Terry Bowden set to take somebody's job

Although no head coach openings currently exist at Virginia, Memphis and Central Florida, the Terry Bowden rumors have already begun within the fan bases of those schools . . . and others.

Bowden, the 53-year-old son of legendary Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden, returned to coaching this year at North Alabama after spending a decade as a college football television and radio analyst. His Lions are 9-0, ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Division II and have already claimed at least a share of the Gulf South Conference title.

According to the TimesDaily of Florence, Ala., Bowden’s name is frequently mentioned on sports talk radio shows and the Internet by college football fans in several communities.

Virginia (3-4 overall, 2-1 in the ACC) has rebounded from a putrid start to win three of its last four. Many feel that Al Groh’s ninth year in Charlottesville should be his last.

Memphis (2-6, 1-4 in C-USA) has lost four of its last five. Tommy West is 49-57 in his ninth season with the Tigers.

George O’Leary established high expectations at UCF (4-3, 2-2 in C-USA) in 2007 with a 10-4 record, but has gone 8-11 since.

Bowden, who has a three-year contract with North Alabama, told the TimesDaily that he has not been contacted by any school as of yet and that this sort of thing is nothing new.

“I’ve dealt with that over the years, and I’ve stopped getting too concerned with it,” said Bowden, the former Auburn head coach (1993-98), who won his first 19 games on The Plains. “When I was young, I was so excited to see my name mentioned somewhere big, but now it doesn’t mean a lot to me. I’m not looking for a job. I have absolutely nothing on my mind but finishing out this season.

“I’m sure my name pops up here and there, and that would have happened regardless just because I got back into coaching. It wouldn’t be happening (now) if we were 5-4, so that’s a credit to our players and coaches that things have worked out so well.

“I am very happy here at UNA,” he added. “But can anyone say what they would do if they were offered a job that paid a million and a half or two million dollars a year? I want to be here and coach here. If that situation were to come up, then we’ll address it.”

There you go guys. Terry just set his price. You know where to find him.