JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Bobby Bowden rode only a few bouncy steps on his players' shoulders, then hopped off.

"I thought it was about time to get down," he said.

Time to say goodbye. As a winner, too.

Jermaine Thomas ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns, MVP E.J. Manuel threw for 189 yards and ran for another score and Florida State knocked off No. 18 West Virginia, 33-21, yesterday at the Gator Bowl in the final game of Bowden's storied 57-year coaching career.

"The winning was really a bonus," the 80-year-old Bowden said. "Knowing it's your last game, I'll be honest with you, I'm kind of interested in this retirement business. I ain't got to set my alarm no more, I'll get up when I'm darn good and ready, then like I say, go out and look for a job."

Bowden finished with a 389-129-4 record, and most importantly to him, a 33rd consecutive winning season. Jimbo Fisher takes over at Florida State, which finished 7-6 for the third time in the past four years.

Bowden leaves as major college football's second-winningest coach. Joe Paterno earned his 394th victory yesterday in the Capital One Bowl as Penn State beat LSU, 19-17.

WEST VIRGINIA 14 0 0 7—21

FLORIDA ST. 3 10 10 10—33

First Quarter

WVU—Brown 32 run (Bitancurt kick), 11:45.

FSU—FG Hopkins 26, 7:02.

WVU—Devine 1 run (Bitancurt kick), 5:13.

Second Quarter

FSU—Thomas 12 run (Hopkins kick), 10:57.

FSU—FG Hopkins 42, :08.

Third Quarter

FSU—FG Hopkins 22, 12:15.

FSU—Thomas 19 run (Hopkins kick), 3:50.

Fourth Quarter

WVU—R.Clarke 5 run (Bitancurt kick), 14:56.

FSU—Manuel 2 run (Hopkins kick), 8:54.

FSU—FG Hopkins 37, 2:02.

A—84,129.

WVU FSU

First downs 18 24

Rushes-yards 37-221 46-226

Passing 107 189

Comp-Att-Int 9-19-1 17-24-0

Return Yards 0 37

Punts-Avg. 3-37.0 2-37.5

Fumbles-Lost 3-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 3-29 7-69

Time of Possession 22:53 37:07

RUSHING—West Virginia, Devine 16-168, Brown 6-43, R.Clarke 3-12, Sanders 1-7, Team 1-(minus 1), G.Smith 10-(minus 8). Florida St., Thomas 25-121, Manuel 14-70, C.Thompson 2-20, Reed 3-9, Givens 1-4, Pryor 1-2.

PASSING—West Virginia, G.Smith 8-15-0-92, Brown 1-4-1-15. Florida St., Manuel 17-24-0-189.

RECEIVING—West Virginia, Starks 3-30, Devine 2-28, Sanders 2-14, Austin 1-19, Arnett 1-16. Florida St., Fortson 4-73, Owens 3-37, Easterling 3-33, Pryor 2-22, Reed 2-0, Thomas 1-9, C.Thompson 1-9, Reliford 1-6.