<
>

Bowden says decision to come Tuesday

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Bobby Bowden says he was given two options during a meeting with Florida State's president and athletic director and that there would be an announcement on his future at the school Tuesday.

The legendary 80-year-old Florida State coach met with FSU president T.K. Wetherell and AD Randy Spetman for an hour Monday.

One option, according to a source who spoke with ESPN.com, involved returning to the sideline in 2010 but with reduced responsibilities that would give offensive coordinator and coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher more authority over coaching staff hirings and changes.

Bowden told a crowd of Florida State boosters at a luncheon Monday afternoon that he planned to meet with Wetherell again Tuesday, and after that meeting FSU would announce a decision.

Bowden said the decision to return to Florida State in 2010 is ultimately his.

"I make the decision," Bowden told ESPN.com after the luncheon. "I make the decision."

He said the meeting was amicable.

"We kind of talked about our options and decided what we would do," Bowden said.

When asked whether he would return to Florida State next season, Bowden said: "I won't say. We'll finalize it tomorrow."

Bowden's 388 career wins are second only to Penn State's Joe Paterno among major college coaches.

The winningest coach in Atlantic Coast Conference history, Bowden teams put together the most dominant run in college football history between 1987 and 2000 with 14 consecutive finishes in the nation's top five and a pair of national titles.

But the Seminoles' fortunes haven't been nearly as good in recent years.

Since winning their 12th ACC championship in 2005, the Seminoles have been 16-16 over the past four seasons.

Mark Schlabach covers college sports for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.