THOMASVILLE — Bobby Bowden hadn’t teed up a golf ball in two weeks.

That didn’t stop the Florida State football coach from hitting a straight drive on his first shot Monday. It was the first of many.

The legendary coach spent his Memorial Day participating in the Ben Jackson FCA Golf Tournament.

The Rose City has become a home away from home for Bowden.

“We spend a lot more time here than anywhere else,” Bowden said. “The football team has been coming up here the last 33 years on Friday nights. Of course, this golf tournament, I don’t know how long we’ve had this golf tournament. It’s been a long time.

“I’ve watched it grow. I’ve watched it grow from few to many, so it’s done real well.”

The 79-year-old coach has been sick the last couple of weeks, which has kept him away from golfing. The illness wasn’t about to keep Bowden away from Country Oaks on Monday, however.

“I don’t like to miss this one,” Bowden said. “I’ve watched it grow (through) the years. The FCA and south Georgia have really grown.”

The Seminoles football team has grown since Bowden first arrived in Tallahassee. Before his arrival, Florida State had only three conference titles and zero national championships. In Bowden’s 33 years, Florida State has won 12 conference championships and two national titles. Bowden’s success has led him to become the second-winningest coach in Division I with 382, one behind Penn State’s Joe Paterno.

Bowden could lose some of those historic wins, however.

More than two months ago, Florida State’s football program was put on probation after being penalized for an academic cheating scandal that rocked the school’s athletic department. The baseball, mens’s basketball and women’s basketball teams were also affected as 61 athletes were involved. As part of the disciplinary actions taken against the football team, the school was ordered to vacate 14 wins.

“That could happen. Our university has appealed it,” Bowden said. “It seems very unfair to me. I won’t lose a minute of sleep over it. They can take it away — how? — on paper.

“I don’t worry about it. There’s more to life than that.”

Florida State expects to hear from the NCAA as early as to on its appeal of sanctions.