Saturday, November 27, 2010

CALLED TO COACH: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
CALLED TO COACH
BY BOBBY BOWDEN
with Mark Schlabach

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Coach Bobby Bowden is an icon of college football who ran his legendary, top-ranking program with a trademark southern charm. With his recent retirement, Bowden is ready to give fans and readers the behind-the-scenes story of his 55-year career and the path that helped him become one of college football's most successful coaches and patriarch of the sport's most famous coaching family.

In this book, Bowden will reveal never-before-published details of the moments and events that have defined his life, including:

* The tragic death of his grandson and son-in-law in a 2004 automobile accident.

* The details of his retirement as FSU's coach at the end of the 2009 season.

PRAISE FOR CALLED TO COACH:
"We all know about Coach Bowden's accomplishments on the field and we probably won't see that again in college football in this day and age. What people might not know about Bobby Bowden is the man that he is, the person that he is, and the number of people he impacted, influenced, and inspired. He did it with such class and dignity in every way. As coaches, you wish maybe someday to be thought of as well as he is, not only in terms of what he accomplished, but the way he did it." 
-- Nick Saban, Head Coach, University of Alabama
"When I was a young coach, Bobby Bowden was a hero to me. As I got older, he became an example. For all of us, he has been a benchmark. He did things the right way and reached out to help so many of us through the years. He left anyone who was fortunate enough to be around him with a true understanding of what it means to be a coach." 
-- Mack Brown, Head Coach, University of Texas
"When Bobby speaks, I listen. When he writes, I read. You will be grateful you read this book. Then you will know why I, and millions of people, love and respect Bobby Bowden."
-- Lou Holtz, Former Coach, College Football Analyst, ESPN
"Bobby Bowden was coach and mentor to thousands of young men throughout his remarkable 55-year career, and he took that responsibility very seriously. He provided a living example of character and integrity; nurturing not only great football players, but also fine husbands, fathers and role models for future generations. Called to Coach is a story about one of our true national treasures."
-- President Jimmy Carter
"Coach Bowden has had an enduring impact on an untold number lives for such a long period of time. Aside from my father, Coach Bowden is the most influential man in my life. I'm certain there are countless others who could say the same thing. Any success I have in the coaching business I owe mostly to Coach Bowden."
-- Mark Richt, Head Coach, University of Georgia
"Coach Bowden transcends football. He is a man who leveraged his position as a winning football coach into a living example of the Christian values he believed in. Then he shared them with his players. He personifies the ultimate father in that he inspired us to be the best that we could be, helping us build our mind, body, and spirit through the game he loved. This book will deliver his message to others who will benefit--just like I have, from the life, the wisdom, and the grace, that is, Coach Bobby Bowden."
-- Warrick Dunn
"We all know Bobby has been incredibly successful on the football field, but I believe his real success lies in how many lives he has touched as a mentor, teacher, and friend!  I know he has touched my life and I am better for it."
--Kenny Chesney 


"I've had the privilege of knowing Bobby Bowden for more than thirty years. During my years of coaching at Nebraska, between 1980 and my last year of coaching in 1997, we played Florida State eight times. We won only twice and lost six times. Many of the games were very close and the winner would win the National Championship. Through all of those years of competition, I always respected and admired Bobby Bowden greatly. He stands for the right things, is a man of principle, was always honest in recruiting and exemplifies all that a Christian person should be. Called to Coach is a very interesting narrative of life in the coaching profession spanning nearly fifty years. I recommend the book highly."
-- Tom Osborne, Athletic Director, University of Nebraska
"Where would college football be without men like Bobby Bowden? I have long been a fan of his tireless dedication to athletic excellence, but it is his work off the field that makes me admire him even more. It is impossible to count the number of lives that have been influenced for the better by this great man. His leadership of young men made them champions both on and off the field." 
-- S. Truett Cathy, CEO, Founder, Chick-fil-A, Inc

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bobby Bowden is known as much for his affable charm as he is for his championship teams. Having coached young men in seven decades, he is the second-winningest coach in major college football history. Bowden guided Florida State University to more than three hundred victories, two national championships, twelve Atlantic Coast Conference titles, finishing in the top five in the country in fourteen straight seasons, and he also led the Seminoles to Bowl Games in twenty-eight consecutive seasons during his thirty-four-year tenure. The patriarch of college football's most famous coaching family, Bowden remains heavily involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, annually awarding The National Bobby Bowden Award to a student-athlete for achievement on and off the field, including his conduct as a faith model in the community. Bowden was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He and his wife of sixty-one years, Ann, live in Tallahassee, Florida. 

