TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State coach Bobby Bowden issued a written apology Saturday for a postgame analogy comparing Notre Dame to ''serial killers'' for the way they keep beating opponents.

Bowden was praising Notre Dame (8-0) for creating decisive turnovers in most of its victories this season. The Irish took advantage of four Florida State turnovers in their 34-24 victory Saturday.

''They work on it, they force them,'' Bowden said during his news conference after the game. ''That's the way they beat everybody.

''So, just count us in the club. We're in a club. They're serial killers. They kill everybody the same way. No change.''

Moments later, university officials distributed a brief statement with Bowden's apology.

''I used an analogy I should not have said, especially in the wake of recent events,'' Bowden said. ''I certainly meant no disrespect.''

Maryland authorities on Friday charged John Allen Muhammad, 41, and teenager John Lee Malvo, with multiple counts of first-degree murder in the sniper shootings that terrorized the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area in recent weeks. Ten people were killed and three others injured during the shooting spree.

Bowden took some criticism earlier in the season in radio talk shows and from some newspaper columnists who thought his choice of the ''Let's Roll'' slogan trivialized the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on Washington and New York. Bowden called the criticism ''stupid.''

Bowden took the motto from Todd Beamer, one of the passengers aboard United Flight 93, which crashed in a Pennsylvania field on Sept. 11 after a group of passengers tried to take control of the plane from terrorists. Officials believe the hijackers intended to crash the plane into the White House or Capitol.

The foundation named after Beamer said it was honored by Bowden's decision to adopt the motto for its season.