December 9, 2007

Gene Williams
Warchant.com Publisher

Warchant.com will have complete coverage of today's press conference including Live Updates on the Tribal Council message board, a rundown of the proceedings, features, photos and more. Sign-up for a 7-day free trial.

Today will be a historic day for Florida State football.

Warchant.com first reported last Tuesday night that a press conference was scheduled for Monday to discuss the futures of Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden and offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher. Since that report, several details have leaked out about today's 11:30 a.m. press conference.

One of the major details to be discussed is an announcement that the university intends to hire Fisher to succeed Bowden as FSU's next head football coach. What isn't clear is exactly how and when that transition will take place.

Bowden's agent Russ Campbell confirmed with Warchant.com last week that has client had agreed to a "deal in principle" that is reportedly for just one year. However, Campbell implied that Bowden would be coaching for a lot longer than just one more season. What is a little more clear is the new compensation package for the 78-year old head coach. The one-year deal is worth approximately $2.5 million and will contain a bonus of $1 million should Bowden decide to retire. In 2006, Bowden earned a little over $2 million between his salary and other benefits.

While Bowden and his agent were negotiating his new contract, Fisher has been at the center of several coaching rumors involving vacancies at Georgia Tech, Southern Miss and Arkansas. But like Bowden, Fisher and his agent reached an agreement with FSU last week.

In the new deal, which is also expected to be discussed today, FSU's 42-year old offensive coordinator will receive a significant financial commitment from Florida State. According to several reports, Fisher's annual salary will increase to somewhere between $600,000 and $700,000 and he will have a "buyout" provision, more accurately described as a golden parachute, that could be triggered when his contract expires. The buyout, which is reportedly worth over $2 million, will kick in if he isn't named FSU's next head coach.

While some media outlets are treating today's press conference as the official crowning of Fisher as the 'Noles' next head coach, that is probably a bit premature. It's very unlikely that such a pronouncement will be in writing, or if it could even legally be done in Florida. Instead, Fisher's raise and buyout provision is intended to provide a strong incentive for him to stay in Tallahassee for the foreseeable future and to show FSU's intentions to stick with him in the post-Bowden era. The new contract should also send a message to recruits that there will be a smooth transition within the program when Bowden decides to retire.

While Bowden remains as FSU's head coach he will continue to build on his 373 career wins, which is just two more than Penn State's Joe Paterno, who will turn 81 next week.

Gene Williams is the founder and administrator of Warchant.com and writes stories and features covering all of FSU's sports with an emphasis on football and football recruiting. During football season, he hosts a weekly sports radio show in Tallahassee on NewsRadio 1270 WFLA, and appears as a weekly guest on 1460 ESPN Radio in Jacksonville. Williams is also a former ACC correspondent for College Football News (weekly national newspaper), and contributes to The Osceola. Story about Gene Williams & Warchant.com.

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