Under fire after the Seminoles started its 34th season with a 2-3 record, Florida State Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden said his age is the biggest reason he’s being criticized.

He said, “My problem is age. If I was 50, nobody would be saying a word as far as that’s concerned. But at 79, he’s too old. I found out when I first started, it’s always this way: ‘Yeah, but what have you done lately? What have you done lately?’ What you used to do doesn’t count, and I know it’s that way. I’m ready for it. But I also know anytime something goes wrong, he’s too old.”

Bowden, whose 384 career victories are three behind Penn State’s Joe Paterno for most wins in major college football history, said he will not decide whether to retire until after this season.

He added, “I’ve always been told you can coach as long as I want to. But I’ve got a one-year contract and after the year, I let them know if I want to come back another year. That’s as far as I go.”

(via ESPN)