MY REVIEW:
For those of you who follow my blog, you know that as an alum of Florida State University and huge college football fan, I am also a huge fan of the man to me that will always be THE Greatest Coach a team could ever ask for. You can check back at my review of his earlier book, BOWDEN, as well as my Op-ed piece that I did when he “left” his job as Coach of the Florida State Seminoles. In his latest book, CALLED TO COACH by Bobby Bowden, however, you will meet Bobby Bowden, not only the coach, but the man. The book is an honest and inspirational story just as I would expect from Coach, about his beliefs and life…the good and the bad. In CALLED TO COACH you will meet the man who is one of the winningest coaches in football history and learn about all the contributions he made both on and off the field to so many young men and all the people whose lives he has touched.  With Forewords from both Tony Dungy and Joe Paterno, you will read about the man who was an idol, mentor, teacher, and friend to so many over the years. You will also read about Bobby Bowden the father and the husband to his “coach” and #1 fan, his wife, the much loved Ann Bowden.

CALLED TO COACH weaves Coach Bowden’s personal life in with his professional life and his love, that of coaching for fifty-five years. You will meet his famous family who has its own successful coaches in it as well. The honest story of a man and his very strong faith that he instilled and shared with so many of his players over the years. An amazing and much sought speaker, Coach Bowden tells his story of what his feelings are and his position on the way he left FSU. Do not expect this man of honor to rip apart or throw anyone “under the bus” because he has too much class. This is a man who will share his personal tragedies including the loss of his young grandson and tells how his faith once again kept him going on. The list of players over the years that Coach Bowden coached on and off the field is amazing. The strategies, both in football and in life, that he instilled in them has produced some very fine and grateful men. With his great sense of humor, love of family, and his devotion to God, this is a book that everyone will value and learn from. You do not have to be a football expert or fan to appreciate and enjoy CALLED TO COACH. Thank you, Bobby Bowden, Coach Bowden, for the many years of joy and pride that you have personally given to me and my family. You are a role model that I would hope more people would emanate.

 
GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO LIBBY AT SIMON AND
SCHUSTER, I HAVE 4 COPIES OF THIS
AMAZING BOOK ABOUT ONE OF MY
PERSONAL HEROES TO GIVE AWAY
   
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES, PLEASE
--INCLUDE EMAIL ADDRESS IN COMMENT
--ALL ENTRIES/COMMENTS MUST BE
SEPARATE IN ORDER TO COUNT
AS MORE THAN ONE ENTRY
HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY:
COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOVE ABOUT CALLED TO COACH ABOVE THAT WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS
BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON YOUR FEELINGS ON FOOTBALL. ARE YOU A FAN, A "FOOTBALL WIDOW", OR JUST DON'T CARE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER? DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE TEAM, EITHER COLLEGE OR PRO?
 
+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU MAY COMMENT ABOUT EACH SEPARATELY AND GET ENTRIES FOR EACH WAY.
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, DECEMBER 11!
  GOOD LUCK!!
P.S. I thought it only appropriate that I present and review this book today as Florida State meets their arch rival, the University of Florida. So if you are reading this when it first posts, enjoy...I'll be screaming and cheering, and hopefully winning THE game. 
  GO 'NOLES!

119 comments:

debbie said...

I think he sounds like a really inspiring man, who was influential to a number of people.I would like to read the book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I will watch a football game every now and then.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a email subscriber.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower.
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

traveler said...

This incredible man is more than a coach.This book would be fascinating. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

sharon54220 said...

I was lucky enough to win Coach last year, and I would love to continue on his journey.

sharon54220@gmail.com

traveler said...

I am not a football fan but I do enjoy reading about this sport and the individuals involved. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

sharon54220 said...

I love football. Green Bay Packers are my team.

I do watch college sometimes also.
GO BADGERS!!

sharon54220@gmail.com

sharon54220 said...

I am a GFC follower

sharon54220@gmail.com

sharon54220 said...

I also follow on FB

sharon54220@gmail.com

petite said...

This book would be ideal for my son who is into sports. The coach is someone to admire. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am a follower. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Football is not a sport that I normally watch. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I found it interesting that he has been married for 60 years.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom

Unknown said...

I'm a big FSU fan. My husband and I are both alums.

Unknown said...

Follow via GFC.

Unknown said...

Tweeted http://twitter.com/amandawk/status/8697665890025472

Unknown said...

Follow via RSS.

Steve Capell said...

I find most of time that coaches are really great leaders. They paint the canvas of life with emotional drive and bring individual players into winning teams. Football is my favorite sport and this would be a book that I would like to read so thanks so much for the opportunity.

steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

Colleen Turner said...

