TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida State is appealing the NCAA to reduce sanctions in a cheating scandal so the school won't have to forfeit victories in 10 sports — including up to 14 in football.

Florida State largely reiterated its initial stance Thursday that the penalty announced last month was too harsh.

The NCAA said Florida State would have to surrender victories in games where ineligible student-athletes participated in the fall of 2006 and 2007 and spring of 2007.

Football coach Bobby Bowden has 382 career wins — one fewer than Penn State's Joe Paterno, the all-time major college leader. Losing 14 wins would virtually ruin any chance Bowden has of catching Paterno.