Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Boosters: Time for Bowden to retire
By Tom D'Angelo
Palm Beach Staff Writer
Monday, October 23, 2006
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State president T.K. Wetherell's mailbox is ready to overflow, and the tone of those letters are about to get ugly.
Palm Beach attorney Peter Mettler, a former board member of Seminole Boosters Inc., wants football coach Bobby Bowden to retire and is asking Wetherell to take action. In his letter, Mettler, a Golden Chief (minimum $6,000 yearly donation), praises Bowden for his accomplishments during the first 25 seasons at Florida State before getting to the point.
"I am convinced and frankly have been for the last two seasons that coach Bowden should retire or be forced to retire," Mettler wrote. "Someone has to stand up and make this difficult decision. As our president I urge you to be the leader I know you are, and do what has to be done."
Mettler, who knows of several other boosters who have written similar letters, wrote his Friday, the day before the Seminoles' 24-19 loss to Boston College dropped them to 4-3 and last place in the Atlantic Division of the ACC (2-3). In a decade in which the program has been in a tailspin, new lows are in danger of being realized since FSU's remarkable run of 14 consecutive top-5 finishes ended in 2001.
Bowden, though, remained resolute when he met with the media early Sunday. Heavy bags circled his eyes after a night of tossing and turning while thinking about the loss. Yet, Bowden remained upbeat, saying, "Something good is fixin' to happen to us. We're going to come out of this doggone thing."
Bowden, who turns 77 in 16 days, was then asked what he can tell fans so they do not lose faith in this team.
"It would be youth," he started, before diverting. "But hey, I don't worry about telling fans that. I don't listen to fans. I do not. I think you all know me good enough that he does not let public opinion tell (him) what to do."
Bowden later said he is not angry with Florida State fans and appreciates their support, but maintained he ignores "public opinion."
That public opinion is filling the message boards and becoming daily chatter in Seminole Nation. The difficulty for some, though, is their respect for a man who came to Florida State in 1976 and resurrected a moribund program, turning it into one of the elite.
Bill Davis, a past president of Seminole Boosters who has known Bowden for 30 years, likens it to a CEO of a major corporation who should step aside without shame.
"This is not the way we envisioned him riding out," Davis said. "We wanted him riding out with a good feeling and a big parade. This is not the way we wanted it to end for him. But we're very concerned about the direction. Many of us think the direction is headed in the wrong way.
"Our dilemma is: How do you ask a legend to retire?"
So far there have been no 'Fire Bobby Bowden' bed sheets spotted on campus, and a likeness of Bowden has not been hung in effigy as it was three decades ago at West Virginia.
The Tallahassee air space has been void of planes with banners asking for Bowden's ouster, something Miami head coach Larry Coker witnessed over the Orange Bowl this month. And fans do not have the heart to create a FireBobbyBowden Web site. Instead, RetireCoachBowden.com calls for Bowden's dismissal.
"We think it's time for someone in the FSU Administration to tell the emperor he has no clothes. ... It is time to let our legendary coach retire and with some amount of class and dignity," it reads.
Said Davis: "This is a real tough business. It boils down to one of two things: It's either the horses or the jockeys. And we think we have some pretty good horses."
Although Bowden's corner appears to be losing support, his players continue to rally around their coach. Center John Frady called the idea that Bowden should retire "ludicrous." Frady says he sees the respect afforded Bowden every week when opposing coaches meet him at midfield before a game.
"The man's name is on the (field)," Frady said. "He's a legend. It's not time for coach Bowden to retire."
Critics do not disagree - with the first two sentences. In fact, they appear guilt-ridden for their feelings. In the past, Jeff Bowden, Bobby's son and offensive coordinator, was the scapegoat and it was easier to blame the son than go after the all-time winningest coach in major college history. But Bobby took that personally, defending Jeff while at same time attacking his detractors.
"I've represented him," Mettler said. "I know this guy. I know (Bowden's wife) Ann. I've been in their house. This is a very, very difficult situation for everybody.
"But look at the last 51/2 years as evidence and everybody sees the same thing. We're at the end of the road."
That road eventually will lead to retirement and lazy days at his beach house on Florida's Gulf Coast, reminiscing about a Hall of Fame career with his coaching sons.
Although Bowden has a lifetime agreement to coach at Florida State, his current contract expires after next season. But Wetherell has always said that Bowden will remain the Seminoles' coach for as long as he desires.
So if that decision truly is Bowden's, expect him to take the fork in that road before reaching the end.
"As long as the university let's me run the football team, I will run it," Bowden said Sunday. "And when they tell me they don't want me anymore it will be time for me to go."
