FSU Football: Fans respond to Willie Taggart’s humility
By Kelvin Hunt
Did FSU football have its best spring game atmosphere in its history on Saturday?
The FSU football spring game likely had its best spring game atmosphere ever on Saturday. I’m not talking about the actual game itself, it is what it is, but the atmosphere was incredible.
The Noles set a new spring game attendance record of over 60,000 fans in attendance and that’s not including some fans who didn’t make it inside Doak Campbell Stadium Saturday.
There were over 300 former players in attendance for the game, not to mention Bobby Bowden, the architect of the FSU football program.
The social media buzz online was palpable as well with fans tweeting photos of themselves tailgating and meeting other FSU fans for the first time.
At the center of it all was FSU head coach Willie Taggart, who arguably was the biggest fan on the field Saturday.
He took the time to thank everyone that made the weekend as great as it was Saturday.
I just want to say Thank you again to all of our fans, former, recruits, and current players for coming out and making it a great weekend. Go Noles! 🔥🔥🔥#DidSomething #Culture #Family pic.twitter.com/cHiFgMwhOs
— Willie Taggart (@CoachTaggart) April 16, 2018
In turn, FSU fans took the time to thank Willie Taggart for everything he’s brought to FSU football in the short three months he’s been in Tallahassee.
Fan Reaction
Taggart Era is officially here! We love you pops and Nole Nation got your back 💯 #DoSomething
— TaReef KnockOut (@TaReefKnockOut) April 16, 2018
Thank you, @CoachTaggart, for being that breath of fresh air this program didn't realize it needed. You're changing the culture & inspiring this fan base by bringing back the ones who laid the foundation while bringing in the future of this program. Class and swag, personified!
— Ashley Reamer (@Ashley_Caroline) April 16, 2018
We got ya back my guy!! NoleBlooded Nation the family💯 we appreciate having you a true Nole to the bone grissel🍢🍢 see ya at VT😎 TaggartTime💯
— ⚠️ Noleblooded Evaluator🩸⚠️ (@God1stNole2nd) April 16, 2018
Thank you coach for bringing back what FSU was/is all about..#dosomething #nolenation
— ByrdBih (@DatBoiByrd813) April 16, 2018
Thank YOU coach!
— Jeremiah Zanders (@JustCallMeNOLE) April 16, 2018
Thank You @CoachTaggart for putting the fun back into football again. We are behind you 100%. #DOSOMETHING #NOLENATION
— Gerald 🍢🍢🍢 (@BeGlad93) April 16, 2018
Thank you Coach! Was a great day and as part of Seminole Nation, we are proud and excited for our Noles.
— EzeRamm Slava Ukraini! (@EzEram) April 16, 2018
It was.........incredible.
— Evan Foster (@EvanNoles) April 16, 2018
Thank you coach!#GoNoles 🏹 pic.twitter.com/8CGRqwxEyu
The whole vibe is different this year. You can feel it. Something special’s going on. So proud to be a Nole!
— April Novo (@aprilnovo) April 16, 2018
Thoughts
It was a great weekend indeed, not to mention the three blue chip 2019 recruits the Noles added to the class Saturday (they also added a 2020 commit too).
It’s clear Willie Taggart is exactly where he wants to be and took the time to go around and high-five the fans after the spring game.
I’m not going to bash the old regime, but they were never able to generate this amount of support from the fans and former players.
Now, I do think some of this is a result of the way the old regime left. That likely made it easier for fans and others to embrace the new staff. However, Taggart continues to make all the right moves from honoring Bobby Bowden to encouraging all former players to reconnect with the program.
Next: Early FPI Has Noles As Underdogs In Three Games
Thank you coach, it was a great weekend and looking forward to September 3rd against Virginia Tech.