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Andrews Planning To Stay At FSU

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 12, 2007

Updated: 12/12/2007 12:12 am

TALLAHASSEE - There might be a succession plan in place for iconic Florida State coach Bobby Bowden when he retires, but Bowden's longtime defensive coordinator and the person many FSU fans expected to replace Bowden, Mickey Andrews, isn't planning on going anywhere soon.

Well, other than more upcoming recruiting trips.

In the days following FSU's 45-12 loss at Florida on Nov. 24 - the Noles' worst loss to the Gators since 1983, the year before Andrews arrived at FSU - speculation surfaced on Internet message boards that Andrews was considering retirement. Adding fuel to the rumors, a prominent Tallahassee sports radio host speculated the rumors were true.

Prior to an appearance at the Tallahassee Quarterback Club's season-ending banquet Tuesday, Andrews said he plans to continue coaching.

"It's a rumor," Andrews said. "I didn't have anything to do with it. When it's time for an announcement about what I'm going to do, I'll make it. I left recruiting the Sunday after the last game, and I've been going for two or three weeks, whatever it's been. I don't think that's what you do if you're retiring."

In his 24th season at FSU, Andrews, 64, endured the most difficult season of his career. Two weeks before the season started, Andrews' son, Ronnie, died tragically, leaving behind two young boys and a daughter. Andrews returned to practice the day following Ronnie's burial in late August, but he developed a severe case of pneumonia soon afterward, forcing him to miss FSU's home game against Alabama-Birmingham.

Since late last week when reports first broke about offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher being tabbed by FSU President T.K. Wetherell as the person to replace Bowden, more questions about Andrews' future were raised.

After Monday's news conference to announce FSU's agreement with Fisher, Bowden acknowledged in a one-on-one interview with ESPN that he also expected that scenario to take place until last week.

"I had always supported Mickey Andrews, who had been here so long," Bowden said. "But our president thought we needed a younger coach. So Jimbo Fisher is the one we all agreed ought to be the guy."

If disappointed at being passed over, Andrews didn't show it Tuesday, saying he already has talked to Fisher about the arrangement.

"We congratulated him. That's what we did," Andrews said. "It's a great opportunity for him."

USF defensive coordinator Wally Burnham, a former FSU assistant who has known Andrews since their days together at Alabama in the early 1960s, doesn't expect Andrews to exit like this.

Besides the loss of his son and the bout with pneumonia, FSU's defense is having one of its worst seasons under Andrews, surrendering 350.4 yards a game. Since Andrews became FSU's defensive coordinator, the Noles have allowed more yards a game in only three seasons (1984, 2001 and 2002).

"I'd be real surprised if Mickey retired. I'd be shocked," Burnham said. "Mickey is a tough son of a gun. Last time I talked to him about a month ago, he was in great spirits and real involved in the football season. I think he's going to be all right."

The Noles return to practice Saturday to start preparing for the Dec. 31 Music City Bowl against Kentucky. Andrews said after the Florida loss, he is ready to get back to work.

"If I wasn't full speed ahead at Florida State, I wouldn't go on the road recruiting," he said. "When I'm at a point when I'm ready to quit coaching ... I won't let somebody else make a decision. I'll do it myself.

"We're working full speed at Florida State and plan to continue to do it for a while longer."

Reporter Scott Carter can be

reached at (850) 294-3088

or scarter@tampatrib.com.

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