Expectations often serve as the byproduct of success.

Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden has, in 31 years at the helm, created a towering empire in Tallahassee, Fla. To call Bowden the greatest Seminole coach would be to call Michael Jordan the greatest Chicago Bulls shooting guard.

In the past month, though, cracks have begun to form in Bowden’s once-storied program.

The second winningest coach in Division I history turned 80 on Nov. 8. His 26th-year defensive coordinator, Mickey Andrews, announced he would retire after this season, citing family reasons. And his team is on the brink of its first losing season since 1976.

Thunderstorms are expected tomorrow in Tallahassee, where the Terrapins (2-8, 1-5 ACC) take on Florida State at noon. The cracks of lightning should only further dramatize a must-win situation for the Seminoles (5-5, 3-4), who, should they lose, would be assured of just their second losing conference record since joining the ACC 19 seasons ago. A loss to the hapless Terps would also leave the Seminoles on the ropes, with only No. 1 Florida remaining on the schedule and a 27 consecutive bowl-berth streak at risk.

These are troubled times at Florida State. In 2001, the Seminoles snapped a 14-year streak with 10 or more wins. Since, they’ve only reached that landmark once. Florida State message boards and fan blogs are calling for Bowden’s resignation, under the premise the wizened veteran is too old to coach.

Terp coach Ralph Friedgen has dealt with his own detractors this season, one in which he too has faced struggles unparalleled in his nine-year tenure. From the outside looking in, he’s seen the criticism of Bowden, who he describes as an “icon” in college football lore.

“I’m not surprised, probably disappointed is more my response to it,” Friedgen said. “It’s just human nature, when things don’t go as expected, right away they’re looking to place blame on someone and it doesn’t really matter what you did for the last 30 years; they want to know what you did today. That’s sad but that’s how it is.”

Should Bowden choose to retire after this season — though most expect him to return for at least one more year — tomorrow’s game would be his last in Doak Campbell Stadium. But it will be Andrews’ final home game either way.

The legendary defensive coordinator coached future NFL superstars such as Deion Sanders and Derrick Brooks. Though his unit has struggled this season, allowing 30.6 points per game, the Terps expect their Seminole counterparts to pour their hearts onto the field with an in-game tribute to follow the pre-game ceremony for Andrews.

“They’re definitely going to be up,” Terp wide receiver Adrian Cannon said. “That defense is going to play hard for him just like they do every game — you’ve got to expect that.”

The game will be televised on Raycom. It’s the first game the Terps have had aired on a station available to on-campus residents since the season opener at California.

This week, the Terp practice field speakers have blared the war chants echoed throughout Doak Campbell on gamedays. This is a young Terp team, young enough to perhaps have missed Bowden’s glory days. But the respect for his legacy remains.

“I’ve grown up looking at them and listening to the Florida State Seminoles and people singing the song and pointing the little arrow,” said Terp quarterback Jamarr Robinson, who will start the second game of his career for the Terps. “This’ll be my first time playing against them and actually playing. So this still big for me.”

ajoseph@umdbk.com