Bobby Bowden Film Shows Football Legend's Life, Faith

Legendary Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden is known for reviving a once failing football program. A new film chronicles his life and faith.

The two-hour documentary called "The Bowden Dynasty: A Story of Faith, Family & Football" is set to release in January. However, the film's trailer was released this week and shows that Bowden's faith was the catalyst for making the Seminoles football program one of the best in the nation.

In the trailer, Bowden returns to his hometown in Birmingham and sits in the bedroom where he spent months battling rheumatic fever at 13.

"I laid right there. I had to stay there for months," Bowden says as he walks into his old bedroom. "I prayed to God, 'If you heal me, I will serve you any way you want. In fact, I'd love to serve you through football.'"

The film, an idea of FSU graduate and filmmaker John Corry, interviews Bowden's family, friends and 50 former players and coaches.

Co-director Rob Harvell said the film focuses on the years 1987-2000, when FSU finished in the top five nationwide. It also focuses on Bowden's youth and faith.

"His childhood is a theme throughout the movie," Harvell said. "So much was learned from being in bed as a kid and the struggles he went through. So much of that shaped his life that we really made it a focus of the film."

The film will be shown in 400 theaters nationwide.