FSU Football: Fans react to ‘Noles vetting Willie Taggart
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU football is making proactive moves to replace Jimbo Fisher should he decide to head to Texas A&M.
The FSU football program could be coming to a fork in the road that hasn’t happened often, and that’s hiring a brand new head football coach.
There are a number of job openings in college football like Tennessee, Arkansas, and Texas A&M.
However, FSU would be come the premiere opening should Jimbo Fisher leave.
No decision has been made in regards to Jimbo Fisher deciding to stay at FSU or leave for Texas A&M, but the FSU administration is wasting no time to prepare in the event he does decide to leave.
Source: Florida State officials have started doing background work on Oregon coach Willie Taggart in preparation for the possibility Jimbo Fisher takes the Texas A&M job.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 29, 2017
Taggart seemed to be a trendy name when smoke starting coming about Fisher potentially going to A&M. We have the fan reaction to FSU being interested in potentially hiring him if Fisher leaves.
Twitter Reaction
Taggart is not leaving Oregon after 1 season. Put it to bed people.
— Tim Stafford (@TechRecruiter35) November 29, 2017
Anyone care to take a friendly wager? Taggart would most definitely leave Oregon to come back to Florida. Especially to coach at FSU.
— tilt the field (@leesuperstar375) November 29, 2017
Probably a dream job for him...he would flourish as well
— Derek Carr (@kaptainamerika1) November 29, 2017
No way a coach with his recruiting ability turns down the job at FSU. The conference title would be a 1 game competition at that point.
— tilt the field (@leesuperstar375) November 29, 2017
— Eddie (@Eddie_chief89) November 29, 2017
Coach Tagg agent trying to get him paid haha 😂 give the man the raise he deserves it already.
— 🇲🇽 QuickSilva 🇺🇸 (@QuickSilva07) November 29, 2017
Coach Tagg agent trying to get him paid haha 😂 give the man the raise he deserves it already.
— 🇲🇽 QuickSilva 🇺🇸 (@QuickSilva07) November 29, 2017
Noooo - I am sick of all this talk about Taggart leaving. One thing he has proved is he is a GREAT recruiter. His departure would be a huge blow to Oregon football. I am very curious where the Ducks would have ended up if Herbert had been healthy all season.
— Krista (@KristaNicole17) November 29, 2017
I don't think he's leaving. However, if FSU offers $6M/yr and UO doesn't match it, well, then I certainly wouldn't fault him for moving on.
— AAA (@Quackarazzi) November 29, 2017
Payback time for the ‘Noles pic.twitter.com/tRr9GYogHa
— Mike Jelline (@MikeJelline) November 29, 2017
Oregon Tries to Be Proactive Too
Oregon has offered coach Willie Taggart a new deal worth more than $20 million, @Andy_Staples reports https://t.co/rcCZs32xdy
— SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) November 29, 2017
Thoughts
Taggart is interested in the FSU football job despite only being at Oregon for a year. FSU is the better job by far, closer to home with access to elite talent and no state income tax.
That Oregon offer isn’t enough to keep Taggart if FSU wants him in my opinion.
I like Taggart as an option to replace Fisher as he’s offensive minded who has shown he can make his offenses fit his personnel. He’s very young but has proven he can turn programs around as evident at Western Kentucky, South Florida and Oregon. He’s an excellent recruiter who’s originally from Florida who has shown a knack for putting together strong staffs too.
Did I mention his offenses put up points? Look at his scoring average per year while at USF:
- 17.2 ppg (2014)
- 33.6 ppg (2015)
- 43.8 ppg (2016)
His current stop at Oregon has them averaging 36.7 ppg and averaging 6.23 ypp and that’s with losing his starting QB for a number of games.
Next: Would Football Only Complex Keep Jimbo Fisher at FSU?
Now we just play the waiting game to see how it all shakes out.