FSU needs clarity on Bowden, future
Let me say this up front: I take a back seat to no one in my respect and admiration for Florida State coach Bobby Bowden. The man is already in the College Football Hall of Fame and will end his career as no worse than the No. 2 winner in the history of Division I-A football. He holds a special place in the history of the game.
I will also say this: Based on what he has given to Florida State over the 34 years he has been the head coach, Bobby Bowden has earned the right to decide his own exit strategy. If the people who run Florida State University shove this man out the door because he’s not winning enough games, then shame on them. Yes, believe it or not, there are some things that are more important than winning football games.
But having said all that, there is no denying this: There are some serious problems and uncertainties in the Florida State football program that need to be addressed. Someone in a position of leadership needs to step forward and offer some clarity. Because what is killing the Florida State program now is the unknown.
Florida State opened the season with a heartbreaking 38-34 loss to Miami. The Seminoles dropped the winning touchdown pass in the end zone and time expired. That loss doesn’t look so bad now. But the almost loss to Jacksonville State, the home loss to South Florida, and the road loss to Boston College show there is something really, really wrong in Tallahassee.
Everybody has their own theory. This is mine. For several years now Florida State has been trying to straddle a fence between its past and its future. One foot is clearly planted in the past, hoping that Bowden can rekindle the magic. Everybody wants to give Bowden the storybook ending to his remarkable career.
The other foot, which belongs to head coach in waiting Jimbo Fisher, is looking to the future and the day he will eventually become head coach.
As a result Florida State is neither fish nor fowl. The program doesn’t have an identity. There is tension on the staff as Fisher makes decisions and tries to put the program on the best possible footing for when he does take over.
The players are stuck in the middle. Can you imagine being in such a situation with your college football career hanging in the balance?
Here is what has to happen. Now that everybody is starting to weigh in, FSU president T.K. Wetherell has to take charge of the situation. After consulting with Bowden, a decision has to be made followed by an announcement: Either 2009 or 2010 will be Bobby Bowden’s last year as head coach.
Coach Bowden wants to wait until the end of this season and make his decision. I respect that. But if Florida State loses to Georgia Tech on Saturday and goes to 2-4, things are going to get really ugly. Bowden doesn’t want that and doesn’t deserve that. But the season isn’t half over. Florida State can’t have six more weeks of this.
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241 comments Add your comment
GaryWarDamnEagle
October 6th, 2009
7:22 am
first
Blake
October 6th, 2009
7:23 am
Tony
Being a Tech fan, this game makes me especially nervous. Do the players rally around the coach and put a whale of an effort together? I hope not, I hope things are further gone than that…but I’m concerned. Hoping Tech can jump out to a 14-0 lead and FSU just gives up.
RogerDawg
October 6th, 2009
7:25 am
Tony Why are you worried about the Tech-FSU game? Keep to your roots and worry about the UGA-Tenn game please. Let the nerds run their own threads.
UGA beats Tenn 42-14….Tenn has no offense.
UGA spanks Tech for revenge this year…. 38-16. Book it!
jason_gt
October 6th, 2009
7:27 am
Roger
You’re a freaking idiot.
dwyer
October 6th, 2009
7:28 am
Roger is the typical Dawgs fan…borderline moron and living in fantasy world.
EarlConway
October 6th, 2009
7:29 am
FSU spanks GT…wins by 28.
Go Dawgs
Rocky King
October 6th, 2009
7:30 am
Roger- Obviously Tony wants to write about a game in which a ranked team is playing. How well would UGA be playing with UT’s coaching staff?
yellowjacketswarm
October 6th, 2009
7:31 am
Roger
You’re delusional. I’m sure I could go back a week ago on this board and see where you called for Tech to lose to MSU by 21 and for UGA to beat LSU by 10. Enough football talk for you…now empty my trash can.
RogerDawg
October 6th, 2009
7:33 am
You stupid nerds. You play a schedule that Georgia would be 5-0 with. Funny you can’t even get a prime time game on a real channel with supposedly your best games. Maybe schedule McEachern next year?
