TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles fulfilled a promise made to his late mother, Joan, that he would earn his college degree, walking across the stage at Mount St. Mary's University Saturday 37 years after leaving school to enter the NFL.
Bowles missed the second day of Buccaneers' rookie camp to attend the ceremony in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he addressed the graduating class and earned a standing ovation from the students and faculty. Bowles' degree is a Bachelor's of Science in youth and community development.
"This is an amazing, amazing thing for me to be in a class with you," he told the students.