[Tuck4Bama]

TUSCALOOSA - Two years ago, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden approached his athletics director with a question.

The legendary coach wanted to play his home state team. In his 32 years at Florida State, the Birmingham native had never faced the University of Alabama.

So he asked Dave Hart, an Alabama graduate and former basketball player, could it happen before he retired?

Turns out, it could. In Saturday's River City Showdown, No.22 Alabama plays Florida State in Jacksonville Municipal Stadium at 4 p.m. on CBS.
These games aren't new for the Gator Bowl Association, which hosts a bowl game, the annual Georgia-Florida game, among other events. But this one had a certain mega-watt appeal.

So what was the reaction of Rick Catlett, Gator Bowl Association president, when he learned it was a reality?

"I tried to control my emotions," Catlett said. "But as soon as I walked away from Dave Hart, I did a back flip down the hallway."

Who would argue against a game between two of college football's biggest names? Who would argue with watching college football's winningest coach against the program that featured coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, once the winningest coach himself?

No slowdown for football Showdown- al.com

[Stoney]

What a shame that Bobby Bowden never coached at Alabama instead of Ray Perkins.