The Wiz of Odds

You Are Now Cleared for Landing on Planet Bowden

A tough decision awaits Florida State officials. Do they push Bobby Bowden, 80, out the door at the end of the season, or do they welcome the legendary coach back for the 2010 season?

Corey Clark of the Tallahassee Democrat details two exchanges Bowden had with reporters Saturday night after the Seminoles were outscored, 19-0, in the fourth quarter of a 40-21 loss to Clemson.

Bowden: "Both of us made errors. We probably scored on some of their errors — I didn't keep up with it. But we'd turn the ball over and they’d go down and score. Then we'd turn it over and they didn't score. They'd turn it over back. And the game kind of went that way. We felt very comfortable. We knew it was a battle.

"How late was it 24-21 in our favor? How late did it get? Did that get into the fourth quarter?"

Reporter: "Nine and a half minutes left."

Bowden: "Left in the game?"

Reporter: "Yes."

Bowden: "So you're feeling comfortable, but you know that it ain't won yet. Then of course the dam broke."

Clemson Cheap Shot

Watch Clemson defensive end Andre Branch try to rip the head off Florida State guard David Spurlock during a scramble for a loose ball in Saturday's game at Clemson.

Spurlock then gets up and confronts Branch, who points toward the scoreboard. What a classless jackass.

SI.com's Andy Staples writes: "This won't get the attention the Brandon Spikes' gouge got because Branch isn't one of the best five defensive players in the country — and because, let's face it, New Mexico soccer player Elizabeth Lambert set a new standard for away-from-the-play violence last week — but Branch deserves punishment just as much as Spikes did. I know Clemson coach Dabo Swinney doesn't teach this garbage, and Swinney needs to act swiftly to eradicate such behavior from his program. He should suspend branch for a game before Branch has the chance to completely copy Spikes and suspends himself."

Thanks to Tomahawk Nation.

Hometown Columnist Calls for an End to Bowden Era

In a column that will likely bring great joy to Joe Paterno and Penn State fans, Steve Ellis of the Tallahassee Democrat has called on Florida State officials to step in and tell Bobby Bowden that this season will be his last.

"Let players — current and future — know that the Jimbo Fisher Era has a starting point — and that starting point begins once this season is over," Ellis writes.

Florida State was the preseason pick to win the Atlantic Division of the ACC, but Saturday's 28-21 loss at Boston College left the Seminoles 0-2 in league play for the first time since joining the conference in 1992.

Florida State

The Seminoles return eight starters on offense, including quarterback Christian Ponder and the entire offensive line. The defense, which has only five players back, will have to grow up quickly, especially with Miami coming to Tallahassee for the Sept. 7 opener. After a meaningless game five days later against Division I-AA Jacksonville State, Florida State travels to Provo to play Brigham Young, then plays host to South Florida. The season finale is Nov. 28 at Florida. Given the way many programs avoid competition in nonconference play, you have to applaud the Seminoles scheduling three quality out-of-league games. Thanks to Jason. Poster designed by Old Hat Creative.

Florida State Prez Cuts to the (Bowden-Paterno) Chase

Make no mistake about it. Florida State's appeal of NCAA sanctions in an academic fraud case is about one thing: Bobby Bowden's wins.

T.K. Wetherell, Florida State's president, had a news conference Tuesday to talk about the appeal. It was smooth sailing for the first 33 minutes until somebody mentioned Bowden's chase to become the most victorious coach in major college football. Bowden currently trails Joe Paterno by one victory, but the NCAA wants to strip 14 from Bowden's total.

In addition, Orlando Sentinel columnist Mike Bianchi wrote last Saturday that Bowden really didn't deserve the winningest title, considering 31 of his victories came at tiny Division I-AA Howard College (now Samford).

Wetherell went "loopy" at the mere mention of somebody questioning Bowden's victory total.

"Now, we understand all the rest of it. We’ve heard Bianchi over there saying, well hell, 31 wins don’t count anyway because they were at some dipshit school..."

Cheaters

Getting caught up after a virus slowed our progress over the weekend. ...

We appear to have a winner in the Joe Paterno-Bobby Bowden sweepstakes for most victories by a Division I-A coach. The NCAA says Florida State must vacate up to 14 victories that occurred during a massive academic-fraud scandal that involved everyone this side of Myron Rolle. For those keeping score at home, Bowden trails Paterno, 383-382. Bowden is 79 and Paterno 82, and taking 14 victories from Bowden would seemingly clinch it for Paterno.