Jeff Bowden is resigning as offensive coordinator, effective at the end of the season.

Is he a scapegoat for other, bigger problems, or is he primarily responsible for the Seminoles’ struggles on offense?

Or, is the wrong Bowden leaving?

Jeff is not a scapegoat, because his departure was well-earned.

The truth is that he should have left (or been shown the door) long ago, because he may have already damaged the foundation of the team beyond repair. He simply could not coach an entire offense, FSU has had the talent, but has failed to develop it. Much the same way they have failed to develop a game plan for much of the last 6 years.

The sad truth is that Jeff was truly one of the best receivers coaches in the country, but the fact that he was probably the worst OC in football has overshadowed all the good that he had done.

I have said many times that Chris Rix was the prime example of what was wrong with the program. As a freshman he wowed everyone in practice, often overshadowing Chris Wienke in practice. By the time he left FSU he wasn’t even as good as he was when he got there. That is a major coaching problem.

Good luck Jeff. Thanks for finally stepping up and doing the right thing.

All I can say is ... IT’S ABOUT TIME.

I disagree that this has damaged the foundation of the program beyond repair.  Damaged, yes.  No top recruits would want to play in this high school offense, but I guarantee that when we get back to winning games over teams like Wake and Maryland and NC State by 50 points, we will turn the heads of those top recruits once again.  FSU has one of the premier facilities and football programs in the nation, and has routinely put players in the NFL, and will continue to do so.  I’m sad to say that Bobby Bowden is not the man to take us back there though. 

He did so much for this program, and FSU will always be an elite in college football because of his efforts.  Look at Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Alabama, not to mention Ohio State and Michigan.  All have been successful after the original legends retired.  It will happen with Florida State, mark my words.

My thought in using the “damaged the foundation ... beyond repair” line was more for this team ... if Bobby attempts to “stay the course” but with different bodies (ostensibly to prove Jeff wasn’t the problem) then the team is unrepairable short of regime change.

Now if he goes out and hires a coach with a thorough understanding of offense, who has a dynamic playbook and can adapt to the talent each team presents ... like a Chris Hatch from Valdosta State ... or any number of NFL assistants. Even bringing back Brad Scott (Clemson’s OC, former FSU OC) ... or reaching deep to take Rick Stockstill from Middle Tennessee (this is an intriguing pick because Rick is a former FSU QB who was coached by Bobby, and has coached under Tommy Bowden, Brad Scott, Steve Spurrier, Lou Holtz and others ... has experience in the ACC and SEC… he is also a top-notch recruiter.)

Honestly I think that Stockstill would be a dark horse in this running, but he could be the best candidate because of his natural ties to FSU history and probably has more experience in different offensive systems than most coaches twice his age. Of course I think that Rick could easily be groomed as FSU’s next head coach as well.

No way is little jeffy a scapegoat. He has destroyed this offense. he was quoted as saying ‘I didn’t know motion threw defenses off...” this is our OC? This guy needed to go a long time ago. We need some new blood to liven p the offense. Remember when FSU was exciting to watch? When you did not know exactly what they were going to do? Remember when Weinke was on his 2 yard line and threw over the middle to Peter Warrick? That was the last season the offense was not predictable....Sorry Jeff good luck.

Jeff did the honorable thing, it is sad we had to sink so low. Giving Bobby his due respect, he was hired to win football games, not spread the Bowden seed across the College football landscape. I personally hold him responsible for putting his son in a position he is not ready for and making life miserable for the Seminole faithful and his own family. Everyone makes mistakes at all ages, if Bowden can not put together a successful coaching staff next year, he should not be coaching anymore. Any good coach with the quality of talent in Florida, should be able to come to Fla State and finish in the ACC top half. Jeff Bowden is a good example of what happens when one person gets too much power, (Bobby) and starts believing their own BS. Never should have elevated Bobby to Sainthood. All the Seminole faithful had to suffer while Bobby got to spend his time with his son. Let’s hope he learns from his mistakes, gets his head screwed on right, and focuses on winning Football Games, and stop pushing his own personal agenda. Winning football games is what put Bobby where he is, not putting his family in the football landscape. Other coaches have had to accept that their kin do not necessarily make good legacy’s. It would seem to me that with all the talent that has run through FSU, some of those players would make excellent coach candidates. The top coach’s decisions affect everyone, as we have seen with Jeff. I hope he has more good decisions in his bag of tricks.