The Sunshine Empire

Having a discussion last night with Biggus Rickus about the coming Gator Bowl Game which will be Bobby Bowden’s last game I had a realization. The field at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium has been the ending point of the careers of some of the greatest coaches in football history. In 1978 legendary Ohio State head coach Woody Hayes hit a Clemson player late in the Buckeyes’ loss to the Tigers in the Gator Bowl. It would be his last game as a head coach. Ten years later at the end of the 1988 season Georgia’s legendary coach Vince Dooley ended his career after the Gator Bowl game voluntarily. Years later in January of 2000 legendary Miami Hurricanes, Dallas Cowboys, and Miami Dolphins head coach Jimmy Johnson had his Dolphins team throttled 62-7 by the Jacksonville Jaguars on that field. It would prove to be his and Dan Marino’s last game. Now we come to this eventual New Years Day game in Jacksonville, where (again) legendary Florida State University head coach Bobby Bowden will coach his last game at the Gator bowl on that same field where legends come to die.