Bobby Bowden's rings, handwritten notes sell for thousands as auction ends

Bobby Bowden’s rings represented a defining era in Florida State football history — worn by the man who rescued the program and built it into a national powerhouse. So it came as little surprise that Bowden’s collection of 27 rings emerged as some of the most sought‑after items for a second consecutive night as the Bobby Bowden Legacy Auction closed Wednesday, March 18. Bowden’s 1995 ACC championship ring led the final night, selling for $15,250, while his 1999 Fiesta Bowl ring fetched $14,500.

Several others — including Sugar Bowl, Gator Bowl and ACC championship rings — clustered in the $6,750 to $7,000 range. Two of four commemorative rings discovered on Bowden’s closet floor — representing his 389 career wins — sold for $5,000 and $5,250. Tuesday’s top bid of $20,000 went to Bowden’s engraved 1993 Orange Bowl ring, symbolizing the first national championship for both Bowden and the Seminoles.

By the time bidding wound down, nearly 1,925 registered bidders had participated, placing more than 33,000 bids across 1,568 items, with only seven lots failing to receive a single bid. Tallahassee resident and FSU alum Reagan Hobbs on Tuesday emerged as the winning bidder at $670,000 for Bowden's Killearn Estates home. With a 10% buyer’s premium, the final sale price totaled $737,000.

More: Bobby Bowden Legacy Auction: Team finds 'treasures' ahead of bidding Bobby Bowden's handwritten legal pads also popular Not all of the auction’s biggest moments came from championship hardware. One of the more surprising results involved collections of Bowden’s handwritten legal pads — filled with notes, one‑liners and personal thoughts. One lot sold for $3,000 , followed by others at $2,700, $2,150 and $1,450.