The earlier, the better.

Even while smartphones never seem to leave the hands of most people, the landline telephone never lost its relevance in the Bowden home. In fact, attempts to reach Bobby Bowden on his cell phone were nearly impossible.

His wife Ann once joked the last time she saw her husband's cell phone was on top of the car – as he put the vehicle in reverse and accelerated.

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It's well-known that Bowden, who passed away early Sunday morning from pancreatic cancer at age 91, was a creature of habit.

Early to bed, early to rise.

I routinely telephoned Bowden at his Killearn Estates home over the years, especially following his retirement as the Seminoles' football coach after the 2009 season. Bowden always felt he owed reporters a story when they telephoned or requested an interview, and he never disappointed.

However, many times over the past few years I dialed the Bowden home simply to say hello. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations and marveled at his wit, memory and storytelling. There might be medical definitions of age by the decades, but Bowden was perpetually young in heart, soul and energy.

When I once asked coach if there was a best time to telephone, he answered,

"The earlier, the better."

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A man of faith and routine

Bowden explained he headed to his bedroom around 8 p.m. and woke up around 4 a.m. He relished his mornings, reading the Bible with a cup of coffee, skimming through the Tallahassee Democrat or reading his latest book, usually military related. He also had joined the digital crowd, checking and answering emails on his laptop.

When in town and healthy, Bowden walked his neighborhood or hit golf balls at Killearn Country Club behind his home. However, these joys - in addition to his speaking engagements - were eventually stolen by a bothersome hip and back pain. Although a cane helped him maneuver more comfortably and safely, he never acknowledged it because it signaled he was slowing down as he aged.

Bowden winked and called it a "walking stick."

And since Ann stopped cooking when the youngest of their six children moved out many years ago, the couple usually headed to dinner at a local restaurant around 4 p.m. to beat the crowd.

Of course, their routine had changed in late 2020.

The pandemic kept everyone close to home. And Bowden's health started to decline after he caught COVID-19 – an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus – during a hospital/rehabilitation stay.

Yet Bowden's gift of storytelling was powerful.

I never felt comfortable calling Bowden's home before 9 a.m., or taking up too much of his time. However, I once accepted his offer of "the earlier, the better" and buzzed around 7 a.m.

Coach answered, "Tommy."

Bowden enjoyed a hearty chuckle when I identified myself and he explained his son Tommy usually called bright and really-early.

I politely returned to my 9 a.m. time slot.

Mostly, our conversations centered on college football, faith and family. Naturally, there were occasions when Ann answered the telephone before her husband. Ann – affable, protective and known to speak her mind – is an absolute joy. An advocate of honesty and perspective, Ann can spin a story, too. There were many times we talked at length – and I missed connecting with Coach.

They were a delightful team that made me smile.

Building a powerhouse FSU team and a powerful marriage

Bowden built FSU's football program to national prominence, one that competed for national titles for nearly two decades. Life after FSU in Tallahassee was relaxing and enjoyable. He often talked about his faith and the role it played in his life and career. Family reunions at his beach house in Panama City featured more than 40 members, though a smaller planned get-together in late June/early July was canceled due to Bowden's failing health.

Bowden never avoided a question during our early-morning conversations. But he remained honestly crafty when necessary. I often wondered if he had deeper feelings regarding his forced resignation at FSU. I framed the question differently over the years. Bowden never hesitated, opting to focus on the present and not the past when it came to that emotional decision.

Two of my favorite interviews/columns with Bowden and Ann were in 2019. One column was on their 70th wedding anniversary, the other on their family Christmas memories.

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Bowden and Ann married on April 1, 1949. Bobby was 19 years old. Ann Estock was 16. Bowden borrowed $20 from a friend and the couple drove 120 miles from their hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, to Rising Fawn, Georgia. They were married at the home of the town’s Justice of the Peace and kept it a secret from family and most friends early on.

Bowden grabbed my elbow at an FSU function to excitedly alert me about his anniversary. He described his secret sauce to a happy marriage as "give-and-take." He explained, "I don’t think one of you needs to dominate You give into her some, and she gives into you some. It’s not a one-way street.”

Ann was a bit more descriptive, saying with a laugh, "When we were as young as we were when we married, there was jawing back and forth as you expect. I told Bobby as you’ve gotten older, he’s really gotten sweeter."

Their Christmas memories focused on Bowden's early years in coaching when money was sparse. Bowden was a one-man show from 1956-58 at South Georgia State College, located in Douglas, Georgia. He was the school’s athletic director, in addition to its football, basketball and baseball head coach. His annual salary was $4,200. The family (they had four kids at that time) traveled in a used station wagon.

"We thought we were sitting on easy street,” Bowden said. "I thought I was rich." Added Ann: "At that time we spent our money on necessities – like food, diapers and utilities." Ann, without hesitation, said those memories were among her most cherished.

Bowden’s love of football, of course, began while watching his neighborhood high school team practice beyond his backyard fence in Birmingham. He was an outstanding football player who went into coaching, married his childhood sweetheart and saved FSU football. He won two national titles in 34 Seminole seasons and his 377 all-time wins rank second at the top level of college football behind Penn State coach Joe Paterno.

Bowden's impact on the game and influence on generations of players lives on today.

Family, friends and former players visited with Bowden over the past few months. The last time I saw Coach was in July. I pulled into his driveway, left my car engine running and stuck my head in his den to say hello. Thirty minutes later – with my car still idling in the driveway – we shook hands goodbye. We talked another day on the phone. He was upbeat but sounded tired.

Even during Bowden's final weeks after it was revealed he had pancreatic cancer, Ann removed the "Do not disturb" signs that were placed in their front yard. She felt the interaction, familiar faces were a good elixir for her hubby. Bowden also still enjoyed wearing his FSU colors and talking football in his final days.

Ann and their six children were with him when Bowden's spirit slipped peacefully away, surely into heaven's eternity at God's side.

I am going to miss dialing Bowden's landline telephone.

The earlier, the better.

Godspeed Coach.

Jim Henry is sports editor of the Tallahassee Democrat and Nolesports.com. Email him at jjhenry@tallahassee.com

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU's Bobby Bowden enjoyed his mornings