Chances Taggart comes to Michigan?
Since they have a long history together, what are the chances Taggart comes to Michigan to rehabilitate his image? He's young and charismatic, plus would be dirt cheap with FSU paying him.
Probably best as a QB coach but also has had experience with WRs and RBs. The latter under Harbaugh at Stanford.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:21 AM ^
I think it could happen. There's attrition every year on this staff and Taggart is by all accounts an A++ recruiter, but a C- X's and Os guy. Might be worth it for him to come as an analyst even, and learn more about being a head coach, before trying to be an HC again.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:27 AM ^
He had four years at USF prior to his single year at Oregon and the FSU debacle. There was Western Kentucky before that. His learning is probably maxed out. Could be that he got lucky and promoted beyond his ability ... happens all the time and could happen to PJ Fleck soon.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:31 AM ^
I'm betting "PJ" is going to be on short list to replace Taggart at FSU.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:45 AM ^
Along with Urban Meyer.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:22 AM ^
If Meyer goes anywhere else in college, he'll hold out until USC or ND are available.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:35 AM ^
Pretty sure ND and Urban is never going to happen. I thought the rumor was Urban was interested pre-BK but needed to be able to get a few of 'his guys' in without being held back by admissions. ND (admirably) said no and that was that
Urban needs to end up somewhere that is willing to let a few things slide for the sake of football greatness
November 4th, 2019 at 1:36 PM ^
Pretty sure that's narrative bunk. We are talking about a school that employed Lou Holtz.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:32 AM ^
I don't think he'd consider going to FSU, mainly since the whole reason Jimbo Fisher left was for lack of resources and competitive facilities. Whatever Meyer takes, it's probably going to something that's gold-plated.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:39 AM ^
Yeah, FSU has built a solid reputation basically because of Bowden in the 90s, but they are not a wealthy school in the same way a lot of the other blue bloods are. If they fan here, they could go the way of Miami as well
November 4th, 2019 at 10:11 PM ^
Not a wealthy school they totaled out for 30 mil to buy taggert out and then buy him out fsu pockets run deep
November 4th, 2019 at 11:38 AM ^
Stared at the FSU blog last night (I live in Tallahassee) and there was very little Meyer talk, even less enthusiasm. Some of the antagonism, interestingly, involved his thuggish UF teams. FSU has gone from being the 63rd-ranked US News uni to a top-20 public school in the sixteen years we've been here. There was a surprising lot of sentiment for getting out from under the good ol' boy free shoes image when Jimbo moved on, and still seems to be so. I wondered about antipathy toward Taggart, but found a lot of people lamenting he hadn't made it work. A year and a half is VERY little time, and there is a lot working against FSU here (in the middle of a President transition). But the fact that the squad looked so freaking disorganized against Miami seems to have cinched the argument. FSU AND its alumni org has a huge new development called College Town on the fringes of the university, and there was worry about the drag on the area and local economy. This stuff is fairly momentous for a mid-sized college town.
November 4th, 2019 at 12:09 PM ^
I lived in Tallahassee from 1989-2015. It brings me great joy to watch them become less than mediocre. They have an incredibly arrogant fanbase who have fallen from their high horses....kinda like Sparty
November 4th, 2019 at 12:21 PM ^
Funny, because I always hated them, through the end of Bowden's reign and into Jimbo's. I wanted Taggart to succeed.
As for arrogance--as a guy who grew up in Ann Arbor--I prefer M fans in the old days to what we get now.
November 4th, 2019 at 4:09 PM ^
Couldn't agree more... lived in West Palm for a long time in the 80s - 90s, FSU fans are caustic, and will always be reviled by me. Enjoyed the Gator fanbase though, usually low key and pleasant to be around...
November 4th, 2019 at 12:32 PM ^
I bet that P.J. Fleck is on the short list for Michigan State too !
November 5th, 2019 at 12:57 AM ^
He isn’t making a lateral move. Minnesota has better facilities and he is proving he can win 10 games at a middle tier B1G program. Now, if Franklin goes to USC I could see PJ going to PSU.
Luke Fickell will be a leading candidate at MSU and he is turning into a pretty Tressel-like HC. I’d be displeased because he recruits Ohio like he is from there and has been recruiting there for 20 years. Also he hires really sound assistants. Give him MSU and it’ll be a pain in the ass in a hurry.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:36 AM ^
Of all the speculating this one sounds good. He is not HC material.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:51 AM ^
Ehh that's a bit harsh. He turned around both WKU and USF, but it took 4 years each, FSU gave him 1.5 ?♂️
I can see him waiting out a year getting buyout money as an analyst or getting an HC job at a G5 school that loses theirs to a p5 school (like Charlie Strong taking over for Taggart at USF)
November 4th, 2019 at 11:17 AM ^
I can’t for the life of me think of any G5 coaches in line for a halfway decent P5 job. Not off of the top of my head anyway
November 4th, 2019 at 11:28 AM ^
Mike Norvell at Memphis and Josh Heupel at UCF are two off the top of my head.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:45 AM ^
I would also add Luke Fickell to that list.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^
SMU's coach...maybe try to get Satterfield from Louisville? Rhule at Baylor, or Iowa State's coach. Also it might be worth trying any of Clemson's assistants...or Wake Forest's coach, who isn't a big name, but a solid coach who might not be too expensive.
