Florida State's Bowden says he's got some soul-searching to do about coaching next year
By: BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press
11/28/09 9:45 PM EST
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| Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden, left, walks the sidelines during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Florida in Gainesville, Fla., Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009. Florida won 37-10. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack) (AP) |
GAINESVILLE, FLA. — Bobby Bowden wants to do some "soul-searching" before deciding if he wants to coach Florida State in 2010.
Bowden's comments came Saturday, not long after top-ranked Florida defeated the Seminoles 37-10 for the Gators' sixth straight victory in the rivalry.
"I want to coach next year, but let me say I want to go home and do some soul-searching," Bowden said. "I've got to run this thing through my mind a few times."
Bowden has frequently said he wants to return next year, but a third straight one-sided loss to the archrival Gators clearly left the coach in no mood to say he'd definitely be back for a 35th season at Florida State.
Florida State offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher is slated to replace Bowden in January 2011 unless the 80-year-old Bowden decides to retire or university officials don't renew his rolling one-year contract.
Fisher is guaranteed $5 million if for any reason he's not the head coach by January 2011.
Bowden's 388 wins are second only to Penn State's Joe Paterno among major college coaches.
Florida State is 6-6 after going 9-4 in 2008. Defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews has already announced his plans to leave coaching after 26 years with the Seminoles.
"I hope coach Bowden continues to coach," redshirt freshman EJ Manuel said after Saturday's loss. "He's the reason I came here, to play for a legend like him."
Florida has won the last three meetings against Florida State by a combined 127-37 margin, an average of 30 points.
"We don't want to see him leave like this," sophomore linebacker Nigel Bradham said. "At least we'd like to see him go out strong."
Hoping to come back for one final season in 2010 and looking for signs the Seminoles might be closing the gap on archrival Florida, Bowden watched his team get outclassed.
"We couldn't stop them," he said.
If Bowden does come back, he'll get Florida at home next season and won't have to face Florida's do-everything Heisman Trophy quarterback Tim Tebow.
"I won't miss him," Bowden said. "He presents so many problems. It's like playing against 12 people."
Florida rolled up 151 yards in the first quarter to the Seminoles' 15. Florida's dominance was so staggering that Urban Meyer had his team take a knee to run out the final minute of the first half despite having three timeouts available.
"It was a pretty good whipping," Bowden said. "
Bowden is now 17-18-1 against Florida and needs a win the whatever bowl chooses the Seminoles to achieve a 33rd straight winning season.
