| *FSU's Andrews to leave coaching at season's end*
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By BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press Writer
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.(AP) -- Veteran Florida State defensive
coordinator Mickey Andrews is hanging up his whistle after 47
years coaching, including 26 years with the Seminoles.
The architect of some of the nation's best defenses that helped
Florida State win a pair of national titles in the 1990s,
Andrews announced his decision Tuesday in a handwritten
statement.
"Because of a lot of speculation and questioning from friends,
family and media, we decided to go ahead and do it now," Andrews
said. "It's time to be about us my family."
A football star at Alabama under the coach Paul "Bear" Bryant,
Andrews developed 18 first round NFL draft picks during 26
seasons at Florida State beginning with cornerback Deion Sanders
in 1989.
"Not a single day goes by when I am coaching, mentoring or
teaching somebody that I don't use things coach Andrews taught
me," Sanders said Tuesday.
Since 1985, NFL teams have picked 73 defensive players developed
by Andrews at Florida State. That list includes Peter Boulware,
Derrick Brooks, Terrell Buckley, LeRoy Butler, Sam Cowart and
Marvin Jones, who like Sanders all went on to star in the NFL.
But this year there were no players of the caliber Andrews had
coached for so many years and a young Seminole defense has
struggled all season.
Andrews will direct the defense through the remainder of this
season and remain on the payroll until Feb. 10, 2010, the
anniversary date of his hiring by coach Bobby Bowden, who like
Andrews is an Alabama native.
"He's a guy that has never slowed down," said Bowden, who had
hoped he could persaude Andrews to stay for one more season.
"He's just as enthusiastic now as he was when he came here."
Andrews, 68, and his wife Diane will remain in Tallahassee where
they are helping raise three grandchildren after the sudden,
unexpected death of their son Ronnie two years ago.
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