FSU Loses NCAA Appeal, Bowden Victories Gone...?

((HT: Tallahassee Democrat))

The NCAA's stand can be found here, thanks to our friends at WCTV in Tallahassee...

But the bottom line is that the folks in Indianapolis weren't too keen on the Seminoles point-of-view. FSU had agreed to four years probation and some scholarship reductions, but they didn't want to have any wins taken away- including a national title in track and field.

So much for that idea...

“We are certainly disappointed with the results of our NCAA appeal,” said athletics director Randy Spetman. “We believed that our administration did everything it possibly could to ferret out any and all improprieties in this matter. We were confident that those efforts would have significant sway in the appeal, but they did not.”

Now the university gets to sift through which athletes were involved when and attempt to determine whether or not their direct involvement can be attributed to the academic dishonesty...

In English, that means: "Were the athletes eligible because of their alleged cheating at the time the wins occurred in FSU athletics? And which wins were they...?" or something like that...

Brenda Monk, the former FSU learning specialist at the center of the case, has filed a defamation suit against the university as a result of all the shenanigans.

FSU would have one of their three track and field titles stripped.
Here's the 2007 championship wrap...
((HT: NCAA))


Next idea is for Spetman and the Seminole front office to try and split hairs on the football side and make sure that Bobby Bowden doesn't lose all 14 victories that are on the table...

Good luck with that one...

Bobby Bowden To Retire Tuesday

From the Tallahassee Democrat newspaper...

Corey Clark and Jim Lamar report:

Bowden ((pictured, thanks Tallahassee Democrat)) is expected to announce his resignation by way of a statement to be released Tuesday, sources told the Democrat.

As part of his retirement, Bowden is expected to be offered a non-coaching position at FSU for an unspecified amount of time. 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.

It is unclear if Bowden will coach the bowl game or not, but sources have said if he does coach one last game then the Gator Bowl may try to select FSU for its Jan. 1 game.

Bowden’s retirement means Jimbo Fisher will become the first head football coach FSU has hired in 34 seasons.

If this is indeed the case, it's a crappy way to go out for sure...
The entire "Coach-in-Waiting" concept is a joke, and a lot of people would venture to say that the FSU "Coach-in-Waiting" is one...

This means that Jimbo Fisher will clean house on one side of the ball- not his own...

FOSG Lee Gordon from WCTV-TV in Tallahassee has your evening update which still contains maybes and possibles for Bowden...

Monday Carousel: Bobby Bowden Update, Tuesday Retirement...???

Okay, here's what we found out...

We know about the 10AM meeting Tuesday where Coach Bowden is supposed to address his future on the sidelines at Florida State. He had a meeting with university President TK Wetherell and AD Randy Spetman that lasted about an hour Monday.

Sources close to the program have told OSG Sports that what Bowden will be wrestling with the remainder of today is the following:

1) A reduced role as Head Coach in 2010
2) Jimbo Fisher will be making the decision as to who replaces retiring DC Mickey Andrews. Fisher also will have control over making wholesale changes to the defensive coaching staff in general.

((Read what you want in to the idea of Chuck Amato being retained there...))

3) It was implied in the meeting with Wetherell and Spetman that next year will be Bowden's last as Head Coach- regardless of success level.

Bowden would get his "farewell tour."

Boosters of the Florida State program are, understandably, divided on the issue. There is the side that wants Bowden gone after whatever-mediocre bowl FSU will play in before New Year's Day. There are also those who want to give the man his farewell ((considering what he has meant to the program)) and not have it end on an ugly note.

That is the Bowden Family decision for your Monday evening...

And, yes, we're still holding off on our Mickey Andrews info until all this calms down and we can put a garnet and gold bow on this whole proceeding...

7PM UPDATE: WCTV-TV in Tallahassee is reporting the following

Florida State has scheduled a team meeting for 2:15pm where it is expected that they will inform the players that Bobby Bowden will step down as head football coach at Florida State.

However, a meeting is still scheduled for the morning between Bowden and members of the University. As of now, no decsion has been made on Bowden's future, but an announcement should come after the morning meeting.

FSU's media relations department says that an announcement could come on Tuesday in the form of a press release, but nothing has been scheduled where Bobby Bowden or any other member of the team will address the media.