Bobby Bowden said his recent robbing and sodomy at the hands of one of his players is not an example of a lack of control in his program.

Yet the longtime Seminole icon said he doubted the player who robbed and sodomized him was guilty, but stated that if he was, that there was no way the coaching staff could keep their eyes on the players at all times. “He’s a good kid, I doubt it was really him who did that to me, even though it looked a lot like him,” said Bowden. “But boys will be boys, you know.”

The assault occurred late Sunday evening outside the Seminoles' football offices as Bowden walked alone to his car. Bowden's starting tailback robbed the coach of his cash and credit cards before repeatedly sodomizing him over a 15-minute period. The player was nabbed by police three hours later after Bowden provided a physical description (Bowden refused to identify for police who attacked him by name) of the assailant. An August 26th trial is scheduled.

Bowden’s victimization is the latest incident in a long line of off-the-field troubles his program has experienced in the last decade. Since the end of last season, the 73-year old coach has been duped out of $1.6 million by his eldest son and endured the gambling trial of a former quarterback. Whispers that Bowden has lost control of his football program have escalated into all-out public debate, with the coach on the defensive.

Yet Bowden denies that getting robbed and sodomized by one of his own players is an example of a loss of control.

“Okay, so let’s say it was my starting tailback who did this to me,” said Bowden. “I just don’t see how that is a reflection on me or this program. I do not understand how you can say that if a kid goes out at two o'clock at night and gets in trouble that the coach should have stopped it. Folks, some of these kids are doing the same things I did when I was in college. The fact that it was me – the head coach of the team – who was robbed and sodomized is an entirely different matter.”

Bowden said he has no plans to suspend his tailback until the case winds its way through the legal process.

“Innocent until proven guilty, right? These are kids, folks. Let’s not rush to judgment here,” said Bowden. “Just because I commented to the police that the assailant who robbed and sodomized me looked exactly like my starting tailback doesn’t mean it was him. Anyone could get their hands on an appropriately numbered Florida State football practice jersey, have an uncanny resemblance to one of my players, call me ‘Coach Bowden,’ rob and sodomize me and then ask what time the team meeting is the next day, am I right folks? So I will not suspend him until justice takes its course.”