There's a mess brewing within the athletics program at Florida State, and a campus trustee is right in the middle of it.

Florida State used to be one of the kings of college football but of late has fallen on hard times, relatively speaking. FSU is no longer a perennial national title contender and many believe longtime Coach Bobby Bowden is to blame.

Bowden, who has headed the program for 34 years, came under attack recently from an unlikely foe: Jim Smith, chairman of the university's board of trustees.

Smith opened fire on Bowden in two local newspaper articles following the Seminoles' recent loss to Boston College. In the second interview, with the St. Pete Times, he actually compared Bowden to a loyal old dog that  you have to put down.

"You know it's the right thing to do but you sure feel bad about it," he said.

Yikes.

Smith holds a position of great power at Florida State, but as Inside Higher Ed reported this week, he appears to have overstepped his bounds a bit. Trustees, you see, are not supposed to meddle in athletics affairs. Or, at least not publicly.

Here's the story.

You gotta hand it to Bobby Bowden, most 79-year-olds have given up on ambition or even optimism. Papa Bowden's still hungry, or at least still crazy after all these years.

Bowden spent FSU's media day talking about winning another national title before he retires. Given the parameters of assistant coach Jimbo Fisher's contract, that means in Bowden would have to win a title in the next two seasons.

GREENSBORO — Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said he hopes he gets to keep the 14 victories the NCAA wants to strip from his record as punishment for academic fraud (which allegedly involved 61 Seminoles athletes cheating on an online course). But if he doesn't win his appeal, he said, "I'll be just as motivated."

Editor's note: Stephen Allan will provide updates from the ACC Kickoff in Greensboro today. The head coaches from each team met with the media this afternoon.

Florida State linebacker Dakoda Watson has listened and read all about the controversy swirling around Seminoles’ coach Bobby Bowden and whether the NCAA will force him to relinquish 14 victories due to rules violations.

Bowden has 382 career victories, one fewer than Penn State’s Joe Paterno in the race to be college football’s all-time winningest coach and the loss of 14 wins would end any chance of Bowden eventually overtaking Paterno since the Florida State coach will step down after this season or next.

The NCAA has responded to Florida State's appeal to keep its 14 football victories from the 2006 and '07 seasons.

The NCAA's answer? They're not saying.

Apparently, in a Ron Prince-inspired move, the NCAA told FSU the verdict and no one else. Given FSU's status as a public institution, the school's response will be made public but we have to wait for it.

Bobby Bowden's old, not dumb.

Bowden understands what Florida State's $5 million promise to head-coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher means. It's the 2009 season, the 2010 season and then retirement for the FSU legend.

FSU owes Fisher $5 million by Jan. 11, 2011 — whether he's the head coach or not. Bowden was asked if the deal meant the end of his 33-year tenure at FSU.

The gnashing of teeth that has accompanied Texas’ decision to name defensive coordinator Will Muschamp as the (eventual) successor to Mack Brown seems a little overblown.

Combined with Florida State’s earlier announcement that offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher will succeed Bobby Bowden if and when Bowden decides to retire, there certainly seems to be a trend developing. And really, what’s the harm?

Florida State is still waiting for the police report detailing the on-campus fight that led to five players being suspended for the Semionoles' eventual loss to Boston College on Nov. 15. 

If coach Bobby Bowden is still waiting when FSU (7-3, 4-3) plays at Maryland on Saturday, he said, "I'll play them. They served their punishment."

Bobby Bowden was just being Saint Bobby when he said at halftime of the N.C. State game last Thursday that he needed to pray to keep his team from holding.

Rather than appealing to a higher power, perhaps the Noles should rethink their practice routine.

Check out the screen grab from FSU's official web site. The main picture (center), presumably from practice, is either a holding drill or a mugging.