Bowden’s last regular season game?

Gainesville, FL—For the third straight year Bobby Bowden was on the receiving end of another thrashing at the hand of the rival Florida Gators. With the 37-10 loss, the Seminoles finished with the worst regular season record (6-6) since Bowden’s first at Florida State in 1976.

Questions have surrounded Bowden’s future ever since Florida State Board of Trustees Chair Jim Smith voiced his opinion that it was time for a coaching change in late September. So it wasn’t a surprise when the FSU’s longtime head coach started the post-game press conference saying he didn’t want to the media to ask him about when he is leaving. But sure enough, the 80-year old coach finished the 10-minute press conference with some intriguing quotes about his future.

“Do I want to coach next year? Yeah, I want to coach next year,” Bowden said. “Now let me say, I need to go home and do some soul searching.”

At least on the record, the Seminole players say they hope Bowden returns for 2010.

“He’s a legend here so of course I would love for him to come back and stay here for however long he wants to be here,” junior wide receiver Jarmon Fortson said after the game. “That’s coach Bowden, he’s been here for a long time. He’s going to make a decision and I don’t know what it is going to be. Hopefully he will stay.”

“I hope coach Bowden continues to coach because I feel like he’s an awesome coach,” quarterback EJ Manuel added. “He’s a great leader, a great person and a great man. That’s a huge reason why I came here to play for a legend like him.”

Should Bowden decide to hang it up, offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher would likely take over as FSU’s head coach. However, FSU’s head coach in waiting said he didn’t expect to be involved in Bowden’s decision making process.

“That will be a decision coach Bowden will make,” Fisher said. “Coach Bowden has been around here a long time and has made a lot of decisions on his own. He won’t need my input.”

Bowden’s weekly teleconference with the local media is scheduled to take place Sunday at 4:00 p.m. EST.