Holding an online auction may sound complex. But when carefully planned, it can be a fair, transparent and accessible way to preserve a legacy – especially one as cherished as Bobby Bowden’s.
That approach is guiding preparations for one of the most anticipated sports memorabilia auctions in Tallahassee history – the Bobby Bowden Legacy Auction, tentatively scheduled for March 2026.
Veteran auctioneer Mark Manley of Wiregrass Auction Group, based in Thomasville, Georgia, explained the process to Tallahassee Democrat sports editor Jim Henry.
Manley said he has been “entrusted by the Bowden family to oversee the sale of coach Bobby Bowden’s home and personal property, including memorabilia that spans decades of college football history.”
For Florida State fans and collectors across the country, the auction represents a rare opportunity to own a piece of the legendary Seminoles coach’s story. For the Bowden family, according to Manley, “it is about ensuring that the transition is handled thoughtfully, fairly, and with respect.”
In addition to memorabilia, Bowden’s longtime Killearn Estates home – where he and his wife Ann settled in 1976 – will also be offered at auction, along with the items inside it.
So how does an online auction work when the stakes are this high?
Here’s a look at the process being used for the Bowden Legacy Auction – a format designed to balance simplicity, transparency, and broad access, Manley said.
Step-by-step guide to the Bobby Bowden Legacy Auction
A central place to begin: The auction will be anchored by two dedicated online landing pages – one for the personal property and memorabilia, and a separate page for the real estate – each serving as a clear central hub for information, including dates, terms, and bidder registration.
For legacy estates like the Bowdens’, Manley said starting with clearly defined points of reference helps eliminate confusion and ensures all bidders have access to the same information.
Adding items with time to explore: The Wiregrass Auction Group team has already been working onsite at the Bowden home, sorting, inventorying, cataloging and photographing items in preparation for listing them on the auction platform well in advance of bidding.
The goal, Manley said, is to give bidders ample time to browse and learn the stories behind the items before bidding ever opens. For an estate with national interest, the online format allows fans and collectors from anywhere in the world to participate on equal footing
Registration is designed for simplicity and security: Bidders will register online with a credit card, a step Manley said is intended to protect both buyers and sellers while keeping the process straightforward. Bidding can be done on the Wiregrass Auction Group website at www.WiregrassAuctionGroup.com or through the Wiregrass Auction Group mobile bidding app, available on the App Store and Google Play, allowing participants to bid from a phone, tablet, or computer.
Using the Wiregrass mobile bidding app makes bidding easy and provides features designed to help bidders stay engaged without pressure, including:
Opening bids that encourage participation: Each item in the Bowden Legacy Auction will open at a modest starting bid, a strategy meant to invite broad participation while allowing the market – not preset pricing – to determine value.
A two-week bidding window: Rather than a single auction day, bidding will take place over an extended 14-day online period. This approach allows bidders to participate on their own schedule, without the pressure of being present at a specific time or location.
Implement a soft close: Manley noted that in most online auctions, the majority of bidding activity occurs in the final hours and minutes before an item is scheduled to close. To ensure fairness during that period, the Bowden auction will use a “soft close” system. If a bid is placed near the end of an item’s closing time, the clock automatically extends, giving other bidders a chance to respond.
“That’s important in a legacy auction,” Manley said. “It ensures no one wins simply because they clicked faster at the last second. Everyone has a fair opportunity.”
In-person previews: Multiple open houses are being planned to allow bidders ample opportunity to view the Bowden home and selected items in person prior to the auction closing. Manley said offering multiple preview opportunities is especially important for estates of this significance, providing transparency, context, and confidence for bidders.
Manley expects the Bowden Legacy Auction to reflect the values that defined Bowden himself – fairness, clarity, and respect.
“There’s nothing hidden,” Manley said. “The process is structured, transparent, and designed to honor the family and the legacy involved.”
The Wiregrass Auction Group has been sharing select items from the Bowden collection on its official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WiregrassAuctionGroup and across all the Wiregrass Social platforms as preparations continue.
Jim Henry is sports editor of the Tallahassee Democrat. Email him at jjhenry@tallahassee.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: The Bobby Bowden Legacy Auction: A step-by-step guide to bidding
Reporting by Jim Henry, Tallahassee Democrat / Tallahassee Democrat
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