The Associated Press Published: December 1, 2009
Updated: 29 min. ago Related Links * Henderson: A good-hearted man <http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/dec/01/good-hearted-bowden-will-leave- sidelines-not-our-m/sports-colleges-canes/> * Fennelly: Still, a sad day <http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/dec/01/sp-time-has-come-to-away-walk/s ports-colleges/> * Bowden's career in photos <http://www2.tbo.com/photoalbum/2009/nov/30/bobby-bowdens-career-in-phot os/> * Video: End of an era <http://www2.tbo.com/video/2009/nov/30/bowdens-possible-retirement-51401 /> * From 2008: Booster tour has nostalgic feel <http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/dec/01/2008-bowdens-annual-booster-tou r-has-nostalgic-fee/sports-colleges/> TALLAHASSEE - Florida State University President T.K. Wetherell <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/wetherell/> told the Tallahassee Democrat <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/tallahassee-democrat/> this afternoon that legendary football coach Bobby Bowden <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/bobby-bowden/> will announce his retirement later today, and said he's hopeful Bowden will remain with the university. According to Wetherell, Bowden may assume an emeritus position and help FSU with fundraising. Wetherell <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/wetherell/> also confirmed that FSU will play West Virginia -- where Bowden also coached -- in the Jan. 1 Gator Bowl in Jacksonville. Bowden will coach in the bowl game, Wetherell <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/wetherell/> said. It will be a rematch of Bowden's first bowl victory, when Florida State defeated West Virginia 31-12 in the 1982 Gator Bowl. West Virginia also was the school where Bowden coached before taking over at FSU. Bowden told The Associated Press that an announcement would be made later Tuesday. "I want to meet with my team first," Bowden said on his way into the office. That team meeting has been scheduled for 2:15 p.m. About 30 reporters and 15 media trucks were waiting for Bowden at his parking spot at the Moore Athletic Center this morning. He was able to avoid them by parking his Mercedes E350 inside Doak Campbell Stadium underneath the north end zone. Bowden, the second-winningest coach in major college football history, met earlier Tuesday morning <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/tuesday-morning/> at his home with school officials, their second such meeting in two days. The coach is in his 34th season at FSU. After Florida State lost its regular-season finale to Florida on Saturday, Bowden said he had to do some soul-searching before deciding whether he would return in 2010. "This is coach Bowden's decision," Florida State president T.K. Wetherell <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/wetherell/> said Tuesday. "He's going to talk to the team first. I'm not going to make any comment." Wetherell <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/wetherell/> said he was waiting word from Bowden on his decision. On Monday night, Bowden told the AP at his home that he was still sifting through "options" presented to him when he met with Wetherell <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/wetherell/> and athletic director Randy Spetman. "Yes, there are options," said a relaxed Bowden, who was eating a light dinner while seated in an easy chair <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/easy-chair/> in his home office surrounded by memorabilia from his long career. "One of them is to be the head coach." The Tallahassee Democrat <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/tallahassee-democrat/> and ESPN.com reported Bowden is expected to announce his retirement Tuesday. University spokesman <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/university-spokesman/> Browning Brooks said no news conference had been scheduled. There are questions about how responsibilities would be divided next season between Bowden and coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher <http://www2.tbo.com/topic/k/jimbo-fisher/> - especially when it comes to hiring assistants. Fisher, the offensive coordinator, receives $5 million from Florida State if he's not the head coach by January 2011. Earlier this year, Bowden had strongly suggested he wanted 2010 to be his last season. But Bowden, whose 388 career wins are second only to Penn State's Joe Paterno among major college coaches, also has said he could not return as a head coach with no authority. The Tallahassee Democrat contributed to this report. -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
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