Bobby Bowden, Florida State Should Stay Home on New Year's Day

To coach Bobby Bowden: Thank you for everything you've done for the game, the state of Florida, Florida State University, and the fans.

The game won't be the same without you. College football is the best sport in America, and you greatly helped establish that.

Which brings me to my point.

New Year's Day is the best day of the year. The top teams in college football match up in the biggest games. Though it's been watered down in recent years and is not what it once was, the day is still reserved for the best in the game.

I understand you wanting to coach your last game in Florida. But don't do it on New Year's Day. New Year's Day is not for .500 teams. It just isn't. Not even for you, Bobby.

There are plenty of bowl games in Florida. How about St. Pete? It's on Dec. 19. Saturday night.  ESPN.  Prime time.  No other game on. How about that?

I know the ACC is not one of the conferences tied in with that game, but don't you think the Big East would work something out for you? I'm sure USF or Rutgers wouldn't mind going to the Gator Bowl. What's Rutgers' record? It's not 6-6, is it?

How about the Champs Sports Bowl? You know, the one you're sending a 9-3 Miami to. The same Miami that beat you on your home field. How about that one? It's in Florida. You get to play a Big Ten team. You remember, you won that game just last season.

The reason we are here now is largely because of this attitude that you seem to have in your old age: that it's all about you. Not your fault entirely, I guess. With the 35 years of fans screaming for you and telling you how great you are, asking for your autograph, building statues of you, and naming fields after you.  It's the reason you've hung on long enough to run a once great program down to a mediocre one.

Just this one last time, do something for the game and not for you, Bobby. Make a statement. New Year's Day is for teams with winning records—far be it from Bobby Bowden to change that.