Well, in a classless move, the university finally runs off the guy that created their identity. They should have let himn retire when he wanted to. He was going to retire within a year or two anyway. Giving him an ultimatum like that is a bunch of BS. Sources told ESPN.com that Bowden, 80, was given two options: return to Florida State in 2010 as an ambassador to the program, in which he would have little input in the day-to-day operations of the program; or retire after the Seminoles' upcoming bowl game. University spokesman Browning Brooks said no news conference had been scheduled. Sources told ESPN.com that offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who near the end of the 2007 season was named Bowden's eventual successor, has agreed to contract terms to replace Bowden after this season. Bowden did not want to have a news conference, but Florida State officials were trying to persuade him to do a video news statement to release to the media. "You can't have a successful program without players and we have been blessed to have young men who are winners both on and off the field," he said in the statement. "I want to thank them and their families for committing 4-5 years of their lives to me and to FSU." As a multi-generation alumni, season ticket holder, foundation member, etc. I will never give another dime to UT if they try and pull some kind of crap like this with Mack Brown. The Link
Bobby Bowden needed to go, but the way he did is really sorry. I understand he can't compete anymore, but it's still sad to see the man who built the program be forced out that way. Legendary coaches like that should be allowed to leave on their own terms. This is just a messy situation for FSU in general. Bowden could have made this a lot cleaner by simply knowing when to leave, but it's still sad to see him forced out, especially when a week ago he made comments to the media that he really wanted to coach again next year.
maybe it could have been handled better, but it was time. Not sure Bowden has a good portion of his faculties these days. He has been "out of it" lately in public appearances, doesn't know his own players names, etc.
Right, or wrong, the bottom line is that if Bowden had continued to be as successful as he once was he could have left on his own terms. Now it's time to find another hobby like fishing, or pigeon feeding.
ha, you guys are funny...... UT will/would do the same thing to mack after several 4 and 5 loss seasons. same with stoops at OU. it is the way it is. switzer put it best...... the "monster." you all are crazy if you think otherwise.
I'm sure I'll be blasted for saying this but f**k all that. He's Bobby Bowden. He IS Florida State football. I don't care how long it took. They shouldn't have done much more than lightly persuade him throughout all of this. I don't even like the guy but there are very few coaches that have been the entire historic identity of a school's football program. Bobby is one of only two that I can think of. There's a difference between being college football royalty and being the entire history of your program.
This program isn't about Bobby Bowden. There are hundreds of of people connected to FSU football, from players to coaches to administration to fans to many others. ALL of those people have a say in it too, since they're affected. Bottom line is Bowden is an employee, and he couldn't get the job done anymore. I would argue that he should have been gone several years ago, but BECAUSE of who he is he was given more time.
I have no ill will toward Bobby B, but I felt his hanging on was borderline classless. He was done...we knew, the FSU fan base knew it and I think he knew it. He should have hung it up a couple of years ago.
I'm sorry but I don't think you can fault any organization for "forcing" someone out when they're 80. The Florida State football program is a big business from every sense of the word. They have to look at the bottom line and the bottom line did not look too great.
he would have hung it up a long time ago, if he had not been going competing with Paterno in all time wins as head coach. His own ego has caused the program to suffer.
FSU before BB: 150 wins all-time (.534) FSU under BB: 315 wins (.762) FSU during BB's "bad years" (4 seasons with 6+ losses 3 times): 29 wins (.569) Yes, it is true. Bowden's worst stretch of his career is better than the all-time average at FSU before he arrived. Count me among those who think he should have been allowed to leave under his terms. FSU doesn't want a return to tradition; it wants a return to what only BB ever gave it. It is firing BB to get that. Maybe it will work, and maybe it will not.
kgp, i agree with you, but that isn't the way it works...... anywhere really. joe pa was getting serious heat during his "rough" stretch a few years back. mack was taking major heat for 3 loss seasons. bob ressurected us from the dead, but there are people that would be happy to see him leave this year... they think he has lost "it". even though he personally gave us IT back after ten years of nothing. this isn't special for FSU. spurrier put UF on the map too....... but now the expectations are there. it doesn't really matter who created the monster, it must be fed. right or wrong. if mack turns wins the NC this year and then has three years of 5 losses..... he's in trouble. period.
Probably is not a true story, but I remember a speech given by a long time assistant at Tennessee about how his boss won a national championship in the 1960s and received a guaranteed lifetime contract. The next year the team went 5-5-1 and the Tennessee Legislature declared him legally dead. Bobby Bowden was due a lot of patience. He was given a lot.
Bowden & FSU haven't had a very good year since 2000. FSU is 73-42 in the last 9 seasons. UT wouldn't put up with Mack losing 4-5 games per season for almost a full decade. And they lost their dominance of the ACC. I would guess that some people in FSU have been waiting for Bowden to retire for 5 years. But the years from '87-'00 were amazing.
Just a shame Paterno may now have the all time record. (I personally hope Bowden takes another job). The classless one was Paterno. He hasn't been anything more than a great grandfatherly figurehead for 6+ years. Bowden was much more involved in his team and Paterno less involved, but Paternos assistants turned things around. Shame Bowden didn't get to take the role Paterno did.
I respect everyone's opinion on here and I have stated my own but I just want to say that I think there is a gigantic difference between what Mack Brown is (and ever could be) to The University of Texas and what Bobby Bowden is to Florida State. I don't think comparisons of the two fit into the framework of this conversation.
I just wish that FSU had decided at the start of the year that this would be his last. I just think it is sad for everyone for it to end like this.
Of course I really don't believe JP is "classless" But someone brought up Bowden as "classless" for continuing to coach as if he was chasing Paterno. Truth has been Paterno has been chasing him more of the last 6 years than vice versa, and their fortunes turned because PSU allowed Paterno to be a great grandfatherly figurehead much removed from everyday coaching and game management. Bowden right now is much sharper and more involved, but his assistants either have undermined him or just havn't been as good as the Penn State crew. My personal preference is for Bowden to go somewhere else where he can rightly get the record. Joe Pa already has enough saintly status in his home state and to a large part nationally. And Joe Pa, like any great program, has had plenty of bad (personality & criminality wise) recruits and I don't like the hypocrisy that he/his program has been someone morally superior than your other national powers of the era (FSU, Nebraska, Miami, UF, Bama, Texas, USC, OSU, Michigan, etc.).
Nobody is going to hire an 80 year old coach. Bowden is done. He lost and Paterno won and I'm glad. I've always liked Paterno better.
I think he is done too, but I wouldn't mind him going to Virginia, Marshall or Louisville and put in 5 more years. Although I know he burned some bridges in WV. Marshall would be ideal because they are in an easy conference and the program has had some history of success so a figurehead like Bowen with some good assistants could get them to the top of their league.