RogerDawg
October 6th, 2009
7:34 am
Rocky
So now a Tenn fan has to raid a Tech thread? What’s wrong Rocky? Can’t find Lane this morning? Jerk.
RayRay
October 6th, 2009
7:38 am
It gets so old seeing these a___hole georgia fans come over here and make stupid comments that don’t make a bit of sense. They are so unhappy with their own situation they have to throw dumb stuff out here.
Elvis
October 6th, 2009
7:43 am
RogerFleabag – your brain has left the building. LOSER!!!!!!!!!!!
RogerDawg
October 6th, 2009
7:44 am
yellowjacketswim
Your the delustional one. You have a patsy schedule and will still only win seven games. Georgia would go 11-1 with that schedule. We probably arent good enough to beat VT. Quit acting like your the best school in this state.
Wow, RogerDawg...
October 6th, 2009
7:45 am
is quite delusional, and I am a Dawg fan. To think that UGA, this year, would be 5 – 0 against anybody is just dumb; to think that UGA will score 42 points on a UT defense is also just dumb. And, finally, to think that a Willie Martinez defense can hold anyone to 14 points, is just really dumb.
UGA is just what UT needs at this juncture of their season. Look for the game to be close and for the UGA defense to melt down at crunch time once again.
Gen Neyland
October 6th, 2009
7:47 am
There is a percentage of us out here that can relate to getting shoved out a door. Say 9.8% to 17%…
yellowjacket82
October 6th, 2009
7:51 am
Hey Rogerdawg…still stinging from the LSU loss or the arse whipping you got in Athens last November?
RogerDawg
October 6th, 2009
7:52 am
Wow-
I’m delusional to think we can hold Tenn to 14? What have you seen from Prince Lane’s offense that is so scary? They have un uncapable quarterback. Get a clue you ‘tard.
Gator Guy
October 6th, 2009
7:52 am
Does FSU have an AD? Or is TK the Jerry Jones of College Football?
Tech45
October 6th, 2009
7:53 am
Tech wins…..thanks to the imploding at FSU….but we can’t play D. 37-31.
Gator Guy
October 6th, 2009
7:53 am
People need to leave Bobby alone. There is nothing wrong with the FSU program! I think he has another 5 year in him.
Sautee Dawg
October 6th, 2009
7:54 am
Tony, you should know from past experience (Dooley vs Michael Adams) that all the Alumni money in the state of Florida has no say so when it comes to the AD and the Presidnet of Fl. St. Whatever their decision is will be the answer to this saga. We all saw what the Administration did with Dooley. Same thing happens to Bowden. Is it fair or the right thing? No. Bowden should decide his own exit.
Mike
October 6th, 2009
7:55 am
While you say it isn’t all about winning, Bowden was at the helm during the nastiest cheating acandel the ACC has ever seen. That, combined with the drastic decline over the last 5 years is enough…time to go Bobby.
bad brad
October 6th, 2009
7:56 am
Tony, don’t you just love it when you write a decent column and then the he said, she said takes over and it has nothing to do with what you wrote?
I took Jeff Schultz to task in his blog yesterday because he likes to toss hand grenades with no substance. I think you have offered us a great insight on FSU and the morons jump in. RogerDawg if you really are a Dawg fan, you are an embarrassment. Any time someone types your when they mean you’re indicates ignorance. Then the Technerds jump in with their name calling (funny how when you don’t have anything intelligent to say, you call someone a name).
I enjoy reading your blog most every day Tony, thanks.
Jennifer
October 6th, 2009
7:56 am
RogerDawg strikes me as someone who gets turned down by his own left hand. Probably about the size of a toothpick…….broken in half.
