Bowden embraces challenge of Warren Harding

By Joe Scalzo

scalzo@vindy.com

WARREN

The first thing you need to know about Lynn Bowden transferring to Warren Harding is this: Even if Liberty hadn’t fired Kevin Cylar, Bowden might not be a Leopard.

“I mean, it was a 50-50 thing,” Bowden said. “My first two seasons, we had good seasons. If a couple things would have changed, we could have went farther. I was deciding whether to stay or leave.”

Bowden had been a standout middle schooler on Youngstown’s North Side when the Leopards hired Cylar, a former Ursuline assistant who was instrumental in bringing several talented players to Liberty. With the electrifying Bowden in the backfield, first as a running back then as a quarterback, the Leopards went a combined 17-6 the past two seasons with two playoff appearances.

But behind the scenes, Cylar had butted heads with Liberty’s administration, which set up a messy divorce that played out on the pages of The Vindicator, as well as other local news outlets, in March.

“Once they fired him, I was like, ‘I’ve got to get out of here,’” Bowden said. “I actually thought he did a pretty good job. I didn’t think someone like him could get fired because he’s all about the kids, but that’s more in the past. I’m worried about what’s now.”

With his mom driving the decision, Bowden moved to Warren this summer and enrolled at Harding, becoming the latest high-profile transfer for a school that has attracted the likes of Maurice Clarett (Austintown Fitch), Delbert Ferguson (Ursuline) and Desmar Jackson (Warren Harding) over the last 16 years.

“My mom was just looking around for schools and she figured this one was the ... nicest program for education and football and basketball,” said Bowden, whose mother did not respond to an interview request. “She decided to go here and I didn’t argue.”

Was he surprised that his transfer got so much attention?

“Not really because I was somewhat of a superstar, but being a humble player I don’t like being called that,” he said. “It was like that in little league. Everybody watched me.

“I just take it as a blessing that people like to see me play, like to see my team play.”

After rushing for nearly 1,500 yards as a freshman, Bowden switched to quarterback last fall and became a dual threat, rushing for 1,950 yards and 25 TDs and passing for another 900 yards and 14 TDs for Liberty (10-2), which lost to Ursuline in the second round of the Division V playoffs.

Harding has experimented with him in both offensive positions, as well as defensive back, and his addition provides a huge boost to the Raiders, who dropped down to Division II this month. Harding has gone 6-14 over the last two seasons (including two forfeits) and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2006 — Thom McDaniels’ final season —but third-year coach Steve Arnold doesn’t want people to view Bowden has a savior.

“He’s a special talent, no question about it,” Arnold said. “But like I mentioned to him, and it’s no secret, we need to see if he can do it at this level.”

Added Bowden, “I’m just blessed to be on a bigger stage. They’ve taken me in. I like the facilities, I like the field, the school, the coaches. I feel real good here.”

Harding returns its top rushing threat from last season, Keemari Murry (1,200 yards, 10 TDs), and quarterback Lynn Williams (150 yards passing, 30 percent completion percentage). Regardless of where he plays, Bowden is certain to take someone’s playing time, which could cause some resentment.

“Hey, life’s about competition,” Arnold said. “We all deal in competition in our jobs and everything that we do. When Lynn came over, we welcomed him with open arms and he’s fit in with our young men.”

Bowden’s former school, meanwhile, has done its best to move on.

Leopards coach Chet Allen, a 1991 Liberty High graduate, was hired in May to replace Cylar. He knows that Bowden’s departure — and Cylar’s firing — still hangs over the program, but the first-time head coach is looking forward, not back.

“Do you see the guys out here?” he said, pointing to a group of Leopards on the practice field earlier this month. “That’s who I worry about. If they’re not here, I’m not going to worry about them.

“I wish him the best of luck, but it [Bowden’s transfer] doesn’t affect me or these young men any different. We’re just going about our business. Like [Ohio State] Coach [Urban] Meyer had to go through — ‘Next man up.’”

The Leopards also graduated their leading receiver/defensive back in Ben Phillips and, earlier this month, lost RB/LB Brandon Rios (who ran for more than 300 yards and had 8.5 tackles for loss on defense), who transferred to Hubbard.

“Good luck to the Hubbard Eagles,” Allen said. “We’re still moving forward. Nothing changes. We’re going to do what we do.”

Senior JaShaun Whitman, who led Liberty in tackles (57) and sacks (eight) last season, didn’t try to sugar-coat Bowden’s departure.

“It really is a big loss to us,” he said. “I grew up with him, so it’s kind of hard.”

But when asked if he thinks the Leopards have the talent to replace him, Whitman said, “Yes sir. I do believe we can.”

Allen, who spent the last three seasons as Niles’ defensive coordinator, said the key to the season isn’t finding talent, it’s in developing the talent that’s already there. Liberty advanced to the second round of the playoffs in 2012 — when Bowden was still in eighth grade — so it’s not like it was a one-man program.

“We have a good amount of athletes,” he said. “We have a good amount of guys who are students of the game, that are going to listen and be coachable.

“I tell them all — they’re athletic ability is better than mine. But I think I know a little bit more football. So if they listen to what the coaches are telling them to do, we’re going to be fine.”