I agree with the notion that they should rename the stadium after him. He is truly a legend.

Last 5 seasons:

8-5
7-6
7-6
9-4
6-6

Only 21-19 in conference play. Not to mention 3 straight absolute embarrassments against Florida.

It's actually kind of ironic when you think about it. The reason he may be forced out is BECAUSE he was such a legend. If he hadn't raised standards so much at FSU those types of records might be acceptable.

But Florida State definitely isn't throwing him under the bus. If anything his team threw him under with their play over the last 5 years.

Bowden denied that he will be retiring btw. Or at least that he has already decided.

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-11-30/bobby-bowden-expected-retire-florida-state-coach

He won big because he cheated big. Noles admit it. They can't deny it because everyone knows. Since Dion Sanders' days. The NCAA had to make a rule because he played without going to class ! I really thought Bowden's days were numbered when the Adrian McPherson check cashing stuff came out, that whole story broke down here about a place called R & R Auto Accessories. The players got stereos, rims, checks, you name it. The place was owned by a big Nole booster's sons. I lost all respect for the NCAA a long time ago, because FSU has gotten away with so much for so long. Last year it was the academic cheating with the online music course.
He has run it into the ground, the fans / boosters want him gone. For 10 years he has called his players by number because he can't remember names. On one hand, he has earned the right to go out on his own, but really, he should have been humble enough to go when it was time. Bowden has been selfish. They gave him subtle hints, like a statue, re- naming the field after him, the stained glass Bobby Jesus over the end zone, but he is still holding on.

finally...

Maybe I can then stop hating Florida St.

I'm not a Florida State fan at all, but I think that was a shame. Bobby made them what they are today. They were nothing before he came along. I'm going to laugh if they slip back to being nothing again now that he's gone.

They should have given the old guy one more year to make his farwell trip around the country.

A legend, that is for sure.

Maybe Notre Dame will hire him.

You know, they call FSU Free Shoes University for a reason. Under the Bowden regime, they have been one of the dirtiest football progams the past 25-30 years. They have really lucked out that harsher penalities have not been levied against them. Ironically, it was the Hurricanes that always got the worse rep. Sure the Canes had their issues (most notably with fighting, drugs, and hookers) but it was the Noles who were getting the $100 handshakes plus having their criminal issues off the field.

Bowden has been the Teflon Don of college football in my opinion. Everyone wants to put him on a pedastal yet.

While I think it was time for Bobby to go, and actually, I don't think he had much to do with the football operations for many years but this was handled poorly. Bobby was a GREAT recruiter. Sitting in Mom's house speaking to her son he was like being around a grandparent. Parents of recruits LOVED him. I think he was treated as Lou was. Forced out.

Don't be suprised if you see BB coaching at the hs level in Talley just to have some fun, and to be around the kids. He would love it I'm sure.

tcby99 wrote: finally...

Maybe I can then stop hating Florida St.

Naahh TCB if it comes out of FL you have to hate it...thats in the rules. And if it has the initials TT you have to kick it in the nuts.

Mulva wrote: Last 5 seasons:

8-5
7-6
7-6
9-4
6-6

Only 21-19 in conference play. Not to mention 3 straight absolute embarrassments against Florida.

It's actually kind of ironic when you think about it. The reason he may be forced out is BECAUSE he was such a legend. If he hadn't raised standards so much at FSU those types of records might be acceptable.

But Florida State definitely isn't throwing him under the bus. If anything his team threw him under with their play over the last 5 years.

Bowden denied that he will be retiring btw. Or at least that he has already decided.

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-11-30/bobby-bowden-expected-retire-florida-state-coach

those records speak for themselves and they're not very good. if you are a big time program, you just can't have that type of mediocrity over a 5 year span. if it was any other coach, they'd have been canned a while ago. fsu gave bowden some leash to figure it out because of his history at the school and legendary status throughout college football and he just never did

dazedconfused wrote: if you are a big time program, you just can't have that type of mediocrity over a 5 year span. if it was any other coach, they'd have been canned a while ago.

