Time to Go.

Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno share more than a few things in common. Both the Florida St. and Penn St. football coaches are living legends, good friends and both sit atop the all-time Div. I-A (we still can't get used to/remember what it is they now want us to call it) career coaching victories list. Also, both are holding their respective programs hostage as they show no signs of wanting to step down while the programs have slipped into mediocrity over the past several seasons.

And when asked about how long they intend on coaching, they both respond with something of a breezy and dismissive air of entitlement as if to say, "Don't you worry your pretty little head 'bout them things - I got everything under contol so just run along now." (People close to the Penn St. program say that Paterno does not even make recruiting visits anymore and while Bobby Bowden has some sort of succession plan in place with Offensive Coordinator, Jimbo Fisher, no such plan is even being considered in Happy Valley).

But while Paterno shows at least some fire when dealing with off-field issues (a string of incidents last off-season including an ugly brawl at a party led Paterno to conscript the entire roster to clean-up Beaver Stadium on the Sundays after Nittany Lion home games), Bowden’s nonchalance in the face of continuing off-field problems for his players is troubling.

An academic scandal that was uncovered last year continues to unfold and continues to claim casualties. 36 players were ruled ineligible for last year’s Music City Bowl and at least 7 starters and roughly 20 subs will be ineligible for the first 3 games of this season.

But when asked how this scandal affected him and if he felt responsible his answer was:

"It didn't bother me because I knew there was no involvement by me or my staff. But I didn't know about it until the president told me. My staff didn't know about it until I told them. I know some people will say 'you're the head coach' but there are a number of things like this that the head coach does not know."

We’re happy to know that Bowden feels absolved because his coaching staff wasn’t involved and that he is so out of touch with his own program the University President was the one who broke him the bad news.

… Uhhh, coach… there is this concept within the NCAA rules and regulations known as “institutional control”, whereby you as the coach do not need to be even remotely aware the rule-breaking that is occurring on your watch but which still holds you ultimately responsible.

And what’s doubly disappointing is that in giving that answer he appears to be distancing himself from his players, effectively signalling that the players are on their own in this matter instead of stepping into a leadership and disciplinary role.

Its clear that the game and the times have passed by Bowden and Paterno who seem to possess neither the energy nor awareness to what is transpiring around them to be effective leaders and faces of these once-proud football schools.

H/T: AOL FanHouse