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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Seminoles' Bowden retires as second-winningest coach


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Bobby Bowden

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Bobby Bowden orchestrated one of the great runs in college football, building Florida State into a powerhouse that produced two national titles, dozens of All-Americans and some of the most memorable missed field goals ever.

Bowden said yesterday he will end his 44-year coaching career after the Seminoles play in a bowl game. Bowden was done in by a combination of off-field woes, too many defeats and coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher ready to take over.

"Nothing lasts forever, does it?" a relaxed-looking Bowden asked during video interview conducted by school officials. "But I've had some wonderful years here at Florida State, you know it. Hadn't done as good lately as I wish I could have, but I've had wonderful years, no regrets."

The 80-year-old Bowden will retire as the second-winningest coach in major-college football behind Penn State's Joe Paterno. The folksy coach has won 388 games at Samford, West Virginia and Florida State, where he spent the last 34 seasons.

He has a 315-97-4 record with the Seminoles, who are bowl eligible at 6-6, and awaiting word on where they will play. They're also awaiting word from the NCAA on whether 14 victories in recent seasons will be vacated because of an academic cheating scandal.

Bowden won two national titles at Florida State, in 1993 and 1999.

ELSEWHERE

Florida: Top-ranked Florida will be without one of its best pass rushers against No. 2 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference championship game. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap was arrested early yesterday and charged with driving under the influence, just days before the biggest game of the season. Coach Urban Meyer says Dunlap won't play Saturday, adding that there is no timetable for his return. Meyer says he is "stunned" by Dunlap's actions.