By Tom D'Angelo
Palm Beach Staff Writer
Monday, October 23, 2006
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State president T.K. Wetherell's mailbox is ready to overflow, and the tone of those letters are about to get ugly.
Palm Beach attorney Peter Mettler, a former board member of Seminole Boosters Inc., wants football coach Bobby Bowden to retire and is asking Wetherell to take action. In his letter, Mettler, a Golden Chief (minimum $6,000 yearly donation), praises Bowden for his accomplishments during the first 25 seasons at Florida State before getting to the point.
"I am convinced and frankly have been for the last two seasons that coach Bowden should retire or be forced to retire," Mettler wrote. "Someone has to stand up and make this difficult decision. As our president I urge you to be the leader I know you are, and do what has to be done."
Mettler, who knows of several other boosters who have written similar letters, wrote his Friday, the day before the Seminoles' 24-19 loss to Boston College dropped them to 4-3 and last place in the Atlantic Division of the ACC (2-3). In a decade in which the program has been in a tailspin, new lows are in danger of being realized since FSU's remarkable run of 14 consecutive top-5 finishes ended in 2001.
Bowden, though, remained resolute when he met with the media early Sunday. Heavy bags circled his eyes after a night of tossing and turning while thinking about the loss. Yet, Bowden remained upbeat, saying, "Something good is fixin' to happen to us. We're going to come out of this doggone thing."
Bowden, who turns 77 in 16 days, was then asked what he can tell fans so they do not lose faith in this team.
"It would be youth," he started, before diverting. "But hey, I don't worry about telling fans that. I don't listen to fans. I do not. I think you all know me good enough that he does not let public opinion tell (him) what to do."
Bowden later said he is not angry with Florida State fans and appreciates their support, but maintained he ignores "public opinion."
That public opinion is filling the message boards and becoming daily chatter in Seminole Nation. The difficulty for some, though, is their respect for a man who came to Florida State in 1976 and resurrected a moribund program, turning it into one of the elite.
Bill Davis, a past president of Seminole Boosters who has known Bowden for 30 years, likens it to a CEO of a major corporation who should step aside without shame.
"This is not the way we envisioned him riding out," Davis said. "We wanted him riding out with a good feeling and a big parade. This is not the way we wanted it to end for him. But we're very concerned about the direction. Many of us think the direction is headed in the wrong way.
"Our dilemma is: How do you ask a legend to retire?"
So far there have been no 'Fire Bobby Bowden' bed sheets spotted on campus, and a likeness of Bowden has not been hung in effigy as it was three decades ago at West Virginia.
The Tallahassee air space has been void of planes with banners asking for Bowden's ouster, something Miami head coach Larry Coker witnessed over the Orange Bowl this month. And fans do not have the heart to create a FireBobbyBowden Web site. Instead, RetireCoachBowden.com calls for Bowden's dismissal.
"We think it's time for someone in the FSU Administration to tell the emperor he has no clothes. ... It is time to let our legendary coach retire and with some amount of class and dignity," it reads.
Said Davis: "This is a real tough business. It boils down to one of two things: It's either the horses or the jockeys. And we think we have some pretty good horses."
Although Bowden's corner appears to be losing support, his players continue to rally around their coach. Center John Frady called the idea that Bowden should retire "ludicrous." Frady says he sees the respect afforded Bowden every week when opposing coaches meet him at midfield before a game.
"The man's name is on the (field)," Frady said. "He's a legend. It's not time for coach Bowden to retire."
Critics do not disagree - with the first two sentences. In fact, they appear guilt-ridden for their feelings. In the past, Jeff Bowden, Bobby's son and offensive coordinator, was the scapegoat and it was easier to blame the son than go after the all-time winningest coach in major college history. But Bobby took that personally, defending Jeff while at same time attacking his detractors.
"I've represented him," Mettler said. "I know this guy. I know (Bowden's wife) Ann. I've been in their house. This is a very, very difficult situation for everybody.
"But look at the last 51/2 years as evidence and everybody sees the same thing. We're at the end of the road."
That road eventually will lead to retirement and lazy days at his beach house on Florida's Gulf Coast, reminiscing about a Hall of Fame career with his coaching sons.
Although Bowden has a lifetime agreement to coach at Florida State, his current contract expires after next season. But Wetherell has always said that Bowden will remain the Seminoles' coach for as long as he desires.
So if that decision truly is Bowden's, expect him to take the fork in that road before reaching the end.
"As long as the university let's me run the football team, I will run it," Bowden said Sunday. "And when they tell me they don't want me anymore it will be time for me to go."
