So of the following coaches, who will you miss the most?

Will you vote for Bowden because he’s a living legend? For Tomey or Patterson because they are all around good guys who have schools that are sad to see them go? Or for Magino or Weis because at least they made college football more interesting?

Image: Newscom

Of course, these aren’t the only football coaches leaving, and like I said, there will be more to come. Check back every Monday to see who’s in and who’s out.

Post from: EveryJoe

Coach You’ll Miss the Most

There aren’t many coaches in the same class a Bobby Bowden. Joe Paterno of Penn State comes to mind immediately, but few other coaches have spent so long with a single school, and regardless of good or bad seasons, this dedication has created a following and network of support for the school unlike what you’ll find at most other programs.

Image: Newscom

According to sources who have remained anonymous, Bowden was given two choices by FSU president TK Wetherell: retire after bowl season or come back next year in a very limited role as an ambassador to the football program. Jimbo Fisher, who was named Bowden’s successor in 2007, has already agreed to a contract, according to reports.

It was coming down to the wire, as the school would have owed Fisher $5 million if he wasn’t named head coach by 2011. While I don’t think the school should force Bowden out, I do think that it’s time for FSU to have some fresh ideas. The past few years haven’t been great for the Seminoles, with Bowden really peaking in the early 90s.

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Bobby Bowden to Retire on Friday

Everyone wants to know what’s in those documents. The NCAA had previous annonced that they’d strip coach Bobby Bowden of a number of wins, and this documnt is in response to an appeal of that decision. Bowden’s in the running to become the most winningest major football coach of all time, trailing Penn State’s Joe Paterno by just one win.

President T.K. Wetherell, Image: Newscom

FSU President T.K. Wetherell, who recently announced that he was ready to retire, is named as a defendent in the lawsuit. He says that its his job to protect the school and he’s bound to get sued occasionally.

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Press Sues NCAA and FSU

“My days are limited, but I still enjoy what I do. I would rather walk off quietly. That’s the reason I won’t say when I’m going to get out because people start counting the days and saying that’s the last time he’s going to play here.”

Bowden’s plans to retire, however, may have something to do with the coach-in-training offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher.

Bobby Bowden, Image: Newscom

If Fisher isn’t officially the head coach by Jan. 11, 2011, his contract states that he gets a $5 million payout. Bowden definitely doesn’t want to be $5 million in debt to Fisher and the college, and although he won’t announce anything yet, when asked, he’s said,

”I don’t want to answer that, but if you put two and two together, you’ll be right.”

Bowden knows that his career is winding down, and I think some hullabaloo surrounding his retirement is inevitable. From now until he retires, he’s going to be asked about it roughly a bajillion times, and fans of NCAA football will continue to speculate. Bowden’s one of the few old-school coaches still left in the game, and even though I’m not a Florida State fan, I’ll miss him and hope he stays involved in the game in some capacity.

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Bowden: “My Days are Limited”

Joe Paterno, Image: Newscom

This might not matter much to Joe Paterno of Penn State, but he and Bowden are in a dead heat for number of victories among major college coaches. Paterno currently has 383 wins, while Bowden has 382. He’d only have 368 is the wins are stripped, putting him so far behind Paterno that catching up would be unlikely.

Paterno, however, hopes that Bowden’s number stands.

“I don’t think that should have anything to do with Bobby’s record. I don’t think Bobby had much to do with what happened,” Paterno said. “I just hope people don’t distort what a great coach Bobby Bowden has been, which he has been.”

Last year, Paterno coached a number of games from the box, but he said that he’ll be back on the sidelines for 2009. He had hip replacement surgery just four months ago, but was at Spring Practice without so much as a cane.

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JoePa Stands Behind Bowden’s Wins