Hide the women and children, it’s about to get ugly on Skip To My Lank.
For as long as I can remember, and possibly before, I’ve been a Florida State Seminoles fan. Football, basketball, and baseball, mostly. But if I hear about their men’s track team (multiple national championships), women’s soccer team (Final Four appearance), or any other team do well, I’m happy for them also. I’m a Florida State fan, and that blankets all sports. However, when it comes to the collection of Lank’s favorite sports teams, Florida State football reigns supreme. I root harder for the gridiron ‘Noles than I do for any of my other favorite teams. I feel worse when they lose, I feel happier when they win, and every emotion in between is more intense than with any other team.
So you can imagine my dismay when some pen-pusher behind a trustees’ desk is trying to force out the man who is single-handedly responsible for any relevance that Florida State football had, currently has, and will have in the future.
Bobby Bowden has been synonymous with Florida State football for over 30 years. His streak of 14 consecutive 10-win and Top 5-ranking seasons from 1987-2000 is unparalleled in the history of college football…which goes back to 1869. You know how everybody thinks USC is really good now? Yeah, they’ve been on the scene for 7 years under Pete Carroll, roughly half the time that Bowden’s ‘Noles ruled the roost. Florida? They didn’t even win 10 games two years ago. LSU? Please; 5 losses (their 2008 total) is unacceptable for a perennial power. And don’t give me the “but they play in the SEC!” argument, because we all know the SEC was terrible last year.
Despite taking over a program that had won 4 games combined in the three years prior to his arrival, Bowden won 10 games in his second year at the school, and has never had a losing season in Tallahassee after going 5-6 in his first year. Prior to Bowden coming to Florida State, the Seminoles had exactly one bowl win to their name in 30 seasons of playing football; in Bowden’s 33 seasons, the Seminoles have won 20 bowl games. Not to mention the two national championships, twelve conference championships (and he didn’t even join a conference until 1992), 309 overall victories, and two Heisman trophy winners. As a matter of fact, Bowden has had at least two separate players win the Heisman Trophy, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Thorpe Award, Lombardi Award, Lou Groza Award, and Dick Butkus Award. Those are all for different positions, by the way. He has made Tallahassee a pre-NFL stop for hundreds of players and continues to do so today.
Ah, today. The timeframe in question for the aforementioned “pen-pusher,” a fella named Jim Smith, the chairman of the university Board of Trustees. According to Smith, Bowden needs to go because the program has been in decline for “seven or eight (years)” and “enough is enough.” Really, Jim? You wanna go there? The only reason the Florida State program was in a position to decline to begin with was because of Bobby Bowden. Had he not spoiled you (and me and every other Seminole fan) with such insane accomplishments, you probably wouldn’t be so arrogant about your football program right now. Has the program slipped in recent years? Absolutely. Going from 11-1 every year to 9-3 or 8-4 tells the story on its own. No need to deny facts; and I’m not arguing to the contrary.
What I am arguing, Jim, is that Bowden needs to go. The Florida State football program is analogous to a house that a fine carpenter has taken his time to build. He took baby steps early and completed it, using low-level recruits and hard workers to bring a blue-collar work ethic to the team and grind out victories. Then he began to refine it and add to it until it was the epitome of what a strong, effective house should be; Bowden’s high-flying offenses under Casey Weldon, Warrick Dunn, Charlie Ward, Walter Jones, Peter Warrick, E.G. Green, Andre Cooper, Danny Kanell, and Chris Weinke could stand up to any offense ever assembled. His overpowering defenses, led by Derrick Brooks, Derrick Alexander, Marvin Jones, Daryl Bush, Peter Boulware, Deion Sanders, Clifton Abraham, Terrell Buckley, LeRoy Butler, Derrick Gibson, Tay Cody, Reinard Wilson, Jamal Reynolds, Tommy Polley, and Corey Simon could suffocate with the best of them. He popularized the shotgun formation, went on the road to play any team anywhere, and laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most impressive dynasties that the sport of college football has ever seen. However, in his later years the carpenter began to tire and was unable to keep his house outfitted with the modern enhancements that all the new houses have. Whether it’s the spread offense, zone blitzes, or the read-option, Florida State has lagged behind when it comes to innovating their style of play. Bowden, the carpenter, is in the twilight of his career, and has hired new people to take care of his house, but they are unable to because their carpentry skills are half of what his were in his prime. You see, the house isn’t crumbling because Bowden still lives in it; the house is crumbling because the current caretakers aren’t as good as Bowden once was. So why is it that we are trying to kick him out of his own house? To leave it to the uninspiring, in-over-their-heads apprentices? Let the old man stay; it’s only right that if his house is to cave in, it’s to do so while he is able to be there while it does.
