Post by RHVGator on Nov 30, 2009 21:07:46 GMT -5
Bobby Bowden's options at FSU: retire or cede power to coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher
TALLAHASSEE — Bobby Bowden, the longtime Florida State coach who built the Seminoles into a national power, is expected to either retire on Tuesday or agree to return to Florida State in a diminished role, according to a high-ranking source within the university.
Bowden on Monday morning met with university president T.K. Wetherell and athletic director Randy Spetman. The source said Bowden left the meeting with a clear understanding of his options: If he returns, it would be in a reduced head coaching role that cedes major decision-making responsibilities to Jimbo Fisher, the Seminoles' offensive coordinator and head coach in waiting.
According to another high-ranking source, university officials in the days before the meeting on Monday were considering allowing Bowden the option to end his coaching career after the 2010 season-opener against Samford University. The Birmingham, Ala., school is Bowden's alma mater and is where his coaching career began in 1954. It is also where Fisher played college football.
In that scenario, according to the source, Bowden would be given the option to remain on FSU's payroll as a university ambassador and fundraiser. It was unclear Monday whether Bowden had been presented with the option to return for just one game in 2010, or whether he'd been presented with the opportunity to return in another capacity outside of coaching.
Bowden on Sunday during a teleconference with reporters said he was only interested in returning as head coach.
At his weekly booster luncheon on Monday, Bowden acknowledged his meeting but did not offer specifics.
"I met with President Wetherell, [and] talked about my future here at Florida State," Bowden said. "And so tomorrow we're going to meet again and have an announcement on whether I stay … that's about all I'm going to comment."
Before his team's humbling 37-10 defeat against Florida to end the regular season, Bowden had maintained his desire to return as FSU's coach in 2010. After that loss against the Gators, though, Bowden softened his stance and said he'd have to do some "soul searching" about whether to return.
Since FSU won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in 2005, the Seminoles have gone 31-22 overall and have been a middle-of-the-pack team in the ACC. After FSU's loss at Boston College earlier this season gave the Seminoles a 2-3 start to the season, Jim Smith, the chairman of the university's board of trustees, publicly called for an end to the Bowden era.
Though FSU rallied for a 6-6 finish, the Seminoles' lopsided defeat at No. 1 Florida again cast doubt on Bowden's future.
During a teleconference with reporters on Sunday, Bowden said he'd only be willing to return to FSU as the team's head coach, and not in any other role. The university in 2007 designated FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher as the eventual successor to Bowden. Fisher said on Saturday that he wouldn't have input whether Bowden returns for another season.
Despite the swirl surrounding his future, Bowden presented himself in good spirits on Monday during his booster luncheon. He cracked jokes and one-liners. During one moment, a fan stood and listed off Bowden's innumerable accomplishments at FSU. The man said, "I could go on for hours." To which Bowden said, "Well then go on."
Spetman, the Florida State athletic director, brushed off reporters after the luncheon and declined to answer repeated questions while he walked away. Spetman did acknowledge that an additional meeting would happen on Tuesday and that a final decision on Bowden's future would come out of the meeting.
www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/seminoles/os-bowden-future-florida-state-1201-20091130,0,3447673.story
TALLAHASSEE — Bobby Bowden, the longtime Florida State coach who built the Seminoles into a national power, is expected to either retire on Tuesday or agree to return to Florida State in a diminished role, according to a high-ranking source within the university.
Bowden on Monday morning met with university president T.K. Wetherell and athletic director Randy Spetman. The source said Bowden left the meeting with a clear understanding of his options: If he returns, it would be in a reduced head coaching role that cedes major decision-making responsibilities to Jimbo Fisher, the Seminoles' offensive coordinator and head coach in waiting.
According to another high-ranking source, university officials in the days before the meeting on Monday were considering allowing Bowden the option to end his coaching career after the 2010 season-opener against Samford University. The Birmingham, Ala., school is Bowden's alma mater and is where his coaching career began in 1954. It is also where Fisher played college football.
In that scenario, according to the source, Bowden would be given the option to remain on FSU's payroll as a university ambassador and fundraiser. It was unclear Monday whether Bowden had been presented with the option to return for just one game in 2010, or whether he'd been presented with the opportunity to return in another capacity outside of coaching.
Bowden on Sunday during a teleconference with reporters said he was only interested in returning as head coach.
At his weekly booster luncheon on Monday, Bowden acknowledged his meeting but did not offer specifics.
"I met with President Wetherell, [and] talked about my future here at Florida State," Bowden said. "And so tomorrow we're going to meet again and have an announcement on whether I stay … that's about all I'm going to comment."
Before his team's humbling 37-10 defeat against Florida to end the regular season, Bowden had maintained his desire to return as FSU's coach in 2010. After that loss against the Gators, though, Bowden softened his stance and said he'd have to do some "soul searching" about whether to return.
Since FSU won the Atlantic Coast Conference championship in 2005, the Seminoles have gone 31-22 overall and have been a middle-of-the-pack team in the ACC. After FSU's loss at Boston College earlier this season gave the Seminoles a 2-3 start to the season, Jim Smith, the chairman of the university's board of trustees, publicly called for an end to the Bowden era.
Though FSU rallied for a 6-6 finish, the Seminoles' lopsided defeat at No. 1 Florida again cast doubt on Bowden's future.
During a teleconference with reporters on Sunday, Bowden said he'd only be willing to return to FSU as the team's head coach, and not in any other role. The university in 2007 designated FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher as the eventual successor to Bowden. Fisher said on Saturday that he wouldn't have input whether Bowden returns for another season.
Despite the swirl surrounding his future, Bowden presented himself in good spirits on Monday during his booster luncheon. He cracked jokes and one-liners. During one moment, a fan stood and listed off Bowden's innumerable accomplishments at FSU. The man said, "I could go on for hours." To which Bowden said, "Well then go on."
Spetman, the Florida State athletic director, brushed off reporters after the luncheon and declined to answer repeated questions while he walked away. Spetman did acknowledge that an additional meeting would happen on Tuesday and that a final decision on Bowden's future would come out of the meeting.
www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/seminoles/os-bowden-future-florida-state-1201-20091130,0,3447673.story