The “him” in the headline, of course, is legendary head coach Bobby Bowden.
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.