On March 14, College Football Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Bowden visited the Billy Graham Library. Bowden greeted guests and signed copies of his books, including his latest work, The Wisdom of Faith.
Bowden is hailed as one of NCAA football’s winningest coaches. He led the Florida State Seminoles to more than 300 victories, including two national championships and 12 Atlantic Coast Conference titles. He also led the Seminoles to 28 consecutive bowl games in his career.
Some of the Billy Graham Library Facebook followers recently had the chance to ask him a few questions, and his answers are below.
What role did God play in your career? I have believed in God for as long as I remember, and I’ve always felt that obedience to His will was my number one priority in life. I tried to follow the example of Jesus when it came to raising a family and leading my coaches and players.
How did your faith affect your coaching? Whenever things got bad during my career, or when I faced challenging moments, I believed that God somehow would guide me through it. Faith allowed me to stay focused on things within my power while leaving the rest of it in God’s hands.
What is your favorite Bible verse and why? My favorite verse is Psalm 42:1, “As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God.” My mother taught me that verse when I was about 11 years old. It’s the first verse I ever memorized.
How can I endure hardships with patience? I firmly believe that good character comes only through adversity. When I trusted God during difficult times, He always strengthened me and helped me persevere. I know my life is in God’s hands every minute. There’s no need to panic.
Keep up with the Billy Graham Library on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to find out about the latest events including book signings, homeschool programs and children’s activities.