I can agree with that, but FSU was only big time because of Bowden. Their record before he arrived was 157-136-14. IMHO, like Paterno, he should have been allowed to do whatever he wanted. (within the rules, which was not always the case I'm sure.)

^^ A lot of people have that same opinion. However, I think at least some of them would have a different opinion if they were the AD and caught heat every day about why they're the 3rd/4th best team in Florida the past several years. It's a tough situation. Everybody would feel like hell if they really felt the best thing to do was fire a legend. Loyalty can only go so far. How do you treat a legend when he hasn't performed like one in a couple years, let alone had had some questionable things happen? Everybody has a job to do. Bobby and staff havn't been doing a great job. That makes an AD's job really hard. Bobby is like a lot of great players-- just can't call it quits because of their competitive nature, so they hang on for too long and the game starts to pass them by.

could you imagine carolina squeezing dean smith out after a few bad seasons, or ucla pushing john wooden out the door? this is basically what FSU has done. my view was bowden should have returned to coaching like he did in the 80's and 90's and not delagating authority. does anyone remember watching the noles back in the day? all the trick plays when was the last time you seen FSU run any trick plays. bowden you have such a fascination with the gadget play you would swear the man was wearing a tool belt on sideline. noles sure were fun watch from a entertainment stand point back then.

It's not just about a few sub-par seasons. It's also about two other schools in your state that have been elite this decade while you havn't. It's about Florida HS kids not remembering when FSU was great, but seeing when The U and UF were and are. It's about a new D1 school in your state making a case that you're now the 4th best. It's about a great football school not being relevant on the field anymore. It's about the SANCTIONS. If you're going to have that kind of stuff going on, you damn well better at least win at an elite level. If he weren't a legend he would have been fired already. They've given him time to get the program back where it should be, it hasn't happened. How much is enough? He's said he'd coach as long as he felt healthy. He could coach for 5 more years and not reach a big bowl, not win the conference, and go 35-25-- would that be okay if you were the AD?

Also I guess he gets to go to the Gator Bowl, not earned at all. I don't like Bowden with the rest of them as a Miami fan, I think he's run a dirty program for a long time.

Ytowngirlinfla wrote: Also I guess he gets to go to the Gator Bowl, not earned at all. I don't like Bowden with the rest of them as a Miami fan, I think he's run a dirty program for a long time.

How can any Miami fan accuse anyone else of running a dirty program?

Al Bundy wrote:

Ytowngirlinfla wrote: Also I guess he gets to go to the Gator Bowl, not earned at all. I don't like Bowden with the rest of them as a Miami fan, I think he's run a dirty program for a long time.

How can any Miami fan accuse anyone else of running a dirty program?

Miami change their ways a long ass time ago.

Ytowngirlinfla wrote:

Al Bundy wrote:

Ytowngirlinfla wrote: Also I guess he gets to go to the Gator Bowl, not earned at all. I don't like Bowden with the rest of them as a Miami fan, I think he's run a dirty program for a long time.

How can any Miami fan accuse anyone else of running a dirty program?

Miami change their ways a long ass time ago.

I suppose it depends how you define "a long ass time ago", but the Sean Taylor gang associations were only a few years ago. And it has been 9 years since Ray Lewis killed anyone. But you are right, FSU giving away free shoes is worse than anything those guys have done "a long ass time ago".

What they do after they leave Miami has nothing to do with Miami. You can say that for any school.

Ytowngirlinfla wrote: What they do after they leave Miami has nothing to do with Miami. You can say that for any school.

did you forget about the brawl that the U had on the field a few years ago? that about takes all a miami fan saying FSU runs a dirty program.

KnightRyder wrote:

Ytowngirlinfla wrote: What they do after they leave Miami has nothing to do with Miami. You can say that for any school.

did you forget about the brawl that the U had on the field a few years ago? that about takes all a miami fan saying FSU runs a dirty program.

Exactly. Miami has openly recruited gangsters over the last 30 years. Miami has had some great teams in that time, but they have had the dirtiest program in NCAA history over that time too.