1. Vol. 40, No. 19 Section 01 Tallahassee, Florida May 8-14, 2014
www.capitaloutlook.com
50 cents
FSU Graduates Get Advice from Coaching Legend
By Aldranon
English II
Outlook Staff
Writer
Smiling faces,
relief, joy, laugh-
ter and graduation
jitters were seen
on the faces of
more than 2,000
graduates as they
prepared to walk
across the stage
May 3 at 9 a.m.
during Florida
State University’s
Spring 2014 Com-
mencement Cer-
emony held at the
Donald L. Tucker
Civic Center.
Retired head
football coach
Bobby Bowden
gave the com-
mencement ad-
dress. Plus, he
received an Hon-
orary Doctorate of
Humane Letters,
which was placed
on him by Interim
President Garnett
Stokes during the
ceremony.
Bowden, who
worked as FSU’s
head football coach
from 1976 to 2009,
holds the NCAA
record for most ca-
reer wins. He led
the Seminoles to
national champion-
ships in 1993 and
1999 as well as 12
Atlantic Coast Con-
ference champion-
ships. Bowden has
written or co-writ-
ten several books on
topics ranging from
leadership to faith,
including “The
Bowden Way” and
“Called to Coach.”
Bowden answered
a few questions be-
fore addressing the
sea of graduates
awaiting his words
of wisdom and en-
couragement.
What does it
mean to you being
here speaking to the graduates? “Well, I ap-
see ADVICE, page 2

2. www.capitaloutlook.com Capital Outlook May 8-14, 2014 2
preciate it,” said
Bowden. “I didn’t
expect it but the
president called me
and told me that
they would like to
present a doctor-
ate to me so I was
pleased about it,
excited and anxious
to talk to these stu-
dents.”
How did it make
you feel when you
were called upon
to receive this hon-
or?
“It makes me feel
good; what better
honor they could
have given me?”
said Bowden. “I re-
ally appreciate it.”
What is your
message for to-
day’s ceremony?
“I’ll tell them
some of the expe-
riences that I went
through that might
help them,” said
Bowden. “Give them
a few words of en-
couragement; try to
help them.”
Have you ever
done a commence-
ment speech be-
fore?
“Well, I got an-
other doctorate from
another school,
but I didn’t have
to make a speech,”
said Bowden. “So I
guess I have to make
a speech this time,”
Bowden said as he
chuckled after mak-
ing the comment.
How different is
this compared to a
pregame speech to
your players?
“Well, you plan
that and you plan this
so it’s not that much
of a difference,” said
Bowden.
You have led a
life full of great suc-
cess, what does it
mean to you to be
able to share that
experience to grad-
uates?
“Well that is all
I do now; I speak
all the time,” said
Bowden. “I was in
Arkansas last night
then I was in Missis-
sippi. I spoke every
night this week. And
what you are doing
is going through life
experiences trying to
tell them things that
will help them.”
Bowden had much
to say about his life
experiences, particu-
larly when it came to
overcoming obsta-
cles. A lesson he stat-
ed that the graduates
would appreciate as
they go through life.
“Mind unlocks all
barriers, don’t let
barriers stand in your
way,” said Bowden.
Bowden ended his
commencement ad-
dress with powerful
words of wisdom for
graduates to adhere
to before they make
their own mark on
the world.
“Your character
is worth more than
your reputation.
Your reputation is
what people say
about you but your
character is what
God knows about
you,” said Bowden.
Stokes praised the
new graduates be-
fore conferring the
many academic de-
grees.
“Congratulations
graduates of 2014,
you are now a part of
a prestigious group
of more than 300,000
alumni,” she said.
FSU orchestrated
three graduation
services with more
than 6,000 graduates
during the weekend.
The ceremonies rec-
ognized students
who have received
academic honors,
inductees of the Gar-
net and Gold Scholar
Society as well as
veterans. Several
graduates also wore
honor cords signify-
ing their achieve-
ments during the cer-
emony.
Photo by Aldranon English II
Graduates sat anxiously for their name to be called during FSU’s
commencement ceremony May 3.
Photo by Aldranon English II
FSU’s Interim President Garnett Stokes presented Bowden an Honor-
ary Doctorate as well as conferment of degrees.
Photo by Aldranon English II
FSU’s Student Government Association President Rosie Contreras
gave a moving speech during graduation.
ADVICE CONTI-