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Bowden: Time Is 'Getting Close'

Tribune photo by GREG FIGHT

Bobby Bowden speaks to reporters in Tampa on Friday afternoon.

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By BRETT McMURPHY

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 19, 2008

TAMPA - Before Florida State coach Bobby Bowden arrived at Friday's College Football Media Days at the Tampa Marriott Waterside, a Tampa Bay Sports Commission employee placed a sign against the table where Bowden would speak.

It read: "The Road To Tampa Bay. Atlantic Coast Conference. Only 204 miles to go."

The Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game will be held at Raymond James Stadium on Dec. 6. Next summer, the state's College Football Media Days also return to Tampa.

The question is: Will Bowden make it back to Tampa for either event?

While the other 11 state coaches in town Thursday and Friday were asked mostly about their upcoming seasons, Bowden was peppered with questions about his future. Namely, how much longer is his future as Florida State's coach?

"I'll just have to feel when it's time," said Bowden, who turns 79 on Nov. 8 when the Seminoles host ACC favorite Clemson. "I have to be sure it's not decided by 'their' time. I'd like for it to be my time.

"It's getting close. It's getting close."

Bowden, who is 300-87-4 at FSU, said he has certain goals he wants to achieve before retiring.

"I would love to win a national champ- ionship again," Bowden said. "I would like to win so many games before I leave. That may or may not happen.

"All I know is right now I'm not interested in retirement, but I do know my days are numbered. But there ain't one of you who know what those number of days are."

Under Bowden, the Seminoles have had an incredible run, specifically from 1987-2000, when FSU won two national titles, nine consecutive ACC titles and only finished lower than fourth in the final Associated Press poll once - and that was a No. 5 finish in 2000.

However, those are a distant memory, the good old days. The Noles are coming off consecutive 7-6 seasons, their worst two-year stretch in Bowden's illustrious 32-year FSU career.

"The thing we have done, like some other schools - Notre Dame, Alabama, Texas - when you reach the top everyone expects you to be there every year," Bowden said. "They all have their down years."

Bowden was asked if he feared FSU is a "middle of the pack" team. A few years ago, that reporter would have been laughed out of the room. On Friday, it was a legitimate question.

"I think we're above mid-pack," Bowden said.

For the first time at FSU, Bowden is working with a one-year contract with the option to renew after the season. The school also has already named offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher as his replacement, something Bowden said he approves of.

"It's unusual what we did this year in regards to naming a successor," Bowden said. "I like it. I didn't plan it. I couldn't have thought it up, but once our president T.K. Wetherell suggested it and the more I looked into it, it helps me.

"When you're a head football coach and you know your day is coming, sooner or later you've got to resign. It's not as easy as it sounds. I can step out now when I want to and everything is in good hands."

In 2006, Jeff Bowden's final year as FSU's offensive coordinator, the Seminoles ranked 70th nationally in total offense. Last year in Fisher's first season, the Seminoles dropped to 80th in total offense.

During that magical stretch from 1987-2000, FSU lost 19 games in 14 years. In the past three years, FSU has lost 17 games. FSU also has struggled in late-game situations, losing eight of 11 games decided by seven points or less since 2006.

"We were 7-6 in 2006 and we were 7-6 in 2007," Bowden said. "I go out and hire the best football coaches in the country, double our salaries and don't win no more games than we did the year before. Naturally we're not content with what we're doing right now; but I do like what we're doing offensively.

"I like what we're doing. I like that our offensive coordinator knows what's going on and I like the way he's building our offense. We're gonna have to get better football players before that's going to improve like I'd want it to."

In their first three games this fall, the Seminoles will be without seven starters who were among the players suspended in last year's academic cheating scandal. Those players will miss tuneups with Western Carolina and Chattanooga and the ACC opener with Wake Forest, but will be back Sept. 27 when FSU plays Colorado in Jacksonville.

Like the suspended players, Bowden also believes the Seminoles will be back.

"We're just passing through a cycle and I think we're on our way back up," Bowden said. "We stayed there for 14 years. How many years you expect us to stay there? Nobody else stayed there but five.

"We're gonna go back. I want to win it all again before I go. Will it happen? I don't know, but we're sure going to try."

The question is: for how much longer?

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com.

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