Jon but not Jon Voight
October 6th, 2009
7:58 am
Typical pundit garbage. The reason the program is in a mess is that Bowden doesn’t want to retire – no matter what. And if anyone tries to force the issue – Bowden gets all the favorable press on how mean the university is. So, the university just lets him be. All the while the program continues to deteriorate. Then the pundits say the program needs clarity. Clarity? How do you get clarity when Bowden runs the show? The pundits can’t even write it clear.
bad brad
October 6th, 2009
8:01 am
Maybe FSU should contact Frank Wren and the Atlanta Braves for advice. A few weeks ago, when the story started coming out about Bobby Cox almost leaving the Braves during training camp, etc. they worked it out in private and developed an exit strategy for Cox. Rather than fire him, as obviously his tenure has started down hill, they let him take a year to enjoy one more season at the helm (and deservedly so). FSU should meet privately with Bowden and adopt a similar strategy.
RogerDawg
October 6th, 2009
8:07 am
I’m so sick of the morons posting garbage and doing nothing but insulting. Look you Tec nerds, everything is not fairies and roses. You aren’t a top 25 team. Why is that so hard to comprihend? For those that want to insult me, look in the mirror. UGA is THE university in this state. Deal with it.
Jennifer
October 6th, 2009
8:08 am
Technerds is not a word. Just like anyone who calls themselves “bad” is guaranteed not to be.
Concerned
October 6th, 2009
8:08 am
Tony-
First of all, I am a Georgia fan and have no dog in this fight. I understand your position but disagree.
You are right on one point, some things are bigger than wins and loses…but that one thing is the program. No man, no matter how much he has done, is bigger than the program. It is a disappointing that Coach Bowden, and those who support him, think he is more important than FSU. Bobby Bowden has earned the right to determine how he wants to leave FSU only if he will decide to do so. Since he is unable to do what is best for the program he built, someone else will be forced to make that decision for him.
Shame on him for putting someone else in that position.
Nikki Sixx
October 6th, 2009
8:10 am
Where is Nachos?
SimpleDawg
October 6th, 2009
8:12 am
Jenny, you’re hitting below the belt….
Vince Richt
October 6th, 2009
8:12 am
Roger – please quit using the word dawg in your name. You embarrass the University. Now go share a hand granade with someone and make the world a better place.
SimpleDawg
October 6th, 2009
8:14 am
Oh, and Jen, you’re being baited….
Rocky King
October 6th, 2009
8:15 am
RogerDawg- Calling people morons and then can’t spell “comprEhend” priceless. Tech isn’t a Top 25 team?
T
October 6th, 2009
8:16 am
RogerDawg… lay off the crack pipe… you are delusional… thought it was interesting that you didnt mention Georgia vs. Florida .. LOL .. forfeit??
bad brad
October 6th, 2009
8:18 am
Jennifer,
Stick to your inane masturbation comments. Those would probably be better served on the Schultz blog. I see today that he has YouTube videos. That should keep you occupied for a few hours.
Good second post SimpleDawg, Jen appears to be the kind of gal you have to explain things to.
RogerDawg
October 6th, 2009
8:20 am
Rocky
Why do you care so much about Tech? Is Tenn not worthy enough this year? And yes, I can answer that…we’ll slam you guys Saturday. You’ll wish Johnny Majors was still there.
As far as you other morons wanting to slam me, well the truth hurts. For the so called Dawg fans slamming me….imposters. I’ve been a Dawg fan since the 70’s. I don’t need any of you partonizing me. I don’t care your feelings. Go climb in a hole. UGA is my team, loud and proud. Get on board just because it’s a down year doesnt mean you all have to whine. we are still better than GT and they know it, I know it, and college football fans know it.
Go Dawgssss Sic Em!
Nachos
October 6th, 2009
8:22 am
Hey dudes…. ALLBARN looks pretty good this year! Watch out Saban.
Atlanta Gator
October 6th, 2009
8:22 am
Okay, let’s speak only the frank and painful truth, not sentimentality.
