I think the whole Seminole nation just let out a big gasp of relief.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2661718

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State offensive coordinator Jeff Bowden is stepping down.

He resigned Tuesday, just three days after the Seminoles were shut out for the first time in 233 games.

Athletic director David Hart Jr. says the resignation will be effective at the end of this season.

Bowden, the youngest son of Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden, replaced now-Georgia head coach Mark Richt as the Seminoles' offensive coordinator in 2001.

Florida State has its homecoming game Saturday against Western Michigan followed by the season finale on Nov. 25 against intrastate rival Florida.

Bobby Bowden has stood by his son's performance as offensive coordinator despite a notable decline in scoring and yardage gained in the past half-dozen seasons.

The school had skirted a nepotism policy by having the younger Bowden report to another coach on the staff other than his father.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press