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Mountaineers' Coaching Search Again Crosses Paths With FSU

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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 he made a favorable impression on officials at the school where he spent six seasons as an assistant before joining the Noles this season.

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

Bowden confirmed he called West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin on behalf of Terry. Manchin played for the elder Bowden when he was coach at West Virginia from 1970-75.

"I just told him I thought Terry was ready," Bowden said. "Terry has been out awhile 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 Bowden lands the WVU job, it will be the second time he has coached at a school his father coached at, with the first time coming at Samford.

"He broke all my records," 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."

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 - Bowen 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. "What does the New York Times know about it? Are they five miles up the road or something?"

QUESTIONS AT TE: Senior John Frady, who has hardly played this season, is working a lot at tight end 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.

Scott Carter

Meyer's Christmas Wish Is A Healthy Cooper

GAINESVILLE - Florida coach Urban Meyer has a wish for WR Riley Cooper this holiday season. Meyer wants the sophomore to have the chance to experience a healthy season.

Cooper's latest injury - a complication from a surgically repaired finger broken against Kentucky on Oct. 20 - likely will keep him out of the Capital One Bowl, Meyer said Thursday. Cooper, who caught three touchdown passes in Florida's first three games, either hasn't played or has played only sparingly in the Gators' last nine games.

"He's been through frustration," Meyer said. "He's learned how to handle it because he's been through so much. But we all just want him healthy."

NO TEBOW AUTOGRAPHS: After a deluge of autograph requests for QB Tim Tebow following his Heisman Trophy win, Florida's athletic department has asked Tebow to no longer sign autographs. The athletic department has produced a signed poster commemorating Tebow's Heisman season. The poster should be available next month.

Andy Staples

Bulls Saving Some Energy For Bowl Game

TAMPA - After the University of South Florida was shut out in its inaugural bowl game appearance in 2005, Coach Jim Leavitt decided to do away with two-a-day practices leading up to future bowl games.

The decision paid off last season when USF beat East Carolina in the PapaJohns.com Bowl, and the Bulls are hoping for similar results against Oregon in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.

"We're not going after it full-tilt every week, which is nice," QB Matt Grothe said. "I remember two years ago, I think that had a lot to do with why we didn't have very much success in our first bowl game, because we were just getting after it so much everybody was getting worn out and tired."

KICKS FOR CASH: Allstate donated $5,000 to the USF general scholarship fund as part of the "Good Hands" field-goal nets program.

ODDS AND ENDS: USF assistant strength and conditioning coach Kaz Kazadi has been named strength and conditioning coach at Baylor. ... Pearl River Community College LB Kion Wilson signed with USF on Thursday.

Gregg Becnel

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