Bowden's son to step down as FSU offensive coordinator

In Richt's final season, the Seminoles averaged 42.4 points and 549 yards a game on their way to a national title game against Oklahoma -- totals never approached during Jeff Bowden's six years as coordinator.

In the last three seasons, Florida State has averaged fewer than 30 points a game -- for the first time since the 1981 season.

Jeff Bowden, who also coached wide receivers, also was plagued with an inconsistent quarterback during much of his tenure -- starting six different players at the position in six seasons. The position is up for grabs again this year with Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee struggling.

"The decision he made today was not one that he wanted to make," said Keith Jones, who played for the elder Bowden in the late 1970s and now serves as a color analyst on Seminoles telecasts. "To his credit, it was one he made for the benefit of the program."

Fans have been reluctant to criticize the elder Bowden -- major college football's wins leader with 364 victories -- focusing instead on his son. A website calling for Jeff Bowden's removal had gathered 2,975 signatures as of Tuesday.

Florida State president T.K. Wetherell, who has received hundreds of e-mails urging that the younger Bowden be fired, had no comment on the resignation.