University News

ABC Sports Analyst Terry Bowden to Speak at Military Ball

March 15, 2005

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MACOMB, IL - - ABC Sports college football commentator and analyst Terry Bowden will be the distinguished guest speaker for Western Illinois UniversityÂ’s Military Ball Friday, April 1 in the Union Grand Ballroom.

Presented by WIUÂ’s military science department and Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) cadets, the eveningÂ’s events begin at 6 p.m. with a social, followed by dinner, a program and dancing in the Union Grand Ballroom. Twenty-four ROTC cadets scheduled to be commissioned second lieutenants in the U.S. Army this calendar year will be introduced and enter the Ball under the traditional Arch of Swords.

"Participation in a formal military function is one of the more eagerly anticipated elements of our curriculum," said LTC Mick Cumbie, chair of Western's military science department. "It's a military tradition, and it offers the opportunity for our cadre and cadets to gather socially with the greater University and Macomb communities.

“It’s an added treat for us to have a nationally recognized sports personality such as Coach Bowden as our guest speaker,” Cumbie added.

Bowden was the head football coach at Auburn University from 1993 to 1998, leading the Tigers to an overall 47-16-1 record and three post-season bowl games. He became the first Division I coach to go undefeated in his first season, an accomplishment which earned him the unanimous 1993 National Coach of the Year award.

He previously served as head coach at Samford University (1987-1992) and quarterbacks coach at Akron (1986). In 1983 at the age of 26, Bowden became the youngest head football coach in America when he was hired by Salem College (VA). He also served as a graduate assistant (1979-1982) under his legendary father Bobby at Florida State University, where he earned a juris doctorate.

Bowden, who earned two letters as a running back for the West Virginia University Mountaineers (1977-1978), began his coaching career with his alma mater as a graduate assistant in 1978.

Bowden joined ABC Sports as the college football studio analyst in August 1999.

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Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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