Despite beating the University of Florida earlier in the season in their own backyard, the Seminoles were forced to play the Gators again for the title just two weeks ago at the Sugar Bowl.
Nebraska's loss to Texas in the Big 12 championship caused some last-second changes in the Bowl Alliance's lineup, forcing a rematch that only Florida fans wanted to see.
"In a perfect world, we would have played Arizona State for the national championship because we were the only unbeaten teams," Bowden said after a Hooters Hula Bowl practice this week.
"I didn't like having to play Florida again because they were so good. If they hadn't been that good, I guess I wouldn't have minded as much.
"Here we already fought our guts out to beat them up in Tallahassee. We beat the No. 1 football team. Then to have to go play them again, well, we'd rather not."
Bowden looked over to where Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel was standing, shook his head and smiled.
"That loss was a big sting," Bowden said. "You have to give a lot of credit to that man (Wuerffel) over there because he executed their game plan to perfection.
"It's the second time we've been in the bowl that if you win it, you take home the national championship. In 1993, we won it. The thing is, when you get down that far, everything is in one big basket.
"It hurts when you don't get it. You can't have but one winner. Florida beat us and they deserve the national ranking. I just wish we could have slowed them down enough to make a game of it. The opportunity was there for us. We just weren't good enough."
Even though the Bowl Alliance was unable to match No. 1 and No. 2, Bowden is still a fan of that process. In his mind, designing a playoff system that suits everyone is next to impossible.
"I think that once we get the Big Ten and the Pac-10 into the alliance, that's going to solve our problems," Bowden said. "This year, it should have been us and Arizona State. They just couldn't pair it up. When the Rose Bowl comes into the alliance, then we'll always be able to put one vs. two where ever they are.
"In my opinion, that's about as close as we're ever going to get to a playoff. It's not conducive to the college football scene.
"People say we have it in basketball and baseball, but we can't play doubleheaders or three games a week like they can. We've always done it by vote. And when we come out with the vote, it's usually the right team."
Bowden just hopes he gets a chance to be in it a few more times before he retires. It took him a long time to win the title. He'd like to add at least one more.
This last loss to the Gators was the first one for Bowden in a bowl game in 15 years. Since that 18-17 defeat to Oklahoma in the 1981 Orange Bowl, Bowden won three Orange, two Sugar, two Fiesta, one Cotton, two Gator and one All-American.
"I guess I picked a bad time to lose one," Bowden said, then smiled. "In 1996, I signed a five-year deal with Florida State. I'd like to make that if I can.
"At my age, which is 67, as long as I have a desire to coach, I'm going to coach. I'm not one of these guys who can't wait to retire. That's not me. As long as I'm healthy and can get the job done, I want to coach."
The players on the South team in this weekend's Hula Bowl have enjoyed being with Bowden, including Wuerffel, who not only captured the national championship, but also the Heisman Trophy.
"It's kind of strange walking the same sidelines as Coach Bowden," Wuerffel said. "But I respect the man so much because of his beliefs, that I'm glad I finally got the opportunity to be with him.
"He is a great coach. His record speaks for himself. A lot of the guys out here are glad to have the opportunity to spend the week with him. Everybody out here knows Bobby Bowden."
Bowden's reputation also has helped his two sons in the coaching profession. His son, Tommy, was recently hired at Tulane, while Terry continues to do well at Auburn.
"I'm proud of my boys because they chose to follow in my footsteps," Bowden said. "I sometimes wouldn't wish a head coaching job on my own worst enemy, but they seem to enjoy it. I guess you could say it's become a family affair."
When:Sunday
But take a quick look at the two rosters of this Sunday's Hula Bowl and you will find 19 players, who have competed here before in either high school or college.
The most obvious threesome are local boys Kaipo McGuire of Brigham Young, Colorado's Chris Naeole and Ink Aleaga of Washington. McGuire not only competed here while at St. Louis School, but two more times when BYU played the University of Hawaii.
Former Kahuku High standout Naeole also had his first start as a Colorado Buffalo in the 1993 Aloha Bowl against Fresno State.
There are several other players who played here in recent Aloha bowls. They are cornerback Joe Gordon of Kansas State, Navy linebacker Clint Bruce and Kansas wide receiver Issac Byrd.
Gordon was named the most valuable player for the Wildcats in the 1994 Aloha Bowl loss to Boston College. Byrd also distinguished himself with a 77-yard touchdown catch - still an Aloha Bowl record - in the Jayhawks' victory over the UCLA Bruins in 1995. Bruce was the leading tackler for the Naval Academy in the Midshipmen's upset victory over California last month.
Another dozen or so players competed at Aloha Stadium in games against Hawaii. The players on the North team are quarterbacks Steve Sarkisian of BYU and Beau Morgan of Air Force, Nevada-Las Vegas offensive tackle Dennis Whitmore, Air Force defensive tackle Cameron Curry, Wyoming wide receiver Marcus Harris, Oregon tight end Josh Wilcox and BYU's McGuire.
The South squad has six players with Aloha Stadium ties, including three from Oklahoma State, who made sure former UH head coach Bob Wagner's last game as a Rainbow was a losing proposition.
Running back David Thompson heads that group. He carried the football 29 times for 234 yards in leading the Cowboys to a 24-20 win over the Rainbows.
The remaining players, who competed against Hawaii, are outside linebacker Louis Adams and offensive tackle Derek Leinen of Oklahoma State, Fresno State quarterback Jim Arelianes, Texas running back Shon Mitchell and San Diego State cornerback Ricky Parker.
The 19th player of that group is Hawaii's own Doe Henderson. Dating back to 1992, Henderson has played 33 games at the stadium.
"When we're away from the field, they can have all the fun they want," Bowden said. "But when we're on the field, I told them we need to take this thing seriously.
"That's how I approach it when we play in bowl games at Florida State. We want the guys to have fun and if we win the game, that would be great."
Bowden was a little reluctant to predict a winner, but Holtz wasn't Like Bowden, he's taking a relaxed approach to the game in some aspects.
"But when my guys are on the field, I want their full attention," Holtz said. "I really believe the North is going to win the game. I approach every game with the idea of winning it."
Yesterday's practices weren't nearly as stringent as Tuesday's openers. That's because the Hula Bowl golf tournament was yesterday, something Bowden and Holtz looked forward to since touching down on Monday.
"You aren't going to be playing much golf this time of year where I come from," Holtz said. "When you come to Hawaii, you want to take advantage of all the wonderful things this state has to offer."
"All 30 teams have at least one scout here," Hula Bowl spokesman Dave Plati said. "There are 58 scouts and at least three general managers, who are here for the practices and the game."
Several scouts said this is one of the better-attended Hula Bowls in recent memory. They felt the overall talent was much better than last weekend's East-West Shrine game.