Tuesday Afternoon Linebacker

Yes, you read that right. TALB, an unabashed Gator fan, is about to propose a solution to the problems facing FSU football. As you might guess, it all starts with one man.

Make Bobby Bowden athletic director. Dave Hart resigned earlier this year, and the post is currently being held by someone with TWO other jobs. A college football team can only have so many coaches on staff. And based on how Bobby conducts himself on game-day, I’d guess he doesn’t contribute much during practice either. So why not pull him off the side-lines?

Much like his current situation, in the role of athletic director he’d be a figure-head. Other people would to the “heavy lifting” associated with running the sports programs. St. Bobby would just sit back and continue to raise money, and when prospective players arrive on campus, work a little on recruiting. But he could leave the actual football coaching to people who still care.

I have to ask this of any FSU fans reading; what was going through your mind at half-time of this year’s Florida-FSU game when Bobby seemed to be elated that a long field goal had cut the Florida lead to 24-12? All joking aside about FSU’s kicking woes, but is that really something to be proud about at that moment? Sometimes I get the impression that Bobby’s just an FSU fan with really great tickets.

For all of the derision of St. Bobby that you see in these pages, TALB really does respect the man. He took a nothing football program and turned them into champions many times over. For that, at least, he earns some level of respect. But now he really should step aside. FSU is mired in mediocrity right now. And from what I can see, Bobby’s not doing anything to help. His vaunted recruiting prowess hasn’t produced positive results in three or four years. The Noles are lagging behind, talent-wise, half the ACC and Florida (by light-years it would seem). Which, FSU fans, means you’re in for more 7-5 seasons that you probably want to admit.

Then there’s the wins thing. Yes he’s in a race with JoePa for the all-time lead, but is that really the most important thing? Bobby’s a legend already. Just hanging around in order to outlast another octogenarian coach doesn’t seem like the best strategy for success. It’s one of those things, if Bobby really does love FSU, he should step aside. Let Jimbo Fisher, or whoever, take the reins and return FSU to glory. Don’t get me wrong FSU fans, this Gator fan has enjoyed the heck out of beating you guys 120-46 over the last 4 years. But I really don’t want this to become another Florida-Georgia thing. I’d rather that Florida and FSU meet at the end of the year with something at stake, for both teams.

FSU fans, if you care about your football team’s success, you’ll start making some noise. Bobby is an important part of your school’s athletic program, so keep him around, but not as head football coach.