The Tallahassee Democrat reported that the future of FSU's football program was discussed during a two-and-a-half hour meeting Tuesday night that was attended, according to persons with knowledge of the meeting, by no fewer than two university trustees, FSU President T.K. Wetherell, director of athletics Randy Spetman, Seminole Boosters president Andy Miller and other stakeholders in the program.

The Democrat reported that the university will continue to work on a head coaching contract for Jimbo Fisher that will grant him the authority to begin assembling his coaching staff at the end of this season. That means Fisher would be allowed to hire a replacement for long-time defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, who has indicated that this will be his final season. Fisher may also make other changes.

Sources said Wetherell will discuss the university's plan with Bowden today. Bowden has been coaching since the 2008 season under one-year contracts, and he apparently will be given the option to coach the 2010 season under similar terms. FSU's contract with Fisher, who was named the head coach-in-waiting in December 2007, calls for Fisher to be paid $5 million if he is not named head coach by January 2011.

Jim Smith, the chair of the university's board of trustees, said Sunday that work on Fisher's contract had already begun before the Sept. 26 game against South Florida. The Democrat has learned that Fisher will be offered a five-year head coaching contract, but financial terms have not been presented by the university.

Wetherell met with Bowden for two hours Monday in the wake of Smith's comments in the Democrat calling for the legendary coach to resign after the season.

Neither Wetherell nor the 79-year old Bowden who put FSU's football program on the national map have commented on their meeting. In fact, Wetherell has been silent since Smith first told the Democrat for Monday's edition that "enough is enough."

Smith and fellow trustee Les Pantin said that Fisher's position must be strengthened. To do that, they said, the offensive coordinator must be given a new contract that spells out the terms of being FSU's next head coach.

Both sides on the debate over Bowden's status have voiced their opinion in comments to the media, on Facebook and through phone calls to Smith and Bowden, among others. In what might become a daily ritual until the matter is settled, Bowden was again answering non-football related questions following Tuesday's practice.

"I've got millions (of phone calls)," Bowden said. "From all over the country. They're football fans that maybe don't pull for Florida State. They ain't hurting like us."

FSU Hall of Famer Deion Sanders told the Democrat on Monday that to disrespect Bowden and place the blame on him was ignorant. Former FSU All-American and current Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett seemed outraged on his Twitter page, posting numerous anti-FSU and pro-Bowden comments. Heisman Trohpy winner Chris Weinke also publicly supported Bowden and expressed his wish that the situation not get ugly.

"I'm appreciative of it," Bowden said of the players' public support.

A modest 50 members belong to a group on Facebook called "Stop Trashing Bobby Bowden."

Not all sentiment is positive, of course.

Also found on Facebook is "Black Out Doak for Change," a group that is encouraging FSU students and fans to wear black to Saturday's game against Georgia Tech to "make a statement and hopefully this message will be heard."

The group, which hopes to see Bowden resign as head coach, had more than 4,700 members as of Tuesday evening, and gained almost 3,000 in one 24-hour period.

Bowden was asked if he had heard anything about the "Black Out."

"Somebody came up to see me today, some of the students, and they weren't in favor of it — whatever it is," Bowden said. "I really don't know much about it.

"Don't care to be honest with you."

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