A friend of ours moved to Tampa some years ago from Minnesota.  She said it was two degrees when she left. She is not going back. Few do.

Jack Espinosa, one-time Cuban stand-up comedian said he is going to the Buccaneers-Atlanta game Sunday, sit in the endzone in the sun and shoot birds at the Falcons.  He is going to do that because he can and it gives him a little bit of satisfaction to hurl taunts, “because the poor devils have to go back to Atlanta after the game and I can stay here in warmer Tampa and live my life the way I want to.”

There is not much real satisfaction there for our friend from Minnesota or for Espinosa, except in a sort of “get even” manner because the opposition has to go home to their chilling place.

The truth is, this doesn’t differ that much from the Gators and Tim Tebow when they could go to New Orleans, simply beat the hound out of Cincinnati where it was cold outside but warm inside and they could then return to their own warm place, Gainesville, here in Florida. And beat the hound out of Cincinnati, the Gators did in New Orleans. It was a mismatch, but it certainly gave Tebow the opportunity he needed to showcase his talent before a national audience.  He was a dandy performer and is as good as ever and may be getting better. 

The deal here is that these programs that are good are getting better all of the time—like the Gators or like Florida State Seminoles did in the Gator Bowl.  Frankly, I don’t see any of these programs losing any ground at all in these post-season games.  On this great showcase weekend, these Florida products simply demonstrated how speed rules in football, and speed is native to the State of Florida. 

This past weekend of bowl games was one of fine viewing and matchups.  The best of all was the Outback Bowl, right here in Tampa, it was a back and forth, lead-changing event that deserved more in the live audience than were drawn.  The conclusion overall was that it was the best of all games. 

Florida—Cincinnati was a mismatch with Florida on the long end, as was the Florida State domination of West Virginia, here in Jacksonville.  It was a perfect exit circumstance for the wonderful Bobby Bowden who managed yet another victory over West Virginia, from where he came to the Florida State coaching job.  There is no dirt on Bobby Bowden, no shortcomings, what you see is what you get.  It is a fact that “dadgummit” is his strongest expletive. Bowden leaves the Seminoles with his head high, and his plate clean.  If he has violated any of the rules, I don’t know anything about it.  I don’t think he would even if he knew if he could and get away with it. It was a proud moment this weekend in Jacksonville when so many of his old players returned to see him bow out, in victory, in style, and one final dadgummit.  I played golf with him often and he often miss the kind of shot that would make you or I want to saymore than just “shoot fire” but he never did.  I was with him when he got the job at FSU, while having dinner with old friend, Bill Watson, and he never looked back. I will miss Bobby Bowden in football, and so will you, Seminoles.  He carried your banner long and proudly. 

I think I heard him say “shucks” once after he had topped a golf tee shot.

I don’t know if the Seminoles will miss Bobby Bowden much more than the Gators will miss Tim Tebow, the gifted quarterback who played his final game in the Sugar Bowl on Friday night this weekend.  I mean if Bobby Bowden quoted the Bible even more than Tim Tebow, somebody will have to show me some accounting.  They are both honest, meaningful, and true to their beliefs.  Tebow’s parents were missionaries and he was born in the Philippines.  He is likely to return there in the future to establish a school for children.  Tebow had his scriptures painted on his cheeks, for all to see during the games he played just before he leveled the opposing obstacle.  The question now is what position he will play in the professionals.  I don’t know that it matters where he will play.

In my long years in this gratifying business, surely Bowden and young Tebow have been bonuses.  They are classy men.