OFFER WOULD MAKE BOWDEN THE BEST-PAID

Bobby Bowden, whose name has become synonymous with Florida State football during the last 14 years, will be offered a lifetime contract at a substantial increase in pay to make him the highest-paid college coach in the state, school officials said today.

“I think it’s obvious Bobby Bowden has made an outstanding contribution to the football program of this university and the adjustment in the contract will reflect that,” said acting Athletic Director Bob Goin.

The new agreement, which has been in the works for several months, will pay Bowden more than the $440,000 annual deal signed last week by new Florida Coach Steve Spurrier.

Bowden, 60, has a 122-40-3 record at Florida State and is 195-72-3 overall during a 24-year coaching career. The Seminoles have won 33 of their last 37 games, including four straight bowl games.

Florida State is unbeaten in its last eight bowl appearances, and Bowden’s 9-3-1 record in bowls is the best winning percentage of any college coach in postseason play.

The new agreement would assure Bowden of coaching at Florida State until he decides to quit.

“We want to have him here until the day he decides not to coach anymore, and his contract shows that,” Goin said.

Bowden, a native of Birmingham, Ala., has often talked about his desire to coach past the normal retirement age.

“I’d like to go as long as I can, or at least as long as I have good health,” Bowden said when he observed his 60th birthday in November.

Bowden is expected to sign the restructured contract later this month, Goin said. Bowden leaves Saturday for the Far East where he will coach the East team in the annual Japan Bowl all-star game of American college players.