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TAMPA — Bobby Bowden will coach his 500th game this season, likely against Colorado in Week 4. At what point he will coach his last, however, remains anyone’s guess.

Bowden is now 78, and his ultimate successor has been named. His legacy is cemented, as solid as the statue of him outside of Doak Campbell Stadium.

But he’s not ready to walk away. Not until he takes care of some unfinished business.

“Why do I stay in coaching?” the Florida State coach said Friday, as he met with reporters during the Florida Sports Writers Association college football media days. “Because I want to win it all again before I go. Will that happen? I don’t know, but we’re gonna sure try.”

Bowden has led the Seminoles to two national championships in his 32 seasons as their coach, but Florida State hasn’t won a BCS bowl game in nine years.

The program has been especially mediocre the past two seasons, posting back-to-back 7-6 records with appearances in the Emerald and Music City bowls.

But Bowden, who has already appointed offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher his ultimate successor, said the team’s recent struggles have energized him and his staff, presenting the kind of challenges college football’s winningest coach hasn’t seen in three decades.

“It is a lot more fun to build,” Bowden said, “than to get there and try to maintain. Maintaining ain’t no fun. We’re in our building stage. It’s exciting.”

How exciting, though, could depend on Florida State’s ability to navigate the early part of its schedule. Seven starters will be suspended for the first three games, penalties stemming from last year’s academic cheating scandal.

No wonder Bowden declined the chance to play a Labor Day weekend TV game, choosing instead to start the year with Western Carolina and Tennessee-Chattanooga. But the Seminoles will get Wake Forest after that, a home game to start the ACC season.

Beyond that, a key to Florida State’s success will be the play of senior quarterback Drew Weatherford. Sophomores Christian Ponder and D’Vontrey Richardson had big springs, but it appears Weatherford will again get to start the season behind center.

In all, 15 starters return.

“When you reach the top,” Bowden said, “everybody expects you to be there every year. I don’t know a school who does that. We’re just passing through a cycle. And I think we’re on our way back up.”