Bobby Bowden Retirement Announcement
TALLAHASSEE — Legendary Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, who built one of college football’s greatest dynasties in 34 seasons with the Seminoles, plans to announce his retirement Tuesday morning, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com.
Bowden, whose 388 career victories trail only Penn State’s Joe Paterno as college football’s winningest coach, met with FSU president TK Wetherell and athletic director Randy Spetman on Monday morning. According to sources, Bowden was given two options: return to FSU 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.
Sources told ESPN.com that offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who was named Bowden’s eventual successor near the end of the 2007 season, has agreed to contract terms to replace Bowden after this season.
Bowden, 80, led FSU to national championships in 1993 and ‘99 and 14 consecutive top-five finishes in the Associated Press top 25 poll from 1987 to 2000. But the Seminoles finished 6-6 after last week’s 37-10 loss at No. 1 Florida, which was the third time in four seasons that FSU lost six games.
Mark Schlabach covers college sports for ESPN.com.
Florida State should do their best to keep Bowden around – he would do well for them in any capacity