Todd Stroud's visit with Bobby Bowden in 2019 ended with pair flashing the U sign
Yes, Bobby Bowden was concerned how Florida State fans might react to the photo. However, his appreciation of humor and support for Todd Stroud proved much stronger than optics.
So, the Seminoles' legendary football coach raised his right hand, spread his fingers and touched thumbs with Stroud as the two flashed the U hand sign for prosperity.
"Coach and I had a special relationship," Stroud told the Tallahassee Democrat ahead of Saturday's FSU-UM game at Hard Rock Stadium at 7 p.m. on ESPN. "He recruited me when I was 17. I am close friends with all his sons and, after my playing days, we shared an appreciation for humor.
"Coach loved to play and joke more than anyone, maybe except for me."
Bobby Bowden and Miami football are forever intertwined
As fate would have it, Stroud's visit to Bowden's Killearn Estates home in May of 2019 was the last time Stroud saw Bowden in person. The pair continued to connect on the phone, but Bowden died from pancreatic cancer at his home on Aug. 8, 2021. He was 91.
Stroud, a former FSU player and assistant coach, was hired as an assistant coach at UM in 2019 and was recruiting Tallahassee and the Big Bend that spring. As he often did when in town, Stroud walked through the house's back door and sat with Bowden in his den for hours.
This particular time, Bowden's grandson Hunter was also at the house. As Stroud's visit neared an end, Hunter obviously knew a good photo opportunity — Bowden was in Seminole garnet, Stroud in UM green — when he saw one.
"Hunter was at the house and, before I left, we were clowning around and Hunter snapped that picture," Stroud said. "Hunter prodded him a little bit to throw up the U with me and coach said he wasn’t worried about him.
"But he was worried about me taking that picture," Stroud added with a laugh.
Bowden was right.
As one might guess, it generated immediate reaction when shared on social media.
"I had the entire fan base and old friends get after me via private messages and social media," said Stroud, in his fourth season as senior football advisor at UM after he served as assistant head coach/defensive line coach in 2019-2020.
"The truth is that Coach was very proud of me and was willing to support an ex-player in his new endeavor.
"I still miss him every day."
FSU football vs Miami time today
Date: Saturday, Oct. 26
Start time: 7 p.m. ET
The Florida State vs Miami game starts at 7 p.m. from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
What channel is Florida State football vs Miami on today?
TV channel: ESPN
Livestream: ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)
Florida State vs. Miami will broadcast nationally on ESPN in Week 9 of the 2024 college football season. Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek will call the game from the booth at Hard Rock Stadium, with Taylor McGregor reporting from the sidelines. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+ and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: How FSU's Bobby Bowden once supported former player by flashing U sign
