Sources: Bowden Expected to Retire

(TUESDAY UPDATE: Bobby Bowden will announce his retirement to the Florida State football team at a 2:15 p.m. meeting. Bowden will coach the Seminoles in the Gator Bowl against West Virginia on Jan. 1 and may remain at FSU in a fundraising capacity).

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Bobby Bowden has an option to return to Florida State for a final season in 2010. After an afternoon of reflection, Bowden has apparently decided that his best option is to retire after 34 years at FSU.

According to sources, Bowden, 80, plans to announce his retirement Tuesday morning. It's also believed that Bowden has decided to coach FSU in its bowl game after initially contemplating to step aside immediately.

Bowden, whose 388 career victories trail only Penn State's Joe Paterno as college football's winningest coach, met with FSU president T.K. Wetherell and athletic director Randy Spetman on Monday morning. A second meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.
Bowden, however, told the Associated Press on Monday night that he is still sifting through "options presented to him" and had not decided on his future.

As initially reported by FanHouse, Bowden was given two options: step away with a lucrative severance package or return and give coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher the authority to make decisions, including the hiring and firing of coaches.

As part of his retirement, Bowden is expected to be offered a non-coaching position at FSU for an unspecified amount of time. It's also believed Bowden will receive his current salary of $2.3 million for another year.

In addition to any settlement compensation that may be negotiated as part of his retirement, Bowden is also entitled to $1 million upon his retirement as part of a clause in his coaching contract that was agreed upon at least 10 years ago.

Fisher, meanwhile, has spent the last three seasons on Bowden's staff as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He was named coach-in-waiting by Wetherell in December, 2007 after his first season on staff.

Bowden built the Seminoles' program into one of the country's best since his arrival in 1976 from West Virginia.

His teams won 10 or more games for 14 consecutive seasons from 1987-2000 – a mark that is still considered the standard for excellence in major college football.

The Seminoles also won national championships in 1993 and 1999 and have played in a bowl game every year since 1982 – the longest active streak (28 years) in the nation.

Bowden experienced his lone perfect season in 1999 as the Seminoles became the first team to go wire-to-wire in The Associated Press poll ranked No. 1 from the preseason to finish.

In his Sunday teleconference with the media, Bowden stressed he wanted to return as "head coach" and not take a secondary role within the program. Fisher has a deal to replace Bowden in January 2011 and is owed $5 million if that doesn't happen.

One of Fisher's first decisions would be to name a defensive coordinator. Veteran coach Mickey Andrews is set to retire following the bowl game.

Bowden, who has a "lifetime" rolling one-year contract that expires in January, apparently couldn't overcome another average season. The Seminoles, 6-6, were blitzed by rival and top-ranked Florida 37-10 Saturday at The Swamp.

Wetherell, a former FSU player under Bowden when he was an assistant coach, watched the FSU-UF game from his Tallahassee home with friends, many of whom are significant donors to the program.

While Bowden's 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 stoked earlier this month 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.

With 17 starters, including 10 of 11 on offense, set to return, FSU should be an improved team in 2010.