I first met Coach Bobby Bowden in August of 1967 when I reported for fall training camp at
West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. I was a youngster from the Southern
West Virginia coalfields and was chasing my dream to put on the old gold and navy blue football uniform of my state university. I will never forget our first encounter.
Coach Bowden, being the gentleman he is, made an effort to meet each of the players and get to know them as much as possible. He was our offensive coordinator at the time and it didn't matter which side of the ball you were slated to play on, offense or defense, he wanted to know you. Thus our first meeting, as he asked me about my background.
Coach had an incredible gift; when he spoke to you he made you feel like the most important person in the world at that moment --- I have never forgotten this. What a wonderful gift and I look forward to our reunion on the day before the prayer breakfast, Wednesday, April 30th, as I want to see if that gift still remains a part of his make-up almost 47 years later!
From the very first time I met Coach Bowden, there was no question that this was an extraordinary man. He cared about others in a way that was quite unusual in the world of sports that I had known at the tender age of 18. He made it about the people; that is what was important to him. The people came before the wins and losses.
And, of course, if you look at the record he compiled, you realize that the many wins came because those who worked for him and played for him wanted to do their best for him because he cared. What a great "Christ-like" attribute that helped Coach Bowden achieve great success as a head football coach.
I am truly humbled to welcome Coach Bowden to Ozark Mountain Country on May 1st as the Keynote Speaker for the Ozark Mountain Prayer Breakfast. How blessed we are to have this gentleman speak to us on that morning who never put football ahead of his Lord and Savior and his family .
For those who took a couple of minutes to read this, my prayer is you will immediately download the ticket order form and make the commitment to join us for what will be a very special Ozark Mountain Prayer Breakfast.
Bill Budnick
Organizing Chairperson
Ozark Mountain Prayer Breakfast
West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV. I was a youngster from the Southern
West Virginia coalfields and was chasing my dream to put on the old gold and navy blue football uniform of my state university. I will never forget our first encounter.
Coach Bowden, being the gentleman he is, made an effort to meet each of the players and get to know them as much as possible. He was our offensive coordinator at the time and it didn't matter which side of the ball you were slated to play on, offense or defense, he wanted to know you. Thus our first meeting, as he asked me about my background.
Coach had an incredible gift; when he spoke to you he made you feel like the most important person in the world at that moment --- I have never forgotten this. What a wonderful gift and I look forward to our reunion on the day before the prayer breakfast, Wednesday, April 30th, as I want to see if that gift still remains a part of his make-up almost 47 years later!
From the very first time I met Coach Bowden, there was no question that this was an extraordinary man. He cared about others in a way that was quite unusual in the world of sports that I had known at the tender age of 18. He made it about the people; that is what was important to him. The people came before the wins and losses.
And, of course, if you look at the record he compiled, you realize that the many wins came because those who worked for him and played for him wanted to do their best for him because he cared. What a great "Christ-like" attribute that helped Coach Bowden achieve great success as a head football coach.
I am truly humbled to welcome Coach Bowden to Ozark Mountain Country on May 1st as the Keynote Speaker for the Ozark Mountain Prayer Breakfast. How blessed we are to have this gentleman speak to us on that morning who never put football ahead of his Lord and Savior and his family .
For those who took a couple of minutes to read this, my prayer is you will immediately download the ticket order form and make the commitment to join us for what will be a very special Ozark Mountain Prayer Breakfast.
Bill Budnick
Organizing Chairperson
Ozark Mountain Prayer Breakfast
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