The "Will he? Won't he?" soap opera of a 2010 return was a major storyline during the early portion of the season but hasn't been as dominant headline of late -- especially since Jim "Mr. FSU" Smith decided to STFU publicly.
With the last home game of the 2009 season approaching -- and perhaps Bowden's final game on the Doak Campbell Stadium sidelines ever -- the rhetoric surrounding the future of the Florida State coach is getting ramped up yet again.
In an interview with USA Today, Bowden's wife reiterated a stance the family has taken since the start of the season, that her husband would like to coach another season. In perhaps the most poignant part of the interview, though, Ann Bowden all but dared the university to pull the trigger and fire her husband.
"You know, we don't need the university as much as they need us -- as much as they need him and his connections and reputation and everything," Mrs. Bowden said. "If they want to pull that trick, we'll just shake the dirt off our feet and go to Europe or go on a long cruise or something.
"They'll have to fire him for him not to go another year ... If they've got guts enough to do it, let them do it."
Mrs. Bowden did admit, though, that the original "plan" was for her husband was to coach until he was 80. Bowden just turned 80 this year, but the situation has changed and he'd like one more year with the 'Noles before riding off into the sunset.
"Years ago," she said of her husband, "I said 80 is probably a good year to cut it off. But he was going great, had a legacy going and everything. And then we (Seminoles) took that downturn. I said, 'Look, if you want to stay on and try to get that back ... '
"His quarterback's going to be a senior next year, and (Bowden) wants to be there for his senior year. That's only right. And all those young kids are going to be a year older. ... He's planning on another year."
Once again, this whole coaching situation at FSU is looking like it will not end well.
And that's a shame for all involved. Especially for the legacy of the legendary head coach.
The football Gods must be "smilin" on the Gators
as our once esteemed former philosopher Steven Orr Spurrier used to say.
I'm not sure which train wreck we should be more giddy about: FSU or Tennessee!!!
Not sure which fan base deserves this more???...ahh the hell with it....let's just enjoy the fallout from both of these idiot fanbases for as long as we can....LOL...the cleanup from these 2 dysfunctional coaching staffs will last long after their both gone!!!
Sounds like Mrs. Bowden's ego is as big as her husbands. I am not even a FSU fan;however, I will assure you that FSU does not need the Bowden's as much as the Bowden's need FSU. I can not understand how some people think they are bigger than the institution. FSU will be around long after both of the Bowden's are gone.
THEY WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM GETTING RID OF HIM .ONCE THE CHECKS STOP COMING FROM BOOSTERS.NO ONE MAN IS BIGGER THAN THE UNIVERSITY.ASK LOYD CARR.
These fine godly Bowden people leave me with the impression they pray daily for Joe Paterno's demise. For this is all this saga is about.
Someone needs to tell Ann that he can stay on as long as he wants and he won't get "that" back!
Not to be sexist or anything but it totally baffles me when wives & mothers start speaking publicly about their husband's & son's jobs. I'm sure they have insite and all but how would they feel if their husbands & sons showed up at their job and complained about the bosses?
This is what happens when coaches are at universities too long they start thinking they are the university.Mrs bowden news flash 100 yrs from now fsu will still be around and they will have a new legend at head coach.
He is only staying to try and catch Paterno. Paterno is probably only hanging around to out last Bowden.
Next year it is the senior quarterback and it is only right he stay for him. Someone needs to ask the senior qb if it even matters to him. Then in 2011, it will be the senior tailback or linebacker and it would only be right to stay for him. The cycle will never stop until FSU's administration mans up and pulls the trigger.
I agree with the poster that he is trying to outlive Paterno and is probably hoping for his demise or at least a situation that requires Paterno to step aside. Bowden will never catch him without coaching at least a season past Paterno. I wish the NCAA would strip the games from FSU due to the rule violations and then this whole situation would be resolved.
If Bowden still thinks he can coach, let him find another university to hire him.
This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Over the past 10 or so years the university has constantly said in the media that Bowden has a "lifetime" contract. Now they want to break it.
Either that or he will file an age descrimination lawsuit!!! Boy is this getting ugly. The Bowdens have never forgiven the school for getting rid of the son.
Is it too hard to figure out that they have already hired an attorney and will file suit the moment the school doesn't renew his contract or tries to force him out? Just gonna make popcornm,sit on the couch and watch this horror story unfold.
If your a Gator, does it get any better???? Layla is next!!