Former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden had an interesting appearance Wednesday on ESPN's "Mike & Mike."

Bowden brought up the topic of athletes not having fathers, which is something that will always draw a reaction (just look at George Karl). Bowden said he started noticing this trend later in his head coaching career, which ran from 1976–2009.

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"During my last days at Florida State, 65 to 70 percent of my boys did not have a daddy at home," Bowden said. "They're raised by mommas. Thank God for them mommas, or grandmommas. Or big sister, or aunt. But where's the man?

"A boy needs a male figure, and the girls do, too. Somebody to discipline them and make them be a man. I used to kid about this, they grew up wanting to be like their momma. They want to be a man like their momma, that's why they wear earrings."

Oh boy. Bobby Bowden on players not having dads. "They wanna grow up to be men, like their momma. That's why they wear earrings." pic.twitter.com/iBhUueqEqw — Dr Cork Gaines (@CorkGaines) January 4, 2017

Bowden added he was joking, but this is a subject on which many people have opinions.

of note: these coaches decry this lack of fathers while exploiting those fathers' absences in recruiting. but alas. — El Flaco (@bomani_jones) January 4, 2017

This isn't age, he's always been like this https://t.co/b4jDpmxAtp — HAPPY MOO YEAR (@edsbs) January 4, 2017

That wasn't the only odd thing the 87-year-old brought up in the interview. He was asked what was the furthest he's gone to get a recruit to sign.

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"Slept in a boy's bed the night before signing day while other coaches were out in the front yard waiting for seven o'clock," he responded. "Slept in his bed that night, got up and ate breakfast. His momma cooked me breakfast. I knew I had him."

"That was back when you could do that. You can't do that anymore."