The Sad Saga of Florida State, Bobby Bowden and the 'Vacated Wins'

OK, somebody's got to say it.

So I will: This whole Bobby Bowden situation is getting kind of sad.

Mostly because Florida State just won't let it go.

As has been reported many times over now, the NCAA ruled earlier this year that Florida State would have to "vacate" as many as 14 wins from its 2006 and 2007 football seasons due to an academic cheating scandal that saw 61 student athletes (including some football players) receive improper academic, um, assistance.

The penalty may seem harsh in a historical sense—besides, Bowden is locked in a never-ending fight with Penn State's Joe Paterno for the all-time, big-school college football wins lead, and losing 14 games from his record would almost certainly give the title to Paterno—but the reality is, the NCAA actually let the 'Noles off easy.

Remember, folks, this was no middling textbook purchasing scandal like we saw over at Alabama. No, this was flat-out cheating.

Still, Florida State formally appealed the penalties anyway. That was back in April. And even though the NCAA last month denied that appeal, noting in its response—um, hello, Florida State—that the penalties could have been much worse (steep scholarship reductions, for instance, or a postseason ban, or a television ban) the university seems poised to continue its fight. Forever.

Florida State filed another appeal to the NCAA on Wednesday afternoon. And maybe because that appeal has absolutely zero chance of winning, Florida State President T.K. Wetherell told the Tallahassee Democrat that he would willing to take the battle all the way to the court system if the NCAA stands its ground. Which they will, of course.

"Yeah, I would [sue the NCAA]," Wetherell said. "I think they are building a pretty big anti-trust case personally. Everybody says you can't win that. But they said Curt Flood couldn't win his, either. We'll see."

My advice to Wetherell?

Simple: Give it up already.

The players cheated. They got caught. And, yeah, Bobby—fairly or not— is paying the price.

But you know what? It could be worse. Much worse.

So just move on. And let the NCAA move on, too.

Photo: These are dark days for Bobby Bowden. (Marc Serota/Getty Images)