The documentary project was conceived and produced by four classmates, John Corry, Rick Brawner, Mike Ortoll and Scott Davis, who graduated from Florida State in the mid-eighties. For nearly two years, their hired team of veteran filmmakers traversed North America, interviewing over sixty family, friends, former coaches and players to tell the story.
The Bowden Dynasty was released nationwide in 337 theaters in 2017 and was licensed for one-year to ESPN to help launch the ACC Network in the fall of 2019. The film has not been available for streaming or download until now.
Beginning with a childhood fight for life against a debilitating disease, to the playing field where he starred, and ultimately to the sidelines where he built his legacy, The Bowden Dynasty explores Bobby Bowden’s rags to riches life story.
At Florida State, he took over a program in disrepair and fought against all odds and countless obstacles to forge one of the greatest dynasties in the history of sports. Imagine a team today making the College Football Playoffs 14 years in a row. It’s almost unfathomable. From 1987 to 2000, the Florida State Seminole football team won the hearts of America with a 14-year run of success - capturing two national championships, while also racking up at least 10 wins, and finishing in the Top-4 each season during their dynasty.
The film features dozens of participants including:
FRED BILETNIKOFF, PETER BOULWARE, THE BOWDEN FAMILY, DERRICK BROOKS, MACK BROWN, KENNY CHESNEY, LEE CORSO, VINCE DOOLEY, WARRICK DUNN, JIMBO FISHER, LOU HOLTZ, JIMMY JOHNSON, MARVIN JONES, JIM KELLY, BURT REYNOLDS, MARK RICHT, NICK SABAN, DEION SANDERS, HOWARD SCHNELLENBERGER, BART STARR, ANDRE WADSWORTH, CHARLIE WARD, PETER WARRICK, CHRIS WEINKE and DANNY WUERFFEL