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Florida State Renews Bowden's Contract For 2008

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden says that before he retires, he is determined to return the program he built into a national power in the late 1980s back to the top. Bowden, 78, will have at least one more season to make his goal a reality.

Bowden's attorney, Russ Campbell, confirmed Friday that ongoing talks between Bowden and FSU have resulted in Bowden's contract being renewed for 2008. The deal is worth approximately $2.5 million and Bowden's "lifetime" contract will be re-evaluated on a year-to-year basis as major college football's all-time winningest coach nears the end of his career. Bowden's current five-year deal, which pays him a total financial package worth approximately $1.8 million, expires Jan. 4.

"We have a deal in principle," Campbell said. "All the details have not been finalized."

FSU president T.K. Wetherell, who has been in talks with Campbell and Bowden in recent weeks about extending Bowden's contract, could not be reached for comment Friday. FSU spokesman Rob Wilson released a statement late Friday afternoon that said "no additional comments from any FSU officials regarding Coach Bowden's contract will be made until a formal announcement sometime next week."

Besides addressing Bowden's future in recent weeks, Wetherell also has contemplated devising a plan to prepare for Bowden's successor, which many believe could be FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher. In recent days, Fisher's name has surfaced in several head-coaching vacancies, including ones at Georgia Tech, Arkansas and Southern Miss.

AUBURN: The Tigers formally offered Coach Tommy Tuberville a two-year contract extension that would include a $200,000-a-year raise and run through 2013, according to newspaper reports. Tuberville has been given a week to consider the offer, which would be worth a total of $19.8 million, The Huntsville Times reported on its Web site, citing unnamed sources.

NEBRASKA: Barring any last-minute snags, LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini will be introduced as Nebraska's new coach early next week, multiple sources told ESPN.

OKLAHOMA STATE: Coach Mike Gundy received a one-year contract extension, through 2013, after leading the Cowboys to their second straight bowl game.

PENN STATE: The team (8-4) accepted a bid for the Dec. 29 Alamo Bowl in San Antonio against a Big 12 team - likely Texas Tech or Texas A&M.

TEXAS: Suspended players Andre Jones and James Henry have been indicted on felony charges for their alleged involvement in a July home invasion.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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