Also, might be worth trying a Brett Bielema who is a line coach for the Patriots...had trouble at Arkansas vs LSU and Bama but everyone did. He was good at Wisconsin though. Maybe even consider Canada...because the job he did at Maryland last year was impressive.
Not sure they can get a big, splashy name who doesn't have program ties, but they can lure someone away. What about Dantonio with a new offensive staff? Allen from Indiana? Fleck? Hell even Frost at Nebraska, as most Floridians remember what he did at UCF and will chalk up his record at Nebraska to being in a horrible recruiting area.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^
I said before they hired Taggart that they should've gone after James Franklin..young, excellent recruiter, could really shake some things up at FSU and this was the year that Moorhead and Saquon left. replace OSU for Clemson - a wash...with no "Michigan" on that ACC schedule. I think he might be on the list again, but they don't have any money.
November 4th, 2019 at 1:51 PM ^
FSU would really have to sweeten the pot to get Franklin. Straight up FSU is a step down from Penn State even with the odor of scandal still on them.
November 4th, 2019 at 3:29 PM ^
Per rumors, they'd have to fight USC for him too, assuming Urbz is just them California Dreamin'
November 4th, 2019 at 10:24 AM ^
I'd speculate the chances are high if an skill position offensive coach leaves. I don't see Gattis going anywhere (besides you'd need an OC if he did). Jaybaugh stays unless he wants to spread his wings (seems unlikely). So it comes down to McDaniels.
Would he come in as an analyst?
November 4th, 2019 at 11:11 AM ^
Could he serve as an analyst AND a therapist?
November 4th, 2019 at 3:23 PM ^
Id switch him and mcdaniels.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:24 AM ^
There’s literally no reason not to hire him as an analyst right this second.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
My concern would be that he would get a head coaching gig within a year if things go well for him here(he may anyways). Do we really want recruits being recruited by a guy that will be in and out? Something to consider.....but an analyst role makes a lot of sense.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:38 AM ^
He will get another gig soon regardless. I also don’t really care how we get kids to come to Michigan. I don’t think anyone would come here solely because Taggart is an analyst now, but if we were #2 for DeLoach and are #2 for Toafili, and Taggart makes them feel more comfortable here and they want to leave FSU anyways, then great.
There’s no good reason not to bring him on as an analyst.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:58 AM ^
Great point on Toafili. Would love to add him to the class.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:39 AM ^
I don't think analysts recruit. Maybe they see players on official visits but they don't go out to recruit.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:51 AM ^
An analyst position does not work with players or recruit. It's a behind the scenes role. There aren't the NCAA limits like with assistant coaches, so it doesn't cost Michigan anything other than his salary to come here and help out in some capacity. Since FSU is paying him 17M, and he and Jim are bros, I'm guessing his salary will be something like $1.
November 4th, 2019 at 4:52 PM ^
His "recruiting" would probably just be saying "what's up" to recruits he sees in the hallway
November 4th, 2019 at 11:20 AM ^
Yeah, I kinda want coaches who are well-thought of and candidates for better jobs rather than coaches who are at a dead-end... kinda speaks to the quality of your coaching when other schools want to poach you.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:43 AM ^
That's what I thought. He could come in as an analyst and see how it plays out.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:24 AM ^
Are we sure McDaniels is a good QB coach or is Shea hurt still? Not seeing the development there yet.
If he's an analyst, sure. Dude just got 17 million US dollars to NOT work.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:36 AM ^
Charlie Weiss calls that child's play
November 4th, 2019 at 10:48 AM ^
McDaniels wasn't here for
JOK
Speight
Peters
etc.
Regarding modest QB play, I would point fingers at someone with a higher pay grade than QB coach.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:04 AM ^
Speight was good before he got hurt and with Fisch as passing coordinator.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:08 AM ^
I miss Jedd.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:08 AM ^
Eh, Pep Hamilton probably didn't help things.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:25 AM ^
This is a no-lose situation for Harbaugh. Bring in a guy who needs to get himself right profession wise, will do whatever you tell him to do, and just collected $20 million to not coach. Might as well kick the tires.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:29 AM ^
Also, consider how many FSU recruits we are/were in on. DeLoach and Dent last year, Toafili this year. Taggart can’t go on the road and recruit as an analyst, but he can certainly be in the building if we can get kids to visit.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:46 AM ^
Crap. Just looked at Toafili highlights ...uhh, we need to get this guys. Reminds me of Haskins but Fred Jackson hyperbole fast.
W. Taggart come on down and bring some recruits.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
He's excellent, great hands for a RB too.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:49 AM ^
As noted above analysts aren't allowed to recruit. The way the NCAA looks at M, casually running into recruits during a visit would probably result in sanctions.
November 4th, 2019 at 11:53 AM ^
Michigan will not be punished if Taggart is in his office in Schembechler Hall when Toafili is on his visit. That's silly. Yes, Taggart would not be allowed to go visit Toafili at home, or even show him around campus, but Taggart is allowed to go to work.
November 4th, 2019 at 10:27 AM ^
I could see Harbaugh sliding Jay to another spot and offering Taggart a WR/TE/RB buffet. That might be the best move for Taggart because it gives him a year or two to lose the stink from a mid-season firing (see also McElwain, Jim).