Bowden back in spotlight

PINEHURST, N.C. -- The sense of humor is still evident, the wisdom of 41 years of being a head coach evident in remarks that can disarm the most critical of crowds.

Yesterday, as Atlantic Coast Conference football media day activities wound down, Florida State's Bobby Bowden was again on center stage, in a room filled with coaching brethren who in many ways are playing catch-up to the newly enshrined Hall of Famer who has more victories in Division 1-A (366) than anyone in history.

In a group that included last year's ACC Coach of the Year, Wake Forest's Jim Grobe; former Boston College coach Tom O'Brien, who was holding court in a red golf shirt with the colors of his new school, North Carolina State; new BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski; and Bowden's son, Tommy, the embattled Clemson head man, it was the elder Bowden who drew the most media.

Part of that was the ACC preseason media poll released yesterday, which has Florida State No. 1 in the Atlantic Division, ahead of second pick BC. But the other reason was Bowden himself, always ready with a story, or with advice and wisdom for anyone who will listen.

"I'm surprised, really surprised," said the coach, who turns 78 in November, about the Seminoles' selection. "Usually they base it on what you did last year, and we weren't that successful [7-6]. But all of that doesn't mean anything, of course. You have to go out and win games."

Florida State is no longer assured of finishing first in anything. After a 14-year period in which the Seminoles didn't lose more than two games in a season from 1987 until 2000, they have been only slightly above average the last five years, including 11 losses in the last two campaigns.

Last year's struggles prompted some changes, including the resignation of Bowden's son, Jeff, who was offensive coordinator. Bowden fought the pressure to make a change at first, but then hired veteran offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher from Louisiana State. "His record has proven him as a good QB coach," said Bowden. "He's got a good way of communicating with the players. He's a very good play-caller."

Other changes included the return of former assistant and former NC State coach Chuck Amato as linebackers coach.

"I feel good about [the changes]," said Bowden. "It's funny, you won't do things a lot of times until someone makes you. If I hadn't lost my son as offensive coordinator, I wouldn't have [made the moves]. But when Jeff resigned, I thought to myself, 'If it's going to get this drastic, this is my last shot, so I'm going to make it the best I can make it. I'm going to get the best coaching staff I can get in here. I don't care what it costs.'

"I got the university to agree with me. I'm excited about it, the players are excited about it. Does that mean that we are going to go out there and start winning all our games? No. The conference has gotten too good. It's tougher now than it was. We'll have our hands full, but we're going to try and get back as quick as we can."

Of the past few seasons, Bowden said, "It wasn't fun. But that's the nature of the game. I've been in it so long. You're never safe. You're always criticized. It will make us all better. But it was very difficult."

Bowden knows he is near the end of his career. "This is my last shot," he said. "But there is no time limit on that. Don't come to me next year and say my last shot went by. I hope it lasts a long time. But I ain't going through it [struggles] again. I'd rather coach than retire. But I also have to win enough games, and I don't think I've won enough the last few years. So I hope to build it back up and remain in coaching."

Bowden was asked who was under more pressure to win this season -- himself or his son, Tommy. "Probably Tommy, because of his age," said Bowden. "I don't feel the pressure. I could walk out tomorrow and have a darn good time. I don't want to. I could go down to the beach, but I'd rather coach."

"After you retire, the only other big thing in your life is dying," added Bowden, who along with Penn State icon Joe Paterno is chasing 400 wins. "The younger guys can do the coaching . . . I stay in it and Joe stays in it because of what we can offer about life."

Jagodzinski said a decision on whether to redshirt linebacker Brian Toal, who underwent right shoulder surgery in March, will be made in the next several days. Toal and his family are pushing the redshirt option, which will give him the option of entering the NFL draft next April or coming back next fall for his final season at The Heights . . . Virginia Tech was the media pick to win the ACC Championship Game.