Sens. Nelson, LeMieux honor Florida State University football coach

In the midst of a heated healthcare debate, Florida Sens. Bill Nelson (D) and George LeMieux (R) asked their colleagues to set aside a few minutes for one of the winningest coaches in college football history, Florida State University's Bobby Bowden (pictured here at right).

Bowden, 80, retired on Monday after 44 years of coaching college football -- all but 10 of them with the Seminoles. Under his leadership, the team became a football powerhouse, with winning seasons every year but one. FSU won the national championship in 1993 and 1999.

The Nelson/LeMieux resolution commends Bowden for achievements that range from the promotion of "164 student athletes onto careers in the National Football League," to "accomplishments on and off the field [which] have come to personify Florida State University."

“Bobby Bowden put FSU on the map,” said Nelson. “Because of his accomplishments most everybody in America has heard of Florida State.”

“For the past 34 years, Bobby Bowden has been a Tallahassee institution, helping young athletes grow to succeed in both football and in life,” LeMieux said. “As his legendary career comes to a close, Floridians can take inspiration from his leadership as one of the most successful college football coaches of all time. His wisdom, loyalty, and warmth have touched the lives of many throughout the years and will continue to serve as an example to all Floridians.”