With his search narrowing, and likely to produce a new coach by early next week, Georgia Tech athletic director Dave Braine has contacted a man with one of the most recognizable surnames in the business to gauge his interest in the school's vacancy.

Suddenly under consideration for the position, ESPN.com has confirmed, is former Auburn coach and current ABC Sports college football studio analyst Terry Bowden.

It is believed that Braine offered to meet Saturday with Bowden in Orlando, where the '93 national coach of the year makes his home with his wife and six children. Sources could not say yet if Bowden had indicated viable interest in the job.

Braine interviewed two candidates, New York Giants wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson and offensive coordinator Charlie Taaffe of the University of Maryland, on Friday.

A onetime head coach at The Citadel, Taaffe has the endorsement of Terrapins head coach Ralph Friedgen, the former offensive coordinator at Tech. The candidacy of Robinson, a former Yellow Jackets star wide receiver but never a head coach at any level of the game, is being pushed by a group of prominent Georgia Tech player alumni.

There are indications that Braine would like to make a recommendation to the six-person search committee no later than Monday. Earlier this week, Braine recommended Tom O'Brien, but the committee did not endorse him, and the Boston College coach withdrew from consideration. If Bowden is not interested, it appears the decision comes down to Robinson or Taaffe.

The potential candidacy of Bowden is intriguing for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it would give his famous family a monopoly of sorts on ACC coaching jobs. Bobby Bowden, his father, is the head coach at Florida State while brother Tommy is the Clemson coach.

Bowden, 45, has not coached since he left Auburn six games into the 1998 season. He was 47-17-1 in five-plus seasons at the school. Counting his tenures at Salem College (1983-85) and also at Samford (1987-92), Bowden compiled a record of 112-52-2 as a head coach.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.