Florida State’s Bowden to decide on future after third straight loss to rival Florida

more images

more images

Seminoles’ Bowden home mulling coaching future

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Bobby Bowden plans to meet with Florida State president T.K. Wetherell later in the week to discuss his future at the school.

Bowden said Sunday that he wants to coach another year, which would be his 35th in Tallahassee, but he’s not sure whether he’ll be given the chance.

“I’ve got bosses,” Bowden said. “I’ve got people who would have to approve it.”

Bowden has 388 career wins, second only to Penn State’s Joe Paterno among major college coaches, and has continued to coach with the hope of getting Florida State back among the nation’s elite programs.

“You’d still like to get that big year,” said Bowden, who dispelled speculation that he’d return only in a figurehead role. “I’d only want to come back as the head coach.”

Bowden said he believes his young team is on the verge of a breakthrough season, even after getting whipped 37-10 by rival Florida on Saturday. The Seminoles have not been close to beating the Gators the last three meetings, losing the other two 45-12 and 45-15.

“If it didn’t look brighter, I’d probably step out now,” Bowden said.

The 80-year old coaching icon was so pained during Saturday’s beating that he twice went for field goals trailing 30-0. Bowden was unusually melancholy after the defeat, which Florida coach Urban Meyer described Sunday as “one of the best efforts we’ve ever had.”

“I just wanted to avoid the shutout,” Bowden said afterward, trying to explain the field goals. “I don’t think I’ve ever done that before.”

Since winning their 12th Atlantic Coast Conference championship in 2005, the Seminoles have gone 16-16 in the league and managed only two wins this season over a major college opponent with a winning record — BYU and North Carolina.

Bowden also dropped to 17-18-1 against Florida, having lost the last six meetings.

“We’ll get up there with them one of these days,” Bowden said. “Whether I’ll be there or not I don’t know.”