FSU's Streak Survives, Will Bowden?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- When Bobby Bowden finally decides to slip quietly into retirement, he believes Florida State fans will remember the good times -- and not the program's recent slide -- that happened during his storied coaching career. One question: Does his career have any chance at a storybook ending?

FSU's dramatic 29-26 home victory over Maryland Saturday helped an already wounded Seminole Nation avoid further grief, if not slow a potentially uncomfortable showdown with its iconic coach. Instead, the Seminoles (6-5) breathed a collective sigh of relief and became bowl eligible for the 28th straight year.

Another streak is on the line at top-ranked Florida next Saturday.

"Say that without laughing. Don't you dare laugh," Bowden chuckled when asked if he thought his team could beat the Gators, who have won five consecutive and six out of the last eight games in the series.

"Anything is possible. You have a team, unranked, playing the No. 1 team in the nation at their place with a five-game winning streak against us."

"But nothing is impossible."

The Seminoles proved as much against the Terrapins, relying on a bit of luck and three freshmen.

A mere two minutes away from a devastating loss, FSU freshman Greg Reid darted 48 yards with a punt return to the Maryland 44. Terrapins coach Ralph Friedgen said Nick Ferrara intended to punt the ball out of bounds on the right sideline, but it drifted back into the hands of Reid, the ACC's leading punt returner.

Freshman quarterback E.J. Manuel, who had tossed his third interception of the game on the Seminoles' previous possession, scrambled twice for 35 yards and then tossed a 6-yard completion to Tawian Easterling.

That set up freshman Lonnie Pryor's 3-yard run with 32 seconds left to send a season-low crowd of 66,042 at Doak Campbell Stadium home with a smile.

"I knew when our defense got three and out, I had to make a big play then," Reid said.
"We've been fighting it all year, you know, big plays. I told EJ [Manuel] before I would set him up for good field position and all you've got to do is finish the game. Everything worked out. We're going to get better, we are going to get ready for the Gator game, I can tell you that."

That's certainly good to know.

FSU finished its home season with a 3-3 record and for the second straight home game there were thousands of empty seats despite pregame activities honoring departing senior players and longtime defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews.

Andrews, 68, the gum-chewing, fiery/friendly ol' cuss, is leaving after 26 seasons to be a full-time grandfather to the children of his son Ronnie, who died suddenly in 2007. Andrews was given a new garnet Ford crew cab pickup from his former players before the game and he was carried off the field by his current players after the game.

A relieved Andrews, who was awarded the game ball, said you couldn't have scripted a better story in terms of winning his final home game. Bowden, who had attempted to talk his good friend out of retirement and into one more season in 2010, was also thankful the game had a good ending.

"It would have been awful to send him out with a loss, it would have been awful," Bowden said. "Mickey's a great guy. I bet he will shed a lot of tears -- you won't see them -- but he's so sentimental."

The 80-year-old Bowden, meanwhile, continues to press forward. He has repeatedly indicated he wants to return to coach next year.

While his future has been the source of speculation for years, the heat increased earlier this season when Jim Smith, chairman of the university's trustees, said Bowden should leave after this season.

The flames of discontent were once again further stroked earlier this week when Ann Bowden, Bobby's wife, publicly dared the university to fire Bowden. She had earlier stated she felt betrayed by Smith and others who wanted to push out 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," Ann Bowden told USA Today. "If they want to pull that trick [and force Bobby to retire], 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."

Bowden wanted no part of any verbal jousting following the Maryland game, saying he instead wanted to enjoy the victory.

"Let's don't talk about me. We've talked about me enough the last two weeks," Bowden laughed, proving he certainly hasn't lost his sense of humor, even though FSU is just 37-26 in the past five years.

"The [wins] are all big for me. That's one thing you don't get too old for, is a win. Can you imagine how miserable I would be if we lost? Miserable."

Bowden's not the sentimental type either. He said he didn't give one thought to the possibility that it may have been his final home game at FSU as well.

"Did it cross my mind?," Bowden asked. "No. I don't do that."

Hmm, the Maryland-FSU game could have been called the Buyout Bowl.

Bowden has indicated he would like to coach through at least the 2010 season. Offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has a contract already calling for the school to pay him $5 million if he is not the head coach by January 2011.

Expect a decision on Bowden's future quickly after the Florida game. Again, as reported earlier by FanHouse, it's believed he has been given two options - step away with a nice payday or return and allow Fisher control of the team, including coaching decisions.

On the other sideline was Friedgen, who, given the Terps' financial woes, is expected to remain as head coach for the remaining two years of his contract. The university needs a cool $4.5 million if it wants to move the Fridge early and elevate head coach-in-waiting James Franklin.

Time will determine those moves.

Bowden wanted to enjoy the moment, while Friedgen suffered through his team's sixth consecutive defeat.

"It's one of those games you lose it," Bowden explained.

"Look up and say gosh, you just lost it. Then you pull it out. Then you look up there and we just lost it again. They scored a touchdown. Then first thing you know we won it. It was that kind of game.

"It's hard to believe we won it."