The chairman of the Florida State University trustees wants Bobby Bowden to retire at the end of this season.

Jim Smith said yesterday the arrangement with Bowden as head coach and his successor, Jimbo Fisher, as offensive coordinator isn't working.

"We've got too many bosses out there," Smith said.

"Jimbo is in a very, very tough situation where people assume he has a whole lot more authority than he really has," Smith told The Associated Press. "He's getting blamed for a lot of things that's just not his fault."

The Seminoles (2-3, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) are off to their worst start since Bowden's first year at Florida State in 1976.

Bowden said Sunday that he has no plans of quitting anytime soon. His 384 wins are three fewer than Penn State coach Joe Paterno, the career leader in victories among major college coaches. Bowden turns 80 in just over a month, and has a contract that gives him the option to return in 2010.

And while the school's trustees don't have immediate authority over coaches, they have significant influence since they are in effect the boss of university president T.K. Wetherell, who makes such hiring and firing decisions.

"Everything is kind of up in the air," Smith said yesterday. "T.K. really has to make that call. I think he's at a point where he's going to deal with it."

Smith said fundraising has slowed significantly, and the school has an obligation to fans and alumni to be competitive.

"My hope is frankly that we'll go ahead, and if we have to, let the world know that this year will be the end of the Bowden Era," Smith told the Tallahassee Democrat on Sunday. "I do appreciate what he's done for us, what he's done for the program, what's he done really for the state of Florida ...

"But I think the record will show that the Seminole Nation has been more than patient. We have been in a decline not for a year or two or three but I think we're coming up on seven or eight. I think enough is enough."

FLORIDA

TEBOW NOT CLEARED

Florida coach Urban Meyer said yesterday his star quarterback Tim Tebow has not been cleared to practice or play when the top-ranked Gators face fourth-ranked LSU on Saturday night.

But Meyer added that the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner is no longer dealing with post-concussion symptoms.

"From what I understand, there's no symptoms and I think he's cleared to act like Tim Tebow," Meyer said. "Everything but practice right now."

Tebow was hospitalized overnight nine days ago after his helmet struck teammate Marcus Gilbert's leg during a sack in the game against Kentucky.

GEORGIA CELEBRATION

SEC SAYS WRONG CALL

The Southeastern Conference says Georgia should not have been penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after its go-ahead touchdown against No. 4 LSU.

Rogers Redding, the SEC's coordinator of officials, said a video review of the play from a different angle than the official had showed receiver A.J. Green didn't do anything improper after making a brilliant catch on a 16-yard touchdown.

The score gave Georgia a 13-12 lead with 1:09 remaining, but the Bulldogs had to kick off from their own 15 after the 15-yard penalty. The Tigers returned it to the Georgia 43; two plays later, Charles Scott broke off a 33-yard touchdown run that gave LSU a 20-13 victory.

ELSEWHERE

Oklahoma: Receiver Ryan Broyles will be out for two to four weeks with a broken left shoulder blade, starting with this week's game against Baylor.

Sooners coach Bob Stoops confirmed yesterday that Broyles suffered the fracture during Saturday night's 21-20 loss at Miami.

Broyles leads the Sooners (2-2) with 23 catches for 346 yards and seven TDs this year. He had also been the team's top punt returner.

Stoops also said Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford (injured shoulder) practiced again with the No. 19 Sooners yesterday, but he doesn't plan to make a decision on whether the quarterback will play until Thursday.

Illinois: Coach Ron Zook has decided to bench senior quarterback Juice Williams and will start backup Eddie McGee on Saturday against Michigan State.

Zook told WDWS Radio in Champaign yesterday that he hopes McGee will give the Illini (1-3, 0-2 Big Ten) a spark.

Zook said he considered pulling Williams during Illinois' 35-17 loss to Penn State on Saturday.