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NCAA Football- Bowden will stay with FSU for the moment

Floriday State University announced on Wednesday that coach Bobby Bowden will remain with the team – for now. FSU president T.K. Wetherell said that the university would defer the matter until the end of the season; he would not, he iterated, make any decisions about the coaching staff in the middle of the season. He also added that the new head coach would be the current offensive coordinator, Jimbo Fisher. After Bowden leaves the university will negotiate an agreement to have Fisher begin working as soon as possible. The coaching controversy began this week when the chairman of the University, Jim Smith, said that this year should be Bowden’s last and that the Fisher-Bowden arrangement wasn’t working. Bowden, who has been with the team more than 40 years, has repeatedly indicated that he plans to coach through the 2010 season. Fisher’s current contract, however, calls for the university to pay him $5 million if he is not head coach by January of 2011. Bowden met briefly with Wetherell on Monday to discuss, in part, the fact that this year may be Bowden’s last as head coach for the Seminoles and Smith’s insistence that Bowden leave. The start of the season has been one of the slowest for FSU since 1976. But Bowden insists that the Seminoles can turn the results around. Wetherell announced his continued support for Bowden. “Two years ago coach Bowden and I, and others, stood together and announced that we were beginning a period of transition for the football program, that plan is in place and will produce results, given the opportunity and support. Any coach can choose to retire at any time,” Wetherell said. “However, it is the athletics director’s responsibility to determine which coaches are hired and which contracts are extended.” Wetherell had always supported Bowden, a fact the head coach has acknowledged. Bowden also added that the most important matter in the controversy is the team and its focus against the next opponent. The problem began because the Seminoles, contrary to expectations, have struggled through the beginning of the season. Bowden, who initially made FSU a winning machine, is now facing critics who say the team ought to be playing better this season. Two bad Saturdays in a row have led to doubts; despite having quality players, the team has made too many mistakes in the last games: fumbles, dropped passes, missed tackles. “If I was 40 years old I’d be shakin’ in my boots,” Bowden said. “But I’m 79. I’ve been through it. Most of my coaching is behind me. It don’t bother me that much. The only thing I worry about or am concerned about is it a distraction for my team? And it isn’t. I tell them what to listen to, what not to.” Despite the flurry of both criticism and support, the door has been left open for Bowden to make a graceful exit. There have been suggestions that Bowden retire at the end of the season to avoid a rough end. And if the season ends a sour note, someone close to Bowden said, Bowden might very well do so. Right now, however, what matters is that the Seminoles focus on recovering. Their next game is against Georgia Tech on Saturday.

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