Throughout the course of Florida State’s back-and-forth battle with the NCAA over academic sanctions, it’s been a widely assumed notion that head coach Bobby Bowden stands to lose as many as 14 wins if FSU’s appeal of sanctions fails.
According to the St. Petersburg Times, however, that number could be as few as 11 wins from the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
The key, the newspaper writes, is just when the players began receiving improper help for an online music course. Based on their research, and with the help of a public records request, the Times uncovered two key points that may help determine just how many wins Bowden could be forced to vacate.
• Another record, the case summary report that was furnished to the Committee on Infractions before the school’s hearing in October, indicates that former academic adviser Hillard Goldsmith III directed student-athletes to work with an unnamed tutor only “after the first exam on which everyone did poorly.”
The second exam in the fall of 2006 was not posted until the week of Oct. 2-6, the record from the class shows. By that time frame, the Seminoles had played two more games -- and won one, beating Rice 55-7, on Sept. 23.
The reality, though, is that it doesn’t matter whether Bowden is forced to vacate 14 wins or 11 or just about any other number. If he’s forced to give up any, he will have virtually no chance of finishing ahead of Joe Paterno as the nation’s all-time winningest Div. 1-A coach.
For the sake of the race that stands at 3834-382 right now in favor of Paterno, Bowden’s best -- and only -- shot at staying in the race is for a positive outcome in the appeals process.