FanHouse Bobby Bowden

It's becoming clear that Florida State's Bobby Bowden, who turn 80 on Sunday, wants to coach the Seminoles in 2010.

The feisty Bowden has tipped his hand many times since coming under fire from high-level boosters, fans and the media following a 2-4 start.

Consecutive victories over North Carolina and North Carolina State have helped quiet restless critics -- and a victory Saturday at Clemson would vault FSU into second place in the ACC Atlantic Division -- and Bowden said Wednesday he will make the final call on who replaces retiring Mickey Andrews as defensive coordinator.

However, Bowden also stressed that head coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher will make a strong contribution to the process, so don't expect a disagreement conspiracy between the pair.

It has reached this point at Florida State: panicking Seminole fans are searching for victories.

At 2-4, FSU and head coach Bobby Bowden need to find four more victories in their remaining six games to become bowl eligible. That challenge starts Thursday night in a nationally-televised game at North Carolina. The Seminoles close October against North Carolina State and tangle with Clemson, Wake Forest, Maryland and Florida in November.

FSU has played in 27 consecutive bowl games dating back to 1981, when the Seminoles went 6-5.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Herb Gainer's heart sagged.

As Gainer read the details Monday afternoon surrounding the stabbing death of Connecticut football player Jasper Howard, an eerie feeling overcame him. A day doesn't go by that Gainer doesn't think about -- even talk to -- his former friend and Florida State teammate, Pablo Lopez (pictured right).

Lopez was shot to death outside a campus dance in 1986. Gainer rushed to Lopez's side and held his hand as the offensive lineman lay mortally wounded.

There are at least two unidentified Connecticut players who have been so strongly affected by the stabbing death of Howard that they may not play Saturday at West Virginia. One player held Howard in his arms, while another tried to address the wound and was covered in blood.

Gainer can relate to their grief and emotion.

Virginia Tech travels to Georgia Tech on Saturday in what may be the biggest hurdle left on the Hokies' regular season schedule. The fourth-ranked Hokies are in prime position to be in the national title race with some help. They will also virtually wrap up the ACC Coastal Division with a win in Atlanta.

Of course, this isn't expected to be a walk in the park for Tech either.

The Yellow Jackets, who have won three straight, present a unique challenge to the Virginia Tech defense behind their triple-option. Over the last three games, Georgia Tech has averaged 472.3 yards of total offense. The Hokies, always strong on defense and special teams, appear to be finally clicking on all cylinders now that quarterback Tyrod Taylor and running back Ryan Williams are propelling the offense.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Sweet Ol' Bobby.

Bobby Bowden, who turns 80 years old in less than a month, once uttered that fans call him "Sweet Ol' Bobby" when he's winning. When he's losing? They just abbreviate it to "Ol' Bobby." Well, Ol' Bobby has to live with another frustrating loss and criticism for the next 12 days.

In an ACC shootout that featured dynamic offense and dismal defense -- and ended early Sunday morning due to a 78-minute weather delay -- No. 22 Georgia Tech beat FSU 49-44.

A solid rivalry has developed between Boston College and Virginia Tech.

While the Eagles have won the last three regular-season games against the Hokies, Virginia Tech has beaten Boston College when its counted most in the past two ACC Championship games. Plenty is at stake again when the two tangle Saturday in Blacksburg, Va.

"These guys are a premier program in the country and they haven't skipped a beat since the last time we saw them," BC coach Frank Spaziani said.

He should be chiseled in granite atop anyone's Mount Sportsmore. Dadgum it, I'll definitely give you that much about Bobby Bowden, who belongs in the college football section right up there with Bear Bryant, Joe Paterno, Knute Rockne and, if I may gaze into the future, Urban Meyer. America is protective of the Florida State legend a lot like a lovable Uncle Bob, remembering how he good-old-boyed us in the 1980s and '90s while finishing in the national top 4 for a mind-numbing 14 straight years.

The problem, unfortunately, is that we're not in the 20th century anymore. And just because Bowden is an icon in his sport doesn't mean he still knows how to coach in 2009, a month from his 80th birthday. He may look fairly cool for an old guy in that wide-brim straw hat and he may rank second in all-time victories with 384, only three behind JoePa, but he hasn't won a national title in 10 years and really hasn't competed for one since, going 25-19 the last 3 1/2 seasons as a member of the mushy Atlantic Coast Conference. All you need to know is that FSU, once the best program in the land, now isn't even third-best in its state, ranking behind Meyer's Florida juggernaut, the Miami revival and -- gulp -- South Florida.

Bobby Bowden has to go. Not only that, he needs to go as Florida State head football coach for so many reasons. And let's forget for a moment that he has spent the last five seasons lacking an X or an O clue on how to keep the Seminoles among the nation's elite or even as a force in the ACC.

The truth is that Saint Bobby should have been gone from Florida State about several thousand "daggums" ago.

The word disingenuous comes to mind.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- As reported earlier by FanHouse, a decision on the future of the Florida State football program -- and coach Bobby Bowden -- won't come until the end of the season. The school also restated that it expects to follow the succession plan to offensive coordinator and coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher.

"I want to assure all fans, friends, supporters and alumni of Florida State University that that transition will be finalized," school president T.K. Wetherell said in a statement released Wednesday. "Jimbo Fisher will be Florida State University's next head football coach. We expect to work with Coach Fisher on a contract toward that end, and I will evaluate the program with the athletics director at the end of this season.

"FSU does not make coaching changes in the middle of the season. ... To quit on a team or coaches in mid season is not the Seminole way." (Click here to read Wetherell's full statement.)

The ball is now in Fisher's court for taking the Seminole coaching position and accepting contract terms.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Chris Weinke is fearful.

Weinke, who finished his Florida State career with a 32-3 record as a starter, leading the Seminoles to a national championship in 1999 and, at age 28, becoming the oldest player in history to win the Heisman Trophy, has heard the latest -- and most powerful -- criticism directed at FSU head coach Bobby Bowden.

"My hope is that it doesn't end ugly," Weinke told FanHouse Tuesday afternoon.

"That's my worst nightmare. He doesn't deserve it to end ugly. I understand [the fans] frustration, but at some point you have to take a step back and look what this individual guy has done for the university. That's the way I feel, and I am going to always feel, and nobody is going to change my mind. He doesn't deserve it to end ugly -- it's not right."