‘NOLES STILL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

If you were forced to use one word and one word only to describe the current state of the Florida State football program, it would have to be “uncertainty” or some derivative.According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the Seminoles head into yet another week with seemingly more question than answers.On October 18, Florida State officials went before the NCAA’s Committee of Infractions to answer charges of academic misconduct amongst some of its student-athletes. As of this morning, the school had yet to receive word on a final decision on what, if any, penalties will be levied.Head coach Bobby Bowden has yet to agree -- at least publicly -- to a one-year contract extension offered to him shortly after the Seminoles’ 31-point win over Wisconsin in the Dec. 27 Champs Sports Bowl.Add to the above some potential recruits turning their eyes away from FSU -- partially caused by, the paper hints at, the potential for scholarship losses due to looming NCAA sanctions -- and a 2009 schedule that is in somewhat of a state of flux, and you have the perfect storm for an offseason full of... well... uncertainty.Perhaps the most pressing -- at least to the general public -- of the above uncertainties is the Bowden contract situation.The coaching legend originally agreed to a one-year extension in December of 2007; that deal expired on January 4 of this year. While offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher agreed to a three-year contract -- a deal which will make Fisher the head coach no later than January of 2011, or else receive a $5 million buyout -- at the same time as Bowden’s original one-year deal, the uncertainty (there’s that word again) surrounding Bowden could have a negative impact on recruiting, even as the coaching situation remains fluid regardless of what Bowden decides.All signs coming out of the Florida media point to Bowden signing on for at least one more season. Until that happens, however, it will be yet another tool for recruiters at other schools to use against FSU in the harvesting of Florida’s talent-laden recruiting fields.And that’s the last thing a program like Florida State, on the cusp of turning things around, needs right now.