<p>Some tidbits from the FSU alumni grapevine:</p>
<ol>
<li> There is an energetic push for a fresh face with a very strong STEM background as the new FSU president. It will likely NOT be an MD equipped president as med schools tend to have complex relationships with other departments. Think science PhD from a national AAU school as most likely.<br></li>
</ol>
<p>IF an internal candidate (the business and law school deans are in for the job) is hired as president (BIG "if" as inbreeding perceptions will be avoided) then the provost job will go to the science PhD. The reverse is also possible as the provost (Dr. Abele is retiring) deals with departments and needs to know how the university works internally.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>All presidential candidates are NOT currently public. Public records laws in Florida virtually compel the best candidates to keep a very low profile as they are likely in very competitive jobs already. A strong president will earn $1M or more per year.</p></li>
<li><p>Bobby Bowden is out as head coach with the end of the season. He will either retire or assume some responsibilities raising money for the university. Jimbo Fisher will assume head coach responsibilities very soon, before the all-important recruiting season closes. Losses to UF are extremely poisonous for any FSU coach.</p></li>
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<p>I am glad to hear that Bowden will remain with the university. He would be a great fund raiser.</p>
<p>Speaking of fund raising, the next president needs to be someone with rain-making talent. PhD’s and such are nice but FSU needs an astute CEO to build its coffers and hire the best in every field.</p>
<p>Well these are only rumors. No idea what will really happen. Interesting tidbit about the MD, though.</p>
<p>Not many Universities have MD’s as presidents. I would have been very surprised to see physicians interested in the job. President of the College of Medicine, sure. President of the University, no.</p>
<p>^I had not realized this before. After having D1 go through the med application process I understand the phenomenon better.</p>
<p>Six more applicants became public:</p>
<p>Eric Barron, Director, National Center for Atmospheric Research</p>
<p>David Persky, assistant to the President, St. Leo University</p>
<p>James Elsner, professor, Department of Geography, Florida State University</p>
<p>Uday Sukhatme, executive Vice Chancellor and dean of the Faculties, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis</p>
<p>Robert Frank, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, Kent State University</p>
<p>Steven Leath, Vice President for Research, University of North Carolina</p>
<p>John Petersen, Executive Director, RTP Solar Fuels Project and former President, Research Triangle Energy Consortium for The University of Tennessee System</p>
<p>The word is that Coach Bobby Bowden will announce his retirement tomorrow. Jimbo Fisher will become head coach.</p>
<p>Coach Bowden elected to retire after the university made an offer - retire or give up hire/fire authority to Jimbo Fisher.</p>