OT: Bowden to Retire

I agree with what Palmer said on ESPN- that Bobby B. should be able to choose when to go. But I also think he can't cut it as a functioning coach anymore.

I mean, the situation there was a mess. There were head coaches, assistant head coaches, head-coaches in waiting. Just a mess for a team that actually has an offensive pulse (Christian Ponder), and just needs a strong, young defensive coordinator to put it together and at least get back to 7-8 wins a year.

It was a good run, but I think it was time.

Interesting, now does FSU try and get Kelly or do they stick with Jimbo Fisher

he always spoke off the cuff and found a way to put things in context.

Unfortunately, he's a great example of someone who hung it up a few years too late.

Ambassador to the program? Was Supreme Allied Commander of the Florida State Football Program overkill? Cause that title would have been sweeter.

I don't know what to think of this. A part of me thinks that Bobby Bowden deserved to coach at FSU as long as he wanted. He did put the program on the map. But, at the same time, it was probably time for him to retire. I wonder if he is pissed off that they basically forced his hand. Should be interesting to see his press conference and watch his demeanor.

Obviously Bowden was done but what a weak sauce way of going about getting rid of him. Either can him or don't. This is kind of a "go sit in this rocking chair on the porch, gramps" way to go about it. Hell, not even kind of. Why couldn't they just keep this thing internal out of respect for the man that made them? I bet this is what Penn State did with Joe Pa, they just let Joe Pa keep his dignity.

I think this is garbage.

Hopefully they start being competitive vs Urban again... The state of Florida can support 3 top 25 football programs at the same time easily...

I would've liked to be able to see him leave on his own. I always rooted softly for FSU, mostly because my family in Florida is all Gator fans and they never played M. It really seemed like the game passed him by and it was time for a change. I will miss his Greg Normanesque hat.

They go for Kelly. Come on...Fisher has no head coaching experience. It's not like FSU is a dominant program and you can easily go "in house." Florida is just KILLING them. Kelly has won national titles. He has won big at three different places. He may be the best single bet in America to compete with Urban Meyer. For God's sake FSU, pull the trigger. Now.

to some better ACC match-ups now that FSU has a chance to come up out of the shadows. It will be interesting to see if they stick with Fisher, and if so, how he will do. As for Bobby, good luck in all future endeavors.

have lept ahead of the Noles. When Urban Meyer told the press that he had tried to recruit the entire FSU roster last week - the press room just about broke up.

The problem goes well beyone Bobby and whoever takes over has a ton of catching up to do.

Maybe this will finally lead Old Joe to retire as well.

I just don't see how Fischer is going to be able to really change the trajectory of that program. Does anyone have any links or info as to why FSU made the "head coach in waiting" decision anyway? Was it only to ally recruits fears about a HC transition?

I like Bowden, but I'm glad Paterno will hold the all-time wins.

like this.

I think Bowden overstayed his welcome these past couple years, but leave the man with his dignity.

its sad how this happens to all great coaches. cant leave in glory. just like lloyd carr thats why he left before he got fired. its gonna happen to joe pa too

to blame but himself, he could have retired with dignity and class years ago. Instead he's hung on and tarnished his legacy by being stubborn.

Glad to see the record will end up with Joe Pa. Despite everything I think Joe Pa's a class guy and I think you could hardly find two coaches further apart on the scale of class. Sometimes the football gods get it right.

Nothing Bowden has done the last few years has tarnished his legacy (or diminished it in any way). The guy turned an all girls school into the biggest powerhouse in college football. The fact that people are so upset about him "hanging on" just goes to show how insane expectations have become in college football. Bowden won the ACC in 2005 and in the four years since has made it to a bowl every year. He hasn't had a losing season since 1976. His program never had the kind of dip that Paterno did at PSU (4 losing seasons in 5 years to start this decade). This decade he's still won four conference titles (pretty good for a guy running the program into the ground).

Sad to see one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game become a victim of the "What have you done for me lately?" worldview, simply because he didn't manage to stay in the top-5 indefinitely.

Sorry to put a cold spin on an otherwise happy post, but are there any current or potential commits that may give Michigan a second look? I know this is a bit of a unique situation in that there will be little if any turmoil in the transition, but thought I'd ask...

I've always kind of liked Bobby, goofy sunglasses, slightly shady personnel and all.

Also, that 1991 UM-Florida State game was one of the most exciting games I can recall. Even if I was only 5 years old in the Stadium that day. TONS of scoring.

I'm guessing they keep Fisher on a short leash with a mimimal-length contract. If Bowden was doing as little as people say, then others have to take the lion's share of the blame for what has happened. If they play their cards right, they could end up paying Fisher less than the $5 million he would have gotten as a buyout if he doesn't perform.

Since Fisher has been involved, I would imagine that he has one or two years to prove that he actually is an upgrade to Bowden. Next year could be very important for him.

This has nothing to do with age. It has to do with coaching.

Bowden jumped the shark as a viable and effective coach about 8 or 9 years ago.

Good luck to him in retirement. He had a legendary run.

I know Bowden is an icon (maybe more so in other parts of the country than up here in the midwest), but am I wrong to be feeling annoyed that he is trying to call his bowl game? He wants it in Florida, and now there is a push to have it against WVU (where he coached at one time). I mean FSU is 6-6, they should feel fortunate that he is even getting a chance to end his career with a win, and not having it end by the beatdown from the Gators.