Bowden Is No Ordinary Joe

Bobby Bowden passed Joe Paterno as the winningest coach in Division I-A history, picking up career victory No. 339 after No. 6 Florida State defeated Wake Forest, 48-24, and clinched at least a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference title.

As has been his custom, Bowden was sheepish about passing his good friend Paterno. It’s certainly possible they could go on trading places until one of them retires, although neither appears ready to call it quits.

“It’s something that happened,” Bowden said. “I’m kind of uncomfortable about it because it ain’t over. I expect Joe to come back and he will, and I’ll do the best I can do.”

Bowden last year passed his idol, the late Alabama Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Bowden, Paterno and Bryant each trail former Grambling Coach Eddie Robinson, who had an NCAA record for all divisions with 408 victories.

“When Joe broke Bear’s record, Bear couldn’t do anything about it [because] he was underneath,” Bowden said. “We broke Joe’s, but big Joe’s still out there huntin’ and peckin’.

Far from the limelight, in a Division III game at Collegeville, Minn., John Gagliardi earned his 407th victory and moved within one of tying Robinson.

Gagliardi, 76, and in his 55th season at St. John’s, can tie the mark if the Johnnies (7-0) defeat St. Thomas next week. St. John’s defeated Concordia Moorhead, 24-12, with Blake Elliott tying a division record with a catch in his 40th consecutive game.

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Top of the Mark

Coaches with most victories in Division I-A:

*--* Coach W L T Bobby Bowden 339 97 4 Joe Paterno 338 106 3 Bear Bryant 323 85 17 Pop Warner 319 106 32 Amos Alonzo Stagg 314 199 35 LaVell Edwards 257 101 3 Tom Osborne 255 49 3 Lou Holtz 243 123 7 Woody Hayes 238 72 10 Bo Schembechler 234 65 8

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*--* Active coaches with most victories in Division I-A: Bobby Bowden, Florida State 339 Joe Paterno, Penn State 338 Lou Holtz, South Carolina 243 Jackie Sherrill, Mississippi State 180 Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech 165 Ken Hatfield, Rice 160

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