GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Bobby Bowden emphatically promises that Florida's dominance over Florida State won't last forever. Naturally, Bowden's right. One day the Seminoles will again be good enough to compete with the Gators.
Picking the year when that happens is the trick.
Black Friday spilled into Saturday for FSU and Bowden. It wasn't about deals or savings, just another agonizing defeat to a rival that left Bowden admitting that, while he wanted to coach next season, he needed to go home and do some "soul searching" concerning his future. Of course, top-ranked UF knows its immediate future following the 37-10 win at The Swamp.
The Gators remained unbeaten heading into next Saturday's Southeastern Conference showdown against No. 2 Alabama in Atlanta, extended the nation's longest winning streak to 22 games and improved to 12-0 for just the second time in school history (and first time during the regular season).
UF quarterback Tim Tebow threw three touchdowns and ran for two scores in his final home game to help lead Florida to its sixth consecutive victory over FSU (6-6), matching its longest streak in the 54-year-old series since 1981-86. The Seminoles need a win in their bowl game to avoid the program's first losing season since 1976, Bowden's first in Tallahassee.
The outcome in Bowden's likely finale at Florida Field also further illuminated the disparity between the two programs. UF outplayed FSU at every position, finishing with 545 total yards, including 311 rushing. The Gators converted 10-of-13 first downs, did not go three-and-out the entire game and punted just once, on the game's opening possession.
"We've had some great wins here and we've had a lot of great tail-kickings here and this was a pretty good tail-kicking today," said Bowden, who was embraced by a number of people following the game, including former UF tailback Errict Rhett.
"It's a great place to play, a great atmosphere, and I won't miss it. I admire them, to be honest with you. They had that place packed for a 6-5 football team. They were loud and vociferous and I am amazed at them."
Specifically of late under head coach Urban Meyer.
In the last three years, the Gators have outscored the Seminoles 127-37. That number balloons to 182-58 in five years under Meyer, who appears to be running circles around an iconic coach that he deeply respects and considers a friend. However, many FSU faithful have grown weary of the program's mediocrity.
The Seminoles haven't finished in the top five in nine years. When asked how UF has distanced itself so quickly from FSU, Bowden credited Meyer's recruiting and coaching talents.
"Recruit and coach. He's as good a coach as any in the country right now, I would imagine," said Bowden, who is 7-10 against UF at The Swamp.
"He's so thorough. We couldn't beat them in the kicking game, we couldn't beat him on defense, we couldn't beat him on offense. He's so thorough. Of course, you can be thorough and not have good players and not make it. I think we'll be up here with them one of these days. Whether I will be there or not, I don't know.
"Florida State will be back."
The Seminoles trailed 30-0 before Bowden opted for a field goal on fourth-and-goal from the 2 on the final play of the third, admitting that he didn't want to get shut out. The Seminoles added a touchdown with 6:03 to play to make it 37-10.
The outcome could have been even worse than the 45-12 drubbing in 2007 and the 45-15 verdict last year. But Meyer pulled many of his defensive starters late in the third quarter.
By the time Tebow scored his final touchdown, The Swamp was lit up by camera flashes trying to capture his every move. Bowden, meanwhile, threw his hat to the FSU band as his custom and waved to both FSU and UF fans as he walked towards the locker room following the game.
The lone positive he could take from the game was that his team gained needed experience that should help him, if he remains on FSU's sidelines, and the Seminoles for next season.
"Do I want to coach next year? Yeah, I want to coach next year," Bowden said as he ended his post-game conference with the media.
"Now let me say, I need to go home and do some soul searching."
FSU finished with just 269 yards, 83 rushing, converted 2 of 11 third-down conversions and was nearly doubled by UF in average gain per play (4.8 to 8.8). It also appeared the Seminoles' defense barely touched, if at all, UF ball carriers on four of their touchdown runs.
While former UF coach Steve Spurrier made life miserable for Bowden at times in the series, Meyer has left an undeniable mark on his program and the Seminoles.
"I've always liked Urban and I think he likes me," Bowden said.
"Steve and I liked each other. We wouldn't admit it but I think we admired each other. Urban, when I am with him, it's a good feeling I think for the both of us.
"He's doing a great job and he's looking at me like, 'You used to do a good job.' "
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Coach Bowdens success with the FSU program, and his character over the yrs goes without question. With the big revenue and expectations involved in today's game at risk, I pray that the coach steps aside & enjoys life less stressfull from the sidelines as a spectator. At 80 tears of age he has no need to prove anything to anyone... his respect he has worked for and earned.
Criminoles can only take you so far. Time to slip away, Bobby.
Bobby you were a great coach, but time and tide wait for no man. Time has passed you by my friend, step aside and be remembered for the great teams you produced, not that you would not leave the stage long after the play was over.
As a die hard Seminole fan, I hate to lose as much as the next die hard, but FSU would not be a common household name if it were not for Bobby Bowden, I think they should let the man leave on his terms, we have had a heck of a lot more good seasons, than bad seasons give the man the respect he has earned.
What is disappointing is that it was never about the wins at least publicly until this past year. Bobby had kept the desire to be the all-time winningest coach under wrap until the NCAA sanctions hit. When that happened he started (slowly) letting his personal feelings known about finishing on top. The program has suffered as a result. I am all for allowing him finish out his contract until the "wins" became more than the program, game and team he is credited for building and responsible for. At this stage the time to move on has come (I would argue past) and it is time for Bowden to exit gracefully. Bring him back to coach the FSU -v- UF game next year as the honorary coach.... Or have him serve as the honorary coach during home games in 2010. Anything more than this is too much and even this is very generous. For Gator fans enjoy the time at the top. It does not last forever. Never does. Until you reach 10 years of finishing in the top four please do not tell us how great your program is.
It's respectable what Bobby Bowden has done for college football and FSU's program.
It's not respectable that people like Governor Charlie Crist are encouraging him to stay...leave that to the Gator fans.
Bobby Bowden cares about Bobby Bowden.
He wants to finish ahead of Joe Paterno.
Doesn't matter if FSU goes 6-6 for the next five years, so long as Bobby outlasts Joe and gets that title.
It's all about Bobby and, with Wetherell being Bowden's personal puppet and flunky, I bid FSU good luck as it finishes behind UF, USF and the U again in 2010 and 2011.
You see, it isn't about Florida State.
It's about cowering and bowing to Bowden, something Wetherell does well.
Bowden doesn't even care if Fisher calls all the plays, hires all the assistants and recruits all the players.
He just wants those "wins"... even if he isn't really the coach.
Cheating counts at FSU.
It's what got the school in trouble a year ago, isn't it? LOL
Right on, Bro !
It is about Bowden and his legacy. No one cares about FSU especially TK Wetherell, who pretty much does whatever Bowden says.
It is comical that Bowden says there is a meeting tomorrow to decide his future. The meeting is to allow Wetherell to shine Bobby's shoes and kiss his butt.
That is all Wetherell does.
Bowden will be back next year. Florida State will go 6-6 again and Bowden will again blame everybody else.
It is what cheaters do.
It is what FSU is all about.