Bowden Gone At FSU Too

by **huskerpony** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:13 pm

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4701625

TALLAHASSEE -- Legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who built one of college football's greatest dynasties in 34 seasons with the Seminoles, plans to announce his retirement Tuesday morning, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com.

Bowden, whose 388 career victories trail only Penn State's Joe Paterno as college football's winningest coach, met with FSU president TK Wetherell and athletic director Randy Spetman on Monday morning. According to sources, Bowden was given two options: return to FSU in 2010 as an ambassador to the program, in which he would have little input in the day-to-day operations of the program, or retire after the Seminoles' upcoming bowl game.

Sources told ESPN.com that offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who was named Bowden's eventual successor near the end of the 2007 season, has agreed to contract terms to replace Bowden after this season. The school's booster organization would have owed Fisher $5 million if he didn't replace Bowden by January 2011.

Bowden, 80, led FSU to national championships in 1993 and '99 and 14 consecutive top-five finishes in the Associated Press top 25 poll from 1987 to 2000. But the Seminoles finished 6-6 after last week's 37-10 loss at No. 1 Florida, which was the third time in four seasons that FSU lost six games.

by **smupony94** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 8:34 pm

Great news

by **Terry Webster** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 9:13 pm

In todays atmosphere, I don't think we will ever see another Bowden or Paterno. Amazing what they have done at thier FSU and PSU.

by **ponyscott** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:07 pm

What a shame as he really deserved one last year and an outgoing 'swan song' tour for all that he has done for FSU. A great coach and great NCAA personality that can never be replaced. A legend gone.....

by **pelcowboys** » Mon Nov 30, 2009 10:08 pm

I'd like to see Bowden stay one more year, personally. I think he deserves a "victory lap" through the schedule. And, you never know, a scheduled exit might light a fire under the team to make the season a more memorable one than this years. There's no questioning what he means to the program, the state, and college football. It's a shame to see his legacy end so abruptly. FSU fans are gonna kick themselves for not supporting the team more at home games this year.

According to Bowden, about an hour ago, he still hasn't made his decision yet. We'll see.

by **davidpaul123** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:49 am

ponyscott wrote:What a shame as he really deserved one last year and an outgoing 'swan song' tour for all that he has done for FSU. A great coach and great NCAA personality that can never be replaced. A legend gone.....

FSU has been an embarrasement over the past several years by their standards. At this point they are probably the 4th best team in the state behind UF, Miami, USF. Id like to see UCF line up against em, they might even drop to 5th.

Bobby Bowden has done great things at FSU but it was time for him to go. He is undoubtedly a legend at FSU and in college football.

by **dcpony** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:09 am

Not a fan of Free Shoes U but Bowden made that program and deserved to leave on his own terms. FSU wasn't on the map when he took that job. From what I've read it was considered one of the worst jobs in CFB when he took over in the mid-70s.

by **gostangs** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:19 am

He is a great coach - but he did his job, was well paid and sucked up to all along the way. He should have seen the writing on the wall last year and done his victory tour this year - he did not deserve to waste another year of the football program's recovery just for his vanity tour. Time to get on with the fix. These REEEEALLy old coaches need to learn how to exit stage left with some class instead of forcing the admin to do it for them - many of them - Joe Pa included - are apparently egos without boundaries. Its not like they are world humanitarians or responsible for liberty and freedom in the world - they are just football coaches.

by **CalallenStang** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:37 am

dcpony wrote:Not a fan of Free Shoes U but Bowden made that program and deserved to leave on his own terms. FSU wasn't on the map when he took that job. From what I've read it was considered one of the worst jobs in CFB when he took over in the mid-70s.

This ^^

by **smupony94** » Tue Dec 01, 2009 11:38 am

dcpony wrote:Not a fan of Free Shoes U but Bowden made that program and deserved to leave on his own terms. FSU wasn't on the map when he took that job. From what I've read it was considered one of the worst jobs in CFB when he took over in the mid-70s.

Business decision. Yes he turned a program around, but now he is turning it in the other direction

Bowden Gone At FSU Too

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