Let me start by saying that I am from Tallahassee. Born and raised there, I did not leave until I was 26 and my husband got a job opportunity in Tampa, FL.All of my family, including myself, are FSU alums. I have grown up watching and idolizing Bobby Bowden. This being said, I don't know much about his life off the field. I would love to find out!
Thanks,
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I love FSU college football! I would watch it everyday if I could. Past that, I am not a huge fan of the sport in general. My husband is addicted to it (both college and professional) and literally does watch it everyday it is on. My son actually almost got hit by Bobby Bowden at a golf course in Tallahassee when we still lived there and when Bobby got out of the car to apologize my husband couldn't be happier! He just said, "No problem coach!". His devotion definitely out stretches mine, but I don't mind!
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am an email subscriber of Bookin with Bingo.
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a GFC follower (Colleen Turner).
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a Networked Blogs follower (Colleen Turner).
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I am a Facebook fan of Bookin with Bingo (Colleen Turner).
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

+5 swagbucks!
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

+5 November Facebook friend! Oh, and I forgot to mention before....yay Noles! We....went...all...the...way!
candc320@gmail.com

holdenj said...

Being from another part of the country, I don't know much about him as a coach. But, I am intrigued at how many lives he has touched, from a former president to a country star. Looks like a very insightful read.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

Well, football here in MN has been a little uneven this year. Sometimes it's difficult to be a fan!
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I am a GFC follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

holdenj said...

I subscribe via RSS feed.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I am an FSU alumni and my dad played college football and I would love to give him this book for christmas! tracietrump@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

My father in law would love this book! dlcwins55@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

My father in law would love this book! dlcwins55@yahoo.com

Pamela Keener said...

I would love to win this book for my BF who is a huge fan of Bobby Bowden & then perhaps when he is finished he will permit me to read it too.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I am a Penn State & Dallas Cowboy's fan. I become a screaming MeMe when watching the games that my dogs MJ & Spencer either runs and hides or stays to protect me depending on the tone of my squeels I guess though I haven't figured that out yet.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I tweeted this giveaway.
http://twitter.com/pam4290/status/8989068301967360
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I follow your blog via GFC
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I am an e-mail subscriber to your blog.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

cheryl c said...

We are huge college football fans in my family. I have long admired Coach Bowden, and this book sounds interesting and inspiring. It would make a great gift for my husband.
castings at mindspring dot com

cheryl c said...

We are Georgia Bulldogs fans, even though this year hasn't been great.
We are also Atlanta Falcons fans, and fortunately they are having a fantastic year!
castings at mindspring dot com

cheryl c said...

Congrats on beating Florida!

GFC follower
castings at mindspring dot com

cheryl c said...

email subscriber
castings at mindspring dot com

gcpeach17 said...

Wow! I am a HUGE fan of pro football although years ago I did watch some college games, they can be more interesting sometimes. LOL I would love to read this book and then share it. I am interested in finding out about the man behind the coach. Sounds like a good book!

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

gcpeach17 said...

I have always been a football fan and really didn't enjoy having company and having to entertain the non-fans when I wanted to be right in front of the TV. Being from Baltimore, The Ravens are my #1 team now. I watched with my Dad when I was young, he was Green Bay & I the Colts. Those were the days when the players stayed with the 'team'!!

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

gcpeach17 said...

I am a follower with GFC.

gcpeach17 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

As a Gator fan, well...I love the Gators. But all that aside...I would love to hear about Bobby Bowden's life. I would love to hear about how he handled life in tough circumstances and just really who he is. (This will not EVER change me being a Gator fan though, lol.)

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I especially love college football! The Gators are my favorite team! I also love watching the Jaguars in the NFL. I get so stressed out when my teams lose or its a close game!

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I just tweeted about this giveaway!
http://twitter.com/#!/christauf4/status/9059223669317632

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I follow your blog via GFC!

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I follow your blog via the Bookin With Bingo facebook page.

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Unknown said...

I follow your blog via e-mail!

christauf4(at)gmail.com

Reading said...

My husband loves everything football and I would love to win this for him. Bowden sounds like an interesting man.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Reading said...

I am definately a football widow. My husband loves football.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Reading said...

I follow on GFC

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

I would love to read his story behind being a coach. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

reddon30 said...

I like to read his story. It great to get inspiration from a successful man, who makes no apology for his faith. Thank you.

reddon30 said...

My favorite football team is the Philadelpia Eagles

Unknown said...

I'd love to win this for my husband!! He a huge sports fan!!

