Quote: Posted on Sun, Aug. 17, 2003 

Bowden, FSU make wish come true for Pawlak
By Steve Ellis
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

Florida State coaches and players helped make a wish come true for Andrew Pawlak. The high school senior may be from Nebraska, but he's been a Seminoles fan for years.

"Ever since I saw Warrick Dunn play in 1993," he said.

Pawlak is on the FSU campus for three days after his desire to attend an FSU scrimmage and meet Bobby Bowden was answered by the Make A Wish Foundation. Pawlak has been diagnosed with Wagner's disease. "It's a rare disease where the white cells attack your body's organs, and in my case it attacked my lungs, kidney and my sinuses."

He was diagnosed in December but plans to play football this fall. The wingback and outside linebacker was on campus just a few hours but had already met Bowden, who teased him about being from Nebraska, where most fans follow the Big Red.