Deion Sanders angry over attempt to oust FSU's Bowden

Bobby Bowden's most celebrated player is upset that his former coach could be shown the door at Florida State University after this season.

Deion Sanders lashed out at FSU board of trustees chairman Jim Smith, who said it is time for Bowden to step down at season's end.

"I hate to hear this nonsense about Coach Bowden, especially from the parties that are stating it," said Sanders, a two-time All-America cornerback with the Seminoles. "The board of trustees - Florida State wouldn't be Florida State without Coach Bowden, first of all.

"It just angers me that you are going to kill a man while he's alive. At least have a proper funeral for him. He's still living. He can see how you are treating him.

"It angers me because I know what he means to me and the generation before me, and the generation after me. To disrespect him in this manner and place the blame on him for the football program, that's ignorant."

Sanders said Bowden should be allowed to leave on his own timetable.

"I think Coach Bowden should finish with his dignity. Let them know when he wants to depart," said Sanders, who following his 1988 season went on to a brilliant NFL career and now works as an analyst for NFL Network. "To understand where this man has taken this university, and you treat him like that.

"And the last time I checked, Coach Bowden didn't even had a headset on the sidelines. So he's not calling any plays. He's not making any of those decisions through the course of a game. So when you really start to assess blame, assess the blame to people who are to blame."

Meantime, Bowden's son Terry sent a statement to the Tallahassee Democrat late Monday in reaction to comments made by Smith on Sunday.

Smith said FSU's decision to begin finalizing a five-year head coaching contract for offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher was "driven to a great extent by some of the unfortunate comments that Terry Bowden has made in the Alabama press that we are going to magically find $5 million to pay Jimbo Fisher off so his dad can continue to coach here. ... That has hurt us in recruiting and lots of other ways."

Terry Bowden responded Monday by saying:

"It is unfortunate that some comments I made at a University of North Alabama fundraising event, graciously attended by my father and brother Tommy almost three months ago, would be misconstrued, taken totally out of context, and used in articles printed today (Monday). Not only am I one of Jimbo Fisher's biggest fans, as he played and coached for me, but I am a proud alumnus of Florida State University and would never say anything to hurt my father's or FSU's interests."