Chirth7@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I'd like to win this one for my Son in law. He's big into sports and would love this book!

shundelt@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

Jeff I love coaches, from growing up in sports and watching it on tv. I'd like to find out more about the man in this book. What they feel makes them so great!

jeff72768@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I'm a huge Football fan, I like Notre Dame and for pro's the Rams are our hometeam and were big fans of the cowboys but we want a new quarterback for the team. And we use to be huge Cardinals fans before Kurt Warner retired.

chirth7@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I'm a sports widow, have been for a long time, but I'm always asking how the teams did. I'm still stuck on the Cradinals because that was are team when my Husband was alive and boy he loved his football!!

shundelt@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

I'm a huge fan of anything football. I'd love to win this book! Thanks!

jeff72768@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://twitter.com/Grandmamaof10/status/12107164860555264

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=174169275941224&id=100001087052807

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/shundelt45/review/48353985/

shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I follow RSS feed
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I'm a facebook Fan
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I follow you on twitter
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I'm a GFC follower
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

I'm a email subscriber
shundelt@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

+5swag shundelt@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/Jeff72768/review/48354122/

jeff72768@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=173064729392340&id=100000609680005

jeff72768@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

http://twitter.com/jeff72768/status/12106949260742656

jeff72768@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

I follow RSS feed
jeff72768@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

I'm a facebook Fan
jeff72768@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

I follow you on twitter
jeff72768@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

I'm a GFC follower
jeff72768@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

I'm a email subscriber
jeff72768@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

I follow you on network blogs
jeff72768@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/chirth7/review/48354230/

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=175045722513958&id=100000641625482

chirth7@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

http://twitter.com/#!/Grandmamaof10/status/12107164860555264

shundelt@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://twitter.com/#!/Romantic73/status/12110349608165376

chirth7@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I follow RSS feed
chirth7@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

+5swag shundelt@yahoo.com

Jolee said...

I found his perspective on his personal tragedies interesting. joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

I enjoy football and will watch "big" games and Michigan State :-) games....but, I'm not "obsessed." :-) joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Jolee said...

follow you on gfc joleehamlin [at] comcast [dot] net

Unknown said...

I was a huge football fan when I was married it was fun having someone else to root for, but since then I don't watch it at all, but I'd love to give this book to my brother.

christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://twitter.com/Christina101092/status/12874298196762624

christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sfrm=1#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=147548458628410&id=100001144971475

christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/christina101092/review/48427244/

christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I follow RSS feed
christina101092@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I follow you on network blogs
christina101092@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

He sounds like a very inspiring person, would love to read this!
shawnac68@hotmail.com

susansmoaks said...

i love bobby bowden and i would love to read this because he is an inspirational man
susansmoaks at gmail dot com

John Ferris said...

In todays day and age, it is interesting he was married 60 years.
John Ferris
guapo1317@live.com

mail4rosey said...

I'd like to read more on his feelings about why he left FSU.

msurosey@yahoo.com

mail4rosey said...

We're football nuts in this house. I went to FSU for my undergrad, so I'm a Seminoles fan. I earned my Masters from MSU and hubby went there too, so we're both Spartans fans. And now I'm earning my PhD at UNL, so I'm a Huskers fan too. :)

For NFL, we both cheer on the Detroit Lions, even though it's a hopeless cause. ;)

msurosey@yahoo.com

mail4rosey said...

I am an e-mail subscriber.

msurosey@yahoo.com

mail4rosey said...

I shared on Twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/mail4rosey/status/13581066379988992

msurosey@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

My Brother loves college football; this would be for him!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I found it interesting that so many top coaches talked about how much they respect him and his character. I would love to read the book. garrettsambo@aol.com

Unknown said...

I'm not a football fanatic but I watch occasionally. The University of Alabama and the Kansas City Chiefs are my favorite teams. garrettsambo@aol.com

Laura H. said...

I find it amazing that he's been married to the same woman for 61 years. Not only is that an accomplishment in and of itself but throw in your mate coaching Division I ball is even more awesome.

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Anonymous said...

The fact that he coached for 55 years makes him interesting

jim.coyne2@verizon.net

Anonymous said...

I'm not a big football fan.

jim.coyne2@verizon.net

Anonymous said...

I follow via GFC

James Coyne

jim.coyne2@verizon.net

Laura H. said...

I LOVE football! I prefer watching NFL games, particularly the Kansas City Chiefs, but don't mind watching a little college ball too.

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

Tweeted giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/MamaHendo3/status/13726292780253184

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

E-mail subscriber.

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

GFC follower (Bornajhawk).

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

Networked Blogs follower (Laura Grassie Henderson).

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

"Like" on FB (Laura Grassie Henderson).

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

Laura H. said...

Twitter follower @MamaHendo3.

BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

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