My college football team is having a tough season. I read in USA Today this week that FSU was off to their worst start since Bobby Bowden’s first season in 1976. After having more than a decade of incredible winning, some students, alumni and fans are ready for a change. Even columnists for newspapers like the Orlando Sentinel’s Mike Bianchi are calling for his scalp. There is also a Black Out Bobby Bowden Facebook page which is urging fans who want Bobby fired to wear all black at this Saturday’s game.

He was brilliant when he ran the famous “Punt rooskie” to beat Clemson years ago.He was “Saint Bobby” when he had an unmatched streak in the 1990’s. Now that there is trouble in paradise (a 2-3 record), some are ready for Bobby’s head on a platter. Because I am an FSU graduate and happen to be a fan of Bobby, I have followed the news about him a little more closely this week. This morning, I received an email from T.K. Wetherell, president of FSU (below is an exert). I admire him for taking a stand, even an unpopular stand.  Perhaps there are things we can glean from his comments that would apply to our lives, the economic crisis and whatever other troubles we are experiencing. The bottom line is that winners do the right thing and they don’t quit. Ever.

As educators we teach our students to always do the right thing, to do it the right way and to never give up. We teach them to always strive for excellence and to make good decisions with that end in mind. Our athletics programs are built on the foundation of helping young people build character and display that in their personal actions as well as on the fields of play. We also expect our teams to be competitive.

Our administration also is committed to those ideals. In intercollegiate athletics that means evaluating every coaching position at the end of the season. Any coach can choose to retire at any time. However, it is the athletics director’s responsibility to determine which coaches are hired and which contracts are extended.

I know all of our fans, friends, supporters and alumni will accord the coaching staff and our young student-athletes all the support, encouragement and respect they deserve. I will respect the process. FSU does not make coaching changes in the middle of the season. We are going to win games and build character. We ask our coaches and players to play out every play of every game — and never, never quit. To quit on a team or coaches in mid season is not the Seminole way — not the “unconquered” way. What message would it send to anyone — friend or foe — to do that at this time?

Tim Richardson is an inspirational speaker who speaks about how giving increases employee morale, lowers employee turnover, increases customer loyalty and creates higher profits for Fortune 500 companies. He is founder of the Bill Walter Melanoma Research Fund. For more information on Tim, go towww.TimRichardson.com