Bobby takes the stand

Bowden testimony highlights 2nd day of McPherson trial

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Heading into his 28th year as head football coach at Florida State, Bobby Bowden has experienced just about everything -- errant field goals, player shopping sprees with sports agents, verbal squabbles with ex-Florida boss Steve Spurrier.

Yet none of that seemed to prepare a fidgety Bowden for his turn on the witness stand Thursday in former FSU quarterback Adrian McPherson's misdemeanor gambling trial. Why call him as a defense witness for a player who disgraced his program? Maybe just the buzz of bringing in the biggest name in town?

The news of the day was supposed to be McPherson, the ex-Florida State quarterback, winning or losing the first round of his summer trilogy of court battles, but the six-member jury could not come to a unanimous verdict on his misdemeanor gambling charge. In fact, the jury could never come to a decision, as the judge declared a mistrial on Friday.

But make no mistake -- it was Robert C. Bowden strolling into the courthouse Thursday that had the cameras rolling and the spectators on the edge of their seats.

Dressed in a dark suit and white shirt, Bowden was called to the stand by defense attorney Grady Irvin, who handled the 73-year-old coach with kid gloves during his 10 minutes of testimony.

Adrian McPherson Timeline Nov. 25, 2002 McPherson booted from FSU amid blank-check investigation Nov. 26, 2002 Fish: Bowden bucks trend as laissez-faire disciplinarian Nov. 27, 2002 McPherson turns himself in to Tallahassee police Nov. 27, 2002 Fish: Shop owner says McPherson sought damage control too late Dec. 19, 2002 McPherson at center of gambling probe into Florida State Dec. 20, 2002 McPherson to ask NCAA to investigate Florida State Jan. 14, 2003 Troubled Ex-FSU QB enrolls at Murray State Jan. 24, 2003 Fish: This quarterback's tale just gets curiouser and curiouser Jan. 30, 2003 Two more charges filed against McPherson Feb. 5, 2003 Moving on, again: McPherson drops out of D-II Murray State Feb. 13, 2003 Fish: Even more bad check charges filed against ex-FSU quarterback March 4, 2003 McPherson charged with betting on Florida State games March 4, 2003 Fish: McPherson flat-out denies gambling on Seminole games March 5, 2003 Attorney: McPherson will plead innocent to gambling charges March 6, 2003 Prosecutors: McPherson could be charged with additional crimes April 4, 2003 Fish: How much did FSU know about McPherson's gambling? April 10, 2003 Attorney: McPherson was Seminoles' 'scapegoat' June 3, 2003 Fish: Trial could be dicey for FSU coaches June 4, 2003 Trial opens, friend testifies McPherson bet on FSU June 4, 2003 Fish: McPherson's ex-friends could have final word June 5, 2003 Bowden's testimony prompts failed request for mistrial June 5, 2003 Fish: Bowden testimony highlights second day of trial June 6, 2003 Judge declares mistrial in McPherson gambling case

How did McPherson perform as a starter last fall, coach?

“I would say good," Bowden said. “We won the first three games. Can’t get any better than that."

Any individual responsible for the loss at North Carolina State to end the regular season?

“No, you can say some played poorly ... but it’s a team loss."

Now, McPherson didn’t throw an interception against N.C. State -- but is he capable of throwing one if he wanted?

“Yeah."

So far, so good.

Bowden said nice things about McPherson, providing cover against suggestions that the quarterback might have thrown the game at N.C. State. But the coach, who frustrated investigators with previous inconsistent statements, left prosecutor Georgia Cappleman scrambling during her cross-examination.

Cappleman, the 27-year-old daughter of former FSU quarterback Bill Cappleman, brought laughter to the courtroom when she initially begged off on cross-examining the coach. "I don’t really have any questions, Judge," she said. "I just want to be able to say I cross-examined Bobby Bowden."

But then she approached the legendary coach, asking if it wasn’t true he had no idea McPherson was gambling last October and November.

"No," Bowden replied, "[but] we got rumors back in June ... checked them out, and found nothing."

Oops. Not so fast, coach.

The coach’s innocent audible brought Cappleman forward to quickly cut him off. The judge had limited prosecutors' case to alleged Internet gambling activity by McPherson last October and November, and Irvin took advantage of the coach’s expansive answer to ask for a mistrial -- which was denied.

During his closing argument, Irvin openly mocked Cappleman for fawning over the coach, for failing to question him like a prosecutor should. Cappleman has cast Bowden’s appearance as a "dog-and-pony show" staged by Irvin to muddy the waters.

In his closing statement, Irvin deftly play-acted for the jury as if he were the prosecutor, grilling a phantom witness on whether McPherson was at practice on the days and times he allegedly made phone calls to an Internet gambling service.

McPherson's former roommate Marcello Church testified that the team normally had meetings and practice from 4 to 9 p.m. Mondays, which were two of the days -- Oct. 21 and Nov. 4 -- that the prosecution contends McPherson called SBG Global. Phone records revealed calls were placed from a cell phone belonging to McPherson at 8:13 and 8:32 p.m. on Oct. 21, and 6:35 and 7 p.m. on Nov. 4

Oddly, the prosecution didn’t document McPherson’s whereabouts during the time he allegedly called the gambling service. Nor did prosecutors apparently confirm the FSU practice schedule.

If so, they would have found FSU was off on Oct. 19 and didn’t follow the normal Monday schedule portrayed by Church on Oct. 21 or Nov. 4. Instead, school officials told Court TV, practice was scheduled from 3:10 p.m. to 5:55 p.m. on Oct. 21 and 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. on Nov. 4

Nor did investigators apparently call the NCAA, which would have revealed that the maximum practice/meeting time a day is four hours and 20 hours in a week (a game counts for three of the hours). So testimony by Church of five-hour commitments on Monday, if true, would place FSU in violation of rules.

"Ain’t a darn thing wrong practicing 4 to 9," Irvin declared in his closing argument. "That’s how you make national championship teams."

By that time, of course, Irvin had a good feel for the outcome. He staged a defense that consumed less than an hour. Only two witnesses were paraded to the stand -- neither of them his client, McPherson.

Mike Fish is a senior writer for SI.com.

Comments? To e-mail Fish, click here.

 

Related information

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video