It's time for a clean break at FSU

Saturday night, in the aftermath of his sixth consecutive loss to the Florida Gators, Coach Bobby Bowden seemed like he was suddenly faced with an unpleasant reality.

"Do I want to coach next year? Yeah, I want to coach next year," said Bowden, following Florida State's resounding 37-10 defeat against the top-ranked Gators. It was more evidence that the gap between UF and FSU might actually be widening.

Then Bowden added this curveball.

"Now let me say, I need to go home and do some soul searching."

Soul searching? That's a new one. Already, there are reports Bowden will soon huddle with coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher and FSU administrators to hammer out future plans.

Yes, Bowden, who turned 80 earlier this month, wants to return for one final season.

But for what?

Another 6-6 record?

Another loss against Florida?

For the farewell tour that he always said he never wanted?

Stripped of all authority by an administration that seems ready to move forward?

Look, nobody has the guts to fire Bobby Bowden, as his wife, Ann, expressed so eloquently a few weeks ago. Nobody wants Bowden's blood on their hands.

Bowden could make a clean break, perhaps the notion that has prompted his sudden soul searching, his realization of the truth. It seems logical. For the good of FSU's program - the very program he built to unprecedented national heights - Bowden should step aside and turn it over to Fisher, who probably doesn't want to wait through a third season of limbo.

No matter what, almost certainly, staff changes will be made. A new defensive coordinator, to replace the retiring Mickey Andrews, will be sought. FSU must get that one right.

"Coach Bowden has made a lot of great decisions in his life," Fisher said. "I have no read (on what Bowden will do). I don't think he needs me to help with any soul searching. He always seems to do the right thing."

One thing is certain.

Saturday was Bowden's last game in Gainesville.

"I don't know what's going to happen as far as time (to decide the future), but I know I won't be back here," Bowden said. "If I do, I'll have to buy a ticket."

Bowden has enjoyed wonderful victories at Florida Field. Two come instantly to mind: The 1977 game that snapped UF's nine-game winning streak against the Seminoles and the 1993 thriller that sent FSU to its first national title. There was the crushing 1997 upset loss that ruined FSU's unbeaten season - and a few resounding defeats.

"This was a pretty good tail-kicking," Bowden said.

An embarrassment, said FSU sophomore wide receiver Bert Reed.

"The yards Florida got (545) and the yards we got (269), it shouldn't be like that," Reed said. "They're a great team, but I don't think there's that much of a gap. They know their identity. We're still trying to figure out our identity."

And it will remain that way until there's clarity at the top.

Without peeking at Saturday's scoreboard, the game sure had a 55-0 vibe. Trailing by 30 points, on fourth-and-goal from the Gator 2-yard line, the one-time riverboat gambler opted for a face-saving 20-yard field goal. "I've never done that," Bowden said.

It has come to that for FSU.

Fisher said he believes it won't take long for FSU's return to national prominence. And maybe that's true. But that requires relentless recruiting and a solid direction - two areas solidified by UF's hiring of Urban Meyer in 2004.

"When I'm with Urban, it's a good feeling for both of us," Bowden said. "I know he's doing a good job and he's looking at me like, 'You used to do a good job.' "

On the same riff, Bowden added, "I think we'll be back up there with them again one of these days. Whether I'll be there or not, I don't know."

As Bowden left Florida Field for the final time, a few UF fans gave him a vociferous version of the Gator Chomp. He smiled and waved back. Then Bowden executed his trademark move - tossing his autographed cap into the crowd. It was caught by Andrew Vrzal, an FSU drum major.

"I'll keep this and treasure it," Vrzal said, putting the cap on his head. "It's kind of sad. Coach Bowden is on his way out. There's no one like him.

"There won't be another one like him."

The transaction can't be perfectly scripted. For the long-term good of FSU's program, Bowden should make the move and step away.

It's an unpleasant reality, but it's also the right thing to do.