Bobby Bowden To Retire On Tuesday

Sports News - December 1st, 2009 - Written by John

After meeting with school officials on Monday, Bobby Bowden has decided to retire as head coach at Florida State, with the closing of the 2009 NCAA Football Season, sources told ESPN.

The legendary coach, who was spent the last 34 years with the Seminoles, is believed to make an official announcement Tuesday afternoon after another brief meeting with school President T.K. Wetherell and athletic director Randy Spetman.

Although on an off-week, it is reported that the players on the football team have scheduled a team meeting just after 2 p.m.

Bowden is second on the all-time win list with 388, just five shy of Joe Paterno for the all-time lead. But after a miserable stretch win which the 'Noles went 7-6 in both 2006 and 2007, and are 6-6 this year. If they lose their bowl game, it will be the first time since early in Bowden's tenure that the team has had a losing season. Following a 37-10 loss to rival Florida last Saturday, Bowden was reportedly given two choices on his future: either retire, or come back for one more year as a head coach by name only, and receive limited duties. Lamen's terms: he would be a sitting duck mostly used as an ambassador and figurehead.

He is to get a buyout of around $1 million from the Seminole Boosters organization, but several media outlets are suggesting he will get more than that.

Warchant, a Rivals.com affiliate, has already reported that Fisher has agreed to all terms to be the next head coach, and will be introduced in the coming days. He will get a five-year contract worth around $1.2-1.5 million per year.

Florida State won two National Championships under Bowden in 1993 and 1999, and had two Heisman Trophy winners in both years. It finished in the top-5 for a record 14 years, and won the ACC every year since joining the league in 1991 until 2001