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Notebook: Trickett In Picture For WVU Job

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 21, 2007

TALLAHASSEE West Virginia's search to find a replacement for Rich Rodriguez continues to cross paths with Florida State. On Tuesday, FSU offensive line coach Rick Trickett interviewed for the job and according to reports, made a favorable impression on officials at the school where he spent six seasons as an assistant at before joining the Noles this season.

Terry Bowden, the former Auburn coach and son of Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, also interviewed earlier this week at West Virginia, as did Florida assistant Doc Holliday. And Thursday evening, Internet reports began to surface that the Mountaineers were interested in talking to FSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, who signed a contract earlier this month to replace Bowden at FSU some day. For that to happen, Fisher would have to pay FSU a $2.5 million buyout to even speak with the Mountaineers.

Depending on which rumor you want to believe, Bowden acknowledge one of them to be true on Thursday when he confirmed he did call West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin on behalf of Terry. Manchin played for the elder Bowden when he was head coach at West Virginia from 1970-75.

"I just told him I thought [Terry] was ready," Bowden said. "[Terry] has been out a while and of course wants to get back in it, and he's committed to get back into it. But the fact that he's been out as long as he has scares a lot of people off."

Terry Bowden hasn't coached since 1998 at Auburn. If Terry does land the West Virginia job, it will mark the second time he has coached at a school where his father did, the first time coming at Samford.

"He broke all my records," Bobby Bowden said. "He's capable; he's ready to go. I don't feel like he's the favorite. There are some other good folks."

Prior to the latest rumors surrounding Fisher, Bowden said he doesn't fret over the possibility of losing one of his assistants to another school.

"The only thing that would disturb you in losing coaches [is] if it was a lateral move," Bowden said. " I think once you're at Florida State, a lateral move is not conducive."

BOBBY BITES BACK: A story in Thursday's edition of The New York Times speculated on the possibility of Bowden having to forfeit victories if the NCAA discovers FSU used ineligible players tied to the current academic cheating scandal. If so, Bowden's lead over Penn State's Joe Paterno as major college football's all-time winningest coach – Bowden leads, 373 to 371 – could be jeopardized.

Bowden didn't think much of the report.

"We didn't intentionally play an ineligible player," he said. "We held out two guys, [Kevin] McNeil and [Joslin] Shaw. That's us doing it, because we felt that was the right thing to do. What does the New York Times know about it? Are they 5 miles up the road or something?"

QUESTIONS AT TE: Senior John Frady, who has hardly played this season, is working a lot at TE in practice, replacing starter Charlie Graham and reserve Caz Piurowski, a Land O' Lakes product who also started at times this season.

Graham and Piurowski are both healthy, but with Frady getting much of the work in practice, their availability for the Music City Bowl appears doubtful.

NOLE NUGGETS: FSU linebackers coach Chuck Amato has been mentioned as a candidate to become the defensive coordinator at West Virginia if Holliday gets the job. Amato hired Holliday to work on his staff at N.C. State … Bowden said WR Joslin Shaw missed his second consecutive practice due to academic reasons … Music City Bowl officials announced Thursday that all parking passes for the game are sold out. If you plan to attend, bowl officials advise visiting parkitdowntown.com for alternatives.

Scott Carter

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