Queen Ann did not speak to him for a full year. We still laugh when we talk about it.
“But they still made it through 72 years together.”
Ann, of course, also started the Extra Point Club, the women’s group that continues to support Seminole athletics. And Bobby once said about his wife, “You know, Ann is the toughest person, man or woman, I’ve ever known.”
Bowden family will be tuned into the FSU-Alabama football game
The FSU-Alabama opener is important for both teams.
And the Bowden family, too.
The Seminoles and sixth-year coach Mike Norvell are looking for a rebound season after they finished 2-10 in 2024. The No. 8 Crimson Tide and second-year coach Kalen DeDoer are looking for redemption after Alabama lost four games and finished outside the final AP top 10 last season for the first time since 2007.
Of course, Bobby Bowden’s ties to Alabama and FSU are well known.
Bowden was a star quarterback at Woodlawn High in Birmingham, and signed with the Crimson Tide. However, he left after the first semester, eloped with Ann and transferred to Howard, where he also later started his illustrious coaching career.
Bowden had longed to return to Alabama and was under consideration twice for the Crimson Tide job while at FSU. But he opted to stay with the Seminoles, where he was 1-3-1 in games against Alabama.
Tommy and Terry Bowden know what his father and FSU fans probably want to see from the Seminoles.
A positive result would certainly add to Ann Bowden’s birthday celebration, too.
“More consistency on both sides of the ball,” Tommy said.
“Alabama is going to be a good team. You want to see some structure on offense, consistency. You didn’t see improvement (from game to game) last year. You would like to see that this season.”
Added Terry, who also breaks down SEC and ACC football games on his podcast:
“I think it will be a good game. It all depends on the mesh of (FSU quarterback) Tommy (Castellanos) and (FSU offensive coordinator) Gus (Malzahn). FSU will play well, keep it close, and then Alabama will pull away late in the second half. Probably on a (receiver) Ryan Williams big play.
“But FSU will see enough positives to get this program back on track.”
FSU football 2025 schedule
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Let’s wish a Happy Birthday to Ann Bowden! Legendary FSU football matriarch set to turn 93
Reporting by Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