Also, Jim, I hear you’re urging the school to negotiate a contract with offensive coordinator/head-coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher that will allow him complete control over personnel decisions, even if Bowden remains as head coach. Hey Jim, you know those “uninspiring, in-over-their-heads apprentices” I referenced earlier? Yeah, Jimbo is the main culprit. Hired away from LSU at an expensive price to resurrect our moribund offense, he hasn’t exactly done that. Our running game is still non-existent, our passing game puts up yards and no points, and our turnovers…well, let’s just say that if we only have two turnovers in a game, I’m pleased. Jimbo has been there for 3 years now; when exactly are we supposed to get some bang for our buck? Brian Kelly resurrected Cincinnati in half the time it has taken Jimbo to keep our offense mediocre. Chip Kelly has put the Oregon offense into overdrive in half the time it has taken Jimbo to keep our offense in neutral. Gus Malzahn has done more in 5 games for Auburn than Jimbo has done for us in 3 years. Need I continue?
It’s been known for quite some time now that Bowden delegates more than ever and doesn’t have a strong hand in the everyday goings-on of the team. He makes big picture decisions, but leaves the details to Jimbo Fisher, Rick Trickett, Chuck Amato, and Mickey Andrews. If that’s the case, then why is Bowden getting blamed for how the team is playing as opposed to the group of guys who are more responsible for the downfall of the program? Are you really trying to make me believe that Bowden has such an impact on the team, still, that he’s the main reason we’re losing more games than ever now? Get a grip, Jim; it’s the jokers behind the curtain that are causing the problems, not the Wizard of Bob. You can’t criticize Bowden for not being more hands-on in his approach and then blame him when the team begins to tailspin. That just doesn’t add up.
So what happens now? If Bowden does decide to retire at the end of this year (though I think it’s more likely to be after the 2010 season), what do we do? Apparently, the school has decided to follow through on their decision to make Jimbo head-coach-in-waiting, and are preparing him a new contract. Fantastic. I can’t wait to go 8-5 for the next 4 years until the school can pony up enough money to get rid of him. With that in mind, I’m looking waaaaay ahead. Like 2013 ahead. By that time, Mark Richt, Brian Kelly, Jeff Tedford, Gus Malzahn, and Bobby Petrino should be looking for work. Richt and the Georgia fan base seem to be growing tired of one another (something echoed by ESPN’s Pat Forde recently); Brian Kelly will need a new job after winning 4 of 5 Big East titles at low-budget Cincinnati; Jeff Tedford and the Cal fan base are the West Coast version of Georgia in this scenario; Guz Malzahn will refine his skills at Auburn for a few years before being ready to get his own gig; and Bobby Petrino is always looking for work. Choose one of them and get on with it. Heck, maybe a new mid-major stud will have arrived on the national scene. That seems to have worked out fairly well for our frienemies in Gainesville.
Whatever you and the other trustees decide to do, Jim, just remember to send Bobby Bowden a thank you note after you make the hire. After all, were it not for Sir Robert, our beloved football program wouldn't be in the position to hire a top-level football coach to begin with.
~~Lank
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