Florida State Icon Bobby Bowden Speaks Truth On Jameis Winston

By Matt Johnson @mattytheole on October 19, 2014

Just about every football fan around the country knows the name Jameis Winston. Unfortunately for supporters of the Florida State Seminoles, that hasn’t been a good thing recently.

While there is little question that Winston is a supremely gifted quarterback prospect on the field, his antics off the field have severely clouded perceptions of both the Seminole football program and the university itself.

No one is more aware of that than Bobby Bowden, the man responsible for Florida State’s rise to national prominence during the 1980s and 90s. Bowden’s resume speaks for itself: 377 wins, 12 ACC titles and two National Championships. So when the 84-year-old coach speaks, people listen. And Bowden has plenty to say about Winston.

When asked about Florida State’s latest gridiron star, Bowden told ESPN:

“He’s got to grow up. He’s got to grow up. He does things that kids in grammar school would do, or kids in junior high would do, you know it. And I think once he draws the line and says I’m not going to step below this another time – and I think he can do that – but if he don’t he’s going to make it mighty tough on himself. I think his draft status has already dropped way down, but you know what’s amazing to me about him? I don’t care what goes on off the field; once he gets under the center he blocks everything else out.”

In other words, Bowden wants Winston to grow up. He’s not the only one.

For all his unwavering support of Winston, coach Jimbo Fisher must be getting increasingly weary of the way his quarterback causes outsiders to roll their collective eyes at both his program and school. The enduring perception is of an institution soft-pedaling possible punishments for a star athlete who is netting millions of dollars each Saturday. As damaging as this perception is to Florida State as an institution, it’s equally harmful to Winston, who is almost certainly looking for a move to the NFL sooner rather than later.

Whether Winston ultimately cleans up his act remains to be seen. Many aren’t betting on it, considering the laundry list of juvenile activity Winston has engaged in over the past two years. In that regard, Bowden is almost pleading with the young man to grow up. As a coach, Bowden worked with plenty of troubled athletes on his way to becoming the NCAA’s all-time winningest coach. Now, he’s playing the part of wise mentor to an otherwise troubled professional prospect who has, at times, seemed almost determined to shoot himself in the foot.

At this point, Bowden’s final words about Winston are what are keeping NFL teams enamored with the 6-foot-4 signal caller. No matter what has happened off the field, Winston has continued to shine during games. NFL teams like individuals that can perform under the glaring eye of public scrutiny, and Winston has proven capable of doing just that.

Nevertheless, Bowden is also aware that Winston is facing a critical juncture in his football career. Claiming the Heisman Trophy was nice, as was winning the national title last season, but the truth is that no one in the NFL cares. Johnny Manziel is learning just that in his first year with the Cleveland Browns. Winston will likely find out the same thing in a few months.

Bowden also knows it, which is why Winston would do well to heed the words of Florida State’s enduring football icon. Undoubtedly, folks around the Seminole program have pleaded with Winston to grow up. Now Bowden has done the same. Whether Winston will finally listen remains a question only he can answer.

Matt Johnson is a sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter at mattytheole or “like” him on Facebook