Bobby Bowden has been Florida State’s head football coach since the 1976 season, and is now coaching his 34th season for the Seminoles. His record is 311-93-4 (.7672). His Seminoles teams have won 2 national championships (1993, 1999) and played for three more (1996, 1998, 2000), and 12 ACC conference championships. He is a living legend—-the field on which his team plays is named for him. His overall win-loss record is 2nd among all major program football coaches, living and dead.
The downside? Over the last 8 seasons, Bowden’s Seminoles have finished 8-4, 9-5, 10-3, 9-3, 8-5, 7-6, 7-6 and 9-4. The Seminoles have not played in a major bowl since the 2005, and have not won a major bowl since 1999 (their last national title). The Seminoles most recent bowl wins have come in the Gator, Emerald and Champs Sports bowls. Bobby Bowden will be 80 years old on November 8, 2009, and the Noles have started the current season 2-3.
Bobby Bowden has built a remarkably successful program at Florida State, and has had a remarkably successful career by any measure. But there comes a time when every legend must leave the stage. For the good of the FSU football program, Coach Bowden’s time to retire has arrived.
Dawgfan
October 6th, 2009
8:25 am
RogerDawg-do the rest of us Dawg fans a favor and stop talking. You are the reason we get such a bad rap. There is no way this team is 5-0 against Tech’s schedule…VT and UM could easily beat us – especially UM against our porous secondary. And Tech is a top 25 team right now…and we are not, and only “right now” counts. UGA will be lucky to get out of UT with a win – they may have no offense, but we have no defense and they, like us, are in a must win situation, so both teams will be coming to play.
A note on the actual story…I agree that something needs to happen – Bowden, after spending 34 years at FSU, needs to look out for their best interest and not his and needs to step down…not immediately, but needs to announce that this is his last season.
Jennifer
October 6th, 2009
8:26 am
Brad – I’m a transvestite. Don’t tell me to stick anything, cause that’s what I do best. Capice!
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 6th, 2009
8:32 am
Rogermutt is giving a whole new meaning to “idiot”.
Bobby retires after this beatdown.
bad brad
October 6th, 2009
8:33 am
Jennifer–In light of that revelation, I am glad you’re a Tech fan and hang out at Grant Field.
Max Sizemore
October 6th, 2009
8:34 am
Perfectly said, Concerned. The pugnacity which served Bowden well during the glory years is the very thing which is bringing him down now, and there needs to be an intervention — like you would do for any close relative who needs help. Does no one else see a contradiction between “Bowden has earned the right to decide his own exit strategy” and “someone is a position of leadership needs to step forward and offer some clarity”? If Bobby’s not going to go, what is Wetherell supposed to do, Tony? Answer this.
RAMBLE ON!!!
October 6th, 2009
8:39 am
Rogermutt, domestic violence is a crime even when the wife is doing the beating. Go to your local authorities at once!!!
Gt4ever
October 6th, 2009
8:39 am
FSU will find clarity in playing a Defense that couldn’t stop Roswell High School’s JV team….
Mark M
October 6th, 2009
8:40 am
I wonder how many players on FSU will transfer after this year. I wonder what % the starters will be preforming at this week/what the motivation factor will be.
Jennifer
October 6th, 2009
8:41 am
Actually, nobody wants me around 14th street. I’m looking for new territory. Thinking about working east on the Atlanta Highway.
RogerDawg
October 6th, 2009
8:42 am
Dawgfan
You’re not a dawg fan. You’re gonna tell me Georgia Tech is better than THE University of Georiga? Give me a break. We have better atheletes. We have better coaches. We have better facilities. We have a bigger and better fan base. We have a better history. We have lost to two teams that are top 10 teams. At this point realistically we should be around 14-15 in the rankings. I could care less if Tech is at 25. They’ll be where they need to be by the end of the year when we lay the revenge wood to there behinds.
If your not a fan, get off the damned boat and pull for the nerds or pull for auburn. I dont care.
BigDaddy
October 6th, 2009
8:44 am
jennifer, you sound like someone who failed grammar class…