After starting the season 2-3, there have been more than a few quiet calls for coach Bowden's head at Florida State. None of those have come louder than the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University. This is the first time since the start of Bowden's tenure at FSU that the team has started 2-3.The real question is when and how should Bowden go. On one hand, the University owes it to him to leave on his own terms in his own way. When he got to FSU they were nothing. And for a period of time in the 1990s they were the best team in all of college football. They won the ACC every season from 1992 until 2000 and never finished outside of the AP Top 5 in that time frame. But now, they are an ACC after thought and only the 3rd best team in their own state.
And with all of this, lets not forget the NCAA sanctions looming overhead as well
I think they have given him every chance in the world to leave on his own. Jimbo Fisher was named the coach in waiting all the way back in 2007. You would think that would be a sign that it was time to go. Also, in that contract, it is stated that if Fisher is not named coach by 2010, the University will owe him $5 million. To me, that should tell Bowden that you have 3 years to finish this thing out on your own terms, or we are kicking you out.But on Saturday, Bowden comes out to say he isn't planning on going anywhere anytime soon. Really?
All of this has to be just killing recruiting at Florida State. Players want program stability. They want a coach to be there for them for their entire careers at a school. They don't want a new staff every few years coming in. You have to know as a high school player that Bowden will leave soon and that the staff is going to change. So just get it over with now. You've been on a downhill slope since probably the last 5 years....and you will be for a couple more. Just get it done now and move on. Bobby, I love ya. You'd done some great things for Florida State. Former Alabama football player as well, I've got nothing against you. But please step down. For the sake of Florida State and your legacy, please step down.....dadgummit!!!!!
How can I read when I have these FSU girls looking at me....Yikes..keep up the good work
ReplyDeleteDadgummit is right! A 2-3 start might lead some folks to speak out of turn - like the FSU trustee Jim Smith (does he expect Bowden's team, which has 4 bowl wins and conference championships, respectively, to its credit in the decade, to be as good as 90's FSU?) - but it's true - Bowden's old and the program hasn't been very good in recent years, much less elite. But look at Joe Pa - people said he was cooked like ten years ago. Then his teams started winning again! Unless something health-related happens to Mr. Bowden (hopefully that is not the case), I don't see how he exits gracefully...
ReplyDeleteObviously Bowden is a good enough coach to get a team to an elite level, and I don't think that has changed. But for one reason or another, it isn't happening now. So, should he go? As The Fox said, Joe Pa was able to get his team to a very high level again, so maybe Bowden could as well. But then there's the question of Jimbo Fisher. Some people think he's the actual problem (I don't know enough about the program to have an opinion on that), but either way, they're going to have to pay him off if he's not head coach next year. Can they afford that? Some people say they should just clean house and get rid of everyone. I would say that IF they can afford to pay Fisher off, fine, get rid of him, but keep Bowden since you know he can win. If not, you have to ask -> can you get anyone to replace him that you can trust to save your program?
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