Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Adele is Grammys big winner, Whitney honored

Bowden says announcement on future Tuesday

Florida State coach, 80, meets with school president, athletic director

Slideshow
Bobby Bowden
  A look back at Bowden's career
Take a look at Bobby Bowden's legendary career at Florida State.

more photos

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Bobby Bowden says there will be an announcement Tuesday on his coaching future at Florida State.

The 80-year-old coach met with Florida State President T.K. Wetherell and athletic director Randy Spetman for an hour Monday in Bowden’s office.

“We’ll finalize it tomorrow,” Bowden told reporters as he departed a weekly booster luncheon. “We talked about our options.”

Bowden has said before making a decision he had to do some soul searching, which probably will include mulling over the division of responsibility between he and coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher — especially over changes in the assistant coaching ranks. Fisher, the offensive coordinator, receives $5 million from Florida State if he’s not the head coach by January 2011.

Bowden, who’s 388 career wins are second only to Penn State’s Joe Paterno among major college coaches, has also said he could not return as a head coach with no authority.

Spetman described Monday’s meeting in Bowden’s office as congenial.

“It’s always cordial with coach Bowden,” Spetman said. “He’s a good man.”

The coach was good humor when he told a couple hundred boosters Monday at his weekly luncheon that he had the discussion about his future. The coach drew laughs from fans several times with quips and one-liners.

Bowden was not as upbeat after FSU’s embarrassing 37-10 loss to the Gators on Saturday. The Seminoles have lost their last three games to Florida by scores of 45-12, 45-15 and 37-10.

Special feature
Image: Dennis Erickson, Brock Osweiler
The Hot Seat
What fun would college football be without speculating on future of coaches?

NBCSports.com

But by Sunday, Bowden said he wanted to return in 2010 for his 35th season at Florida State, but that decision couldn’t be finalized before he met with Florida State administrators.

Bowden has been on a one-year rollover agreement with the university for several years, but that ends after the 2010 season. Wetherell agreed in December 2007 to pay Fisher $5 million if he was not elevated to head coach by January 2011.

The winningest coach in Atlantic Coast Conference history, Bowden teams put together the most dominant run in college football history between 1987 and 2000 with 14 consecutive finishes in the nation’s top five and a pair of national titles.

But the Seminoles’ fortunes haven’t been nearly as good in recent years, finishing this year with a 6-6 record after starting the year with high expectations and a preseason No. 18 ranking.

In 1993, despite a late-season slip at Notre Dame, Florida State won its first national title after near misses in 1987, 1988, 1991 and 1992 — several seasons because of losses to nemesis Miami, which won three national titles during that span.

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

Bowden experienced his lone perfect season in 1999 as the Seminoles became the first team to go wire-to-wire in The Associated Press poll ranked No. 1 from the preseason to finish.

Since winning their 12th ACC championship in 2005, the Seminoles have been 16-16 over the past four seasons against league opponents.

“There’s no doubt in my mind Florida State will come back,” Bowden said Monday.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
More news
Image: Boston College v Miami
Getty Images
'I'm taking that program down'

Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.

Image: LSU quarterback Jefferson is stripped of the ball by Alabama's Hightower during the second half of the NCAA BCS National Championship college football game in New Orleans
Reuters
CFT: Jefferson says 'Alabama was more prepared'

CFT: Jordan Jefferson makes it clear he wasn't happy with LSU's game plan in the Tigers' BCS Championship Game loss to Alabama.

Video: Football from NBC Sports
Memphis fulfills BCS dream
Tigers officials thrilled to announce that school has been accepted to join the Big East Conference in 2013.

Slideshow
Image: Joe Paterno
  Joe Paterno (1926-2012)
A look at the career of legendary Penn State coach Joe Paterno

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image:
  BCS title game
Check out photos of Crimson Tide's victory over Tigers.

more photos

Slideshow
Image: Kansas State running back Pease is tackled by Arkansas defensive tackle Jones during the Cotton Bowl Classic football game in Arlington, Texas
  Bowled over
Check out the action from the postseason games.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Kansas vs Oklahoma State
  All-American team
Check out which players were best of the best at each position.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: Rose Bowl Game presented by Vizio - Wisconsin v Oregon
  College cheer
Check out some of the college football cheerleaders from across the country.

NBCSports.com