11/05/24
December 01, 2009
Bobby Bowden retires: Legendary coach Bobby Bowden will end his 34-year tenure at Florida State after "two national championships, 12 ACC championships, 14 straight seasons among the Associated Press' Top Five, two Heisman Trophy winners and a Rhodes Scholar, [and] induction into the College Football Hall of Fame."
Agreed. Although the man is a legend at Florida State it seemed apparent that his contribution as of late just wasn't getting the job done as far as getting to a National Championship caliber team again. It seemed to me that the recruiting was sliding. That was backed up by something I saw on television about the in state talent bypassing Florida State and going to Florida or out of state altogether.
I think this is best for all involved, in the long run.
posted by THX-1138 at 04:01 PM on December 01, 2009
I think it's also fair to wonder if FSU is considering naming someone other than Jimbo as the next head coach.
The school knew that the program wasn't really Bowden's baby any more on a day to day basis. So what they've been watching the last few years is the work of Jimbo, Mickey and the rest of the senior staff.
If the school leadership is not impressed, I don't blame them. I honestly don't think FSU will get the kind of bump migrating to Jimbo that the Colts got when they migrated to Caldwell. Basically, Jimbo has already had an opportunity to show how capable he is of preparing and motivating the team.
They'd have to terminate Jimbo outright if they went in another direction, and there would be an uproar if they did that, but making the right hire would calm that storm in due course.
There are not that many major programs looking to make a change this year. If FSU is going to think boldly and dynamically, now would be the time to roll the dice.
This is all probably a pipe dream, as FSU likely made assurances to Bobby about Jimbo's future in order to close the deal on Bobby's retirement.
posted by beaverboard at 04:33 PM on December 01, 2009
I thought it was time for Bobby to go though I find the actual announcement pretty sad. He really built the entire program, and is such an FSU fixture.
I think FSU made a mistake by having a head-coach-in-waiting because it made it unclear who was really in charge. And, as to Jimbo, I don't know what he has done and what success he has had that makes him qualified to take this team back to the top. Surely, FSU could get a successful head coach at a smaller program.
posted by bperk at 04:51 PM on December 01, 2009
They'd have to terminate Jimbo outright if they went in another direction, and there would be an uproar if they did that, but making the right hire would calm that storm in due course.
I've read somewhere that Jimbo Fischer has a clause in his contract that states he gets a $5million payout if he's not the head coach of FSU in 2011.
posted by grum@work at 07:48 PM on December 01, 2009
Another icon bites the dust. May his retirement years be kind to him. He will be missed. He tried ,but couldn't keep up with the real legend( Joe Paterno).He will go down as the second winningest coach.Goodbye and God Bless.
posted by Doehead at 07:50 PM on December 01, 2009
I thought it was time for Bobby to go though I find the actual announcement pretty sad. He really built the entire program, and is such an FSU fixture.
I'm a foreigner here, myself, so I'm not sure whether college football fans (and particularly fans of FSU and Penn State) would prefer retirement over their beloved old coaches keeling over on the sidelines and going the way of Jock Stein.
All that said, it looks as if the era of the multi-decade coach is coming to a close, since it's unlikely that ADs, boosters and alums will stick with coaches through leaner times, while bigger schools and NFL GMs will come knocking for the success stories.
posted by etagloh at 12:40 AM on December 02, 2009
Of course, they were saying the same thing about Joe Paterno at Penn State a few years ago. And darned if he didn't manage to put together another string of winning seasons with bowl appearances. And no one is talking about Paterno retiring, and he's what, 112 or so?
posted by irunfromclones at 12:59 AM on December 02, 2009
.
posted by Folkways at 09:26 AM on December 02, 2009
I'm a foreigner here, myself, so I'm not sure whether college football fans (and particularly fans of FSU and Penn State) would prefer retirement over their beloved old coaches keeling over on the sidelines and going the way of Jock Stein.
Speaking only for myself, I'd have prefer Bowden keeling over on the sidelines, so long as the team continued to win.
posted by bperk at 11:43 AM on December 02, 2009
It was sad to see Bowden in recent years as he became more prone to confusion and most of the real coaching was being done by other people.
posted by rcade at 11:55 AM on December 02, 2009
It's hard to see a living legend like Bowden go, but I think the move was overdue. He was never going to leave without a very strong push, and Florida State hasn't been the same program in the past decade. He was given several years to right the ship and didn't get it done.