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FSU Football players eager to live up to winning legacy of program

By Jason Parker

1 JAN 1994: WIDE RECEIVER MATT FRIER OF FLORIDA STATE CLUTCHES A HANDFUL OF TURF AS HE IS CARRIED ON THE SHLULDER OF FANS AND TEAMMATES AFTER THE SEMINOLES 18-16 DEFEAT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA IN THE 1994 ORANGE BOWL. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewar
1 JAN 1994: WIDE RECEIVER MATT FRIER OF FLORIDA STATE CLUTCHES A HANDFUL OF TURF AS HE IS CARRIED ON THE SHLULDER OF FANS AND TEAMMATES AFTER THE SEMINOLES 18-16 DEFEAT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA IN THE 1994 ORANGE BOWL. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewar /
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FSU football has been one of the best teams in college football overall in the last 30 years, and this year’s Noles know they have a legacy to uphold.

Since the 1987 season kicked off, there have been very few if any programs across the college football world that have the consistent winning tradition and sustained success as the FSU football team. Over the 31 seasons since, the Seminoles have not had a losing season, have three national titles and played for three more while winning 15 ACC crowns in the last 26 seasons.

Of course, all of that seemed like a distant memory last season when the Noles needed a makeup game against Louisiana Monroe just to become bowl eligible and continue that winning season and bowl appearance streak. At the same time, it seemed as if the former coach wanted nothing to do with anything involving FSU football’s history before the 2010 season.

Enter new head coach Willie Taggart, who has gone out of his way to make sure everyone from legendary coach Bobby Bowden to any one who has ever played for the Seminoles all-time knows they are welcome back at any time to the program.

That was no more evident during April’s spring game when hundreds of former players and coaches were on the sideline to greet the Taggart era and remind the current group of Seminoles what they are playing for. That scene wasn’t lost on the current Noles, as defensive end Brian Burns explained during ACC Kickoff this past week.

"“This is Florida State, as we always say, and you’ve got to live up to it. It’s an amazing tradition that’s before us. It’s bigger than us right now. Everything is bigger than us as far as Florida State-wise. It’s about the tradition, the legacy. (Assistant coach) Odell (Haggins) is going to preach that to us every day.”"

Taggart made it very clear that the FSU football program is all about winning championships and playing for titles, with anything less being below expectations.

"“To me that’s what Florida State is all about, and that’s what I grew up watching and loving when it came to Florida State football. Every year they were competing for a championship, and every year they were winning. That’s our goal. That’s our vision.”"

There is a fine line with any program that straddles between living in the past because your current status isn’t anything to brag about (Notre Dame and Miami, for example) and keeping the traditions alive that got you to that point.

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FSU football has enough recent success to be able to encourage the players to know what the program is capable of doing – while also having enough former players still in the spotlight to be involved with reminding them of their duties to keep the traditions alive.

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