His career had Taggart taking over his Alma mater Western Kentucky, turning that program entirely around culminating in a 10 win season which got him hired at South Florida. The Bulls, who had fallen sharply prior to his arrival, rose to prominence under Taggart, even comporting themselves well in a loss at Tallahassee versus FSU. This success got Taggart hired at Oregon, where in his only year with the Ducks reversed a losing season with a winning one even while dealing with losing their starting quarterback early on in 2017.
So Florida State came calling, securing Taggart to become head coach, but the price to gather in Taggart after only one year with Oregon was steep. Given the success the Seminoles anticipated with Taggart, the cost seemed to be balanced with FSU continuing and perhaps even expanding their gridiron success.
The tenure for Willie Taggart at Florida State was a trainwreck.
In his first game, a indescribable 24-3 home loss to Virginia Tech, there were areas of immediate concern. The season culminated with Florida State missing a bowl, breaking the nation's longest present active bowl streak. That was unacceptable.
The schedule afforded a real opportunity in 2019, but the success would seemingly hinge on mentality gained from getting early victories, as I mentioned to Coach Taggart when we met earlier in the summer, in a game against Boise State in Jacksonville and a road tilt at Virginia. Due to weather, the Boise State game was moved to Tallahassee. FSU raced out to an 18 point lead against Boise, but lost. Then, FSU narrowly escaped Louisiana Monroe at home (which panicked boosters) and then lost a late lead to lose at Virginia. Instead of being 3-0, FSU was 1-2 and the writing was on the wall.
The atmosphere in Tallahassee for the Miami game, even with the Hurricanes being a hated rival, was ridiculous. Nobody was fired up, the stands were alarmingly empty and the event had a moribund look. Then the action had the Seminoles looking what had become customarily unprepared, besieged by penalties, missed assignments and a visible lack of intensity.
Florida State got clocked by 17, and nobody seemed particularly agitated about it. The activities of the day told anyone and everyone looking everything they wanted to know.
The powers that be were watching, and I had barely made it back to Orlando on Sunday before the news of Taggart's dismissal went viral on social media. With a 9-13 overall record in Tallahassee, coming of an exposing home loss to the Miami Hurricanes, Taggart was fired. Even with the financial ramifications in full vision, this was the correct move.
Where does Florida State go from here? Well, good question.
Florida State President John Thrasher sent out a letter to Seminole Boosters asking for donation levels to be expanded as Florida State appears to need assistance to usher in a new era of Seminole Football. This type of action does not appear to be engaged to if you are not hunting big fish.
The pool of candidates who appear to possess the desired experience to bring the Florida State program back to the level of national prominence the expected, and this includes operations beyond just the activities within the gridiron, are thin.
One such individual would be retired Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. There is a circle of social media outlets which think Stoops has already been hired, but most if not all the official media outlets describe Stoops as "no longer a candidate" after the Seminoles apparently and appropriately reached out. For me, Stoops checks every box and would be ideal for FSU given where the Seminoles program stands.
Some indicate Penn State coach James Franklin is a candidate. Franklin has won everywhere he has been, and he certainly has the background I think would be required. Seminole Nation would welcome Franklin.
Matt Campbell of Iowa State is a real intriguing young candidate. He has done wonders at Iowa State, and is very highly though of by his peers. Many would be thrilled to welcome Campbell in.
Notre Dame's Brian Kelly has gotten some mention, but he does not figure to be coaching into the future long enough to see this rebuild through. So, we don't think he is a realistic candidate. Minnesota's PJ Fleck looks signed up to remain with the Gophers.
Beyond those guys, the pool sinks.
Mike Norvell of Memphis is somebody to look at, as might Luke Fickell of Cincinnati. Could a dismissed Clay Helton of USC, a Gainesville born Auburn grad get a look? Who knows?
Maybe FSU is looking where nobody thinks they are? Is somebody we don't anticipate looking for a new challenge?
Is current interim head coach, longtime assistant and former player Odell Haggins, a serious candidate. Man, we love us some Odell, the pride of Bartow, but is he adequately equipped to deal with the overall rebuild required throughout the organization? Maybe he is the best bang for the buck for now.
One thing is for sure. Florida State needs to get this right. No fan should have to check a Wikipedia page to learn about the new coach. The ramifications are huge.
I suspect we find out shortly after the Seminoles give it go at Gainesville against the Gators on Saturday.
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