Former Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden turned heads Tuesday with comments regarding former Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston.        

ESPN's Paul Finebaum passed along the comments:

Paul Finebaum @finebaum

"I think it's a consensus among FSU fans and boosters that he was an embarrassment to the University" - Bobby Bowden on Jameis Winston

Natalie Pierre of AL.com shared the audio:

Natalie Pierre @NataliePierre_

Here is audio of Bobby Bowden's comment on Jameis Winston:

Safid Deen of the Tallahassee Democrat provided Bowden's explanation about the comments following the interview:

In a phone interview with the Tallahassee Democrat after the radio appearance, Bowden reiterated his comments were not a personal view of Winston, but a representation of FSU and its alumni and boosters.

Bowden also said he has never met Winston.

"Anytime you make a statement like that, it's not like the world thinks the same way," Bowden said after social media sites erupted in response to his comments. "I was asked that question, and I tried to give an honest answer."

Winston won a national championship and the Heisman Trophy during his two years as Florida State's starting quarterback. He also led the Seminoles to the first College Football Playoff, although Florida State ultimately lost to the Oregon Ducks in the semifinal.

His on-field talent was never in question, which is why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him No. 1 overall in the 2015 NFL draft.

Winston's new coach, Lovie Smith, defended his new QB on Wednesday, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times:

I'm disappointed. To say that the young man is an 'embarrassment?' That's pretty strong. I just don't think he's speaking for all ..of Florida State, even though he's in an official role there. Normally, what we're doing today with our greats, you (embrace) them. Everybody on the outside may be throwing stones at them. Normally, when you're in a family, you don't do that. I'm very disappointed that somebody like that would make that type of statement.

We do not see (Winston) as an embarrassment by any means.

However, Winston repeatedly found himself in hot water outside the lines, which is likely what Bowden was referring to in his statements.

Kevin Vaughan of Fox Sports provided a timeline of Winston's off-field incidents, the most serious of which was a rape allegation in 2012. Winston also reportedly stole "$32.72 worth of crab legs from a Tallahassee supermarket" and screamed a "sexually charged expletive-laced phrase that was made popular on the Internet" on a table on campus.

Bowden is one of the most revered figures in the history of the Florida State football program, so his opinion holds plenty of weight among Seminoles fans (and college football fans in general). While Winston did receive vocal support from some in the school's fanbase, many around the country criticized his behavior, so Bowden's comments are noteworthy.

Bowden coached at Florida State from 1976 to 2009 and led the Seminoles to national titles in 1993 and 1999. He claims former Florida State President T.K. Wetherell forced him out of his position, though, which makes this take from ESPN's Bomani Jones interesting:

El Flaco @bomani_jones

and to be clear: i’m not saying bobby was lying (at least about boosters). just doubt he’d say it had his time there ended differently.

While that may be the case, Winston found himself in trouble off the field a number of times. It appears Bowden and others grew tired of reading negative headlines surrounding one of the most prominent public figures associated with Florida State University.