MGlobules

December 16th, 2018 at 3:46 PM ^

I live in Tallahassee--my wife teaches at FSU--and it's hard to judge how much leash he has. There was a sense of relief to get out from under Jimbo and (privately) a sense that an era of coaches with a certain kind of southern identification was being put behind the university. Tally likes to see itself as a progressive New Southern city. 

But people were taken aback this season by how truly awful the team was, admissions the fact that in-fighting between players continued, and some surprisingly maladroit admissions of failure to rectify the situation by Taggart. My read was that he lost a bit of his own confidence as the season wore on, which I regretted. I've always disliked FSU football ever since Bobby killed us at Michigan stadium, was embarrassed by the drawl once we moved here and loved getting Taggart. I was ready to embrace the team and start going to some games!

In the end I think Taggart's eventual success looks completely up in the air, but I have to say that with the social forces at work and the clearly dismal state of things left by Jimbo I'd be very surprised if they axed Taggart after next year, unless the team just shows zero sign of future improvement. With Florida on the upswing, UCF becoming a power, Miami hitting what may just have been a speed bump last year, it is possible that FSU languishes in the near future, though. No one here is used to that, or going to like it very much.  

MGlobules

December 16th, 2018 at 4:35 PM ^

I don't. I am married to a Southerner and begin to have a drawl myself. I spend a lot of time defending the South to northern liberal friends, who tend to see the place in a cliched fashion. I'm talking partly about the optics, and the light they shed on a university that has slowly risen in the rankings from pretty much nowhere to the high twenties among national public u's. But Bobby Bowden's corn pone act and the very old school attitudes that came with it truly sucked. And that continued to be part of the association with Jimbo--something that not just me but long-time residents and u personnel were happy to think they were quietly putting aside. I wouldn't give a rat's butt if someone saw it elsewise. 

1VaBlue1

December 16th, 2018 at 5:43 PM ^

Taggart took over a program in more disarray than anyone thought.  He also runs a very different offense from what Fisher ran, so it's not going to be good for a couple of years, yet.  Oregon was a perfect place for him - same offensive philosophy, so they already had a decent recruiting pipeline setup for him.  FSU's pipeline largely does not include the players you'd typically associate with a fast paced spread-like offense.

If they give him the leash, he'll get FSU back up and running as fast as anyone could.  He's a good coach, and FSU is still the premiere outfit in Florida.

Ger Sauden

December 16th, 2018 at 5:42 PM ^

Up and coming coach?? You did know Florida St did not qualify for a Bowl? And I have to question Taggarts judgement in choosing Greg Frey as O Line coach. FSU ended the season with the 127th ranked run game. FSU took a HUGE step down this season on defense, going from 24th in the Nation last season, to 79th in the Nation this season. It doesn't look like Willie Taggart is up and coming. I don't know how he avoided being fired this year. But then firings usually don't happen that quickly, even with the bad job Willie Taggert did this year. I think I read he is being given time to make changes and see what happens next year.

bacon1431

December 16th, 2018 at 4:56 PM ^

Why? Recruiting is about relationships. With so few black head coaches - particularly at big time schools - I imagine it would definitely be intriguing to play for one if I was a young black man. Especially if I might want to coach one day. Might be useful to learn from a guy that became one of the few black coaches at a top tier P5 job how he got to where he is. 

FatGuyTouchdown

December 16th, 2018 at 6:52 PM ^

Why? I don't think it's an issue if a guy wants to pick a coach that he has more in common with naturally than someone else. Lot's of guys pick a coach based off of their religion, which is why Southern coaches tend to be more upfront about it in general. A black dude can usually relate to a black kid better than a white coach can due to a similar experience growing up.

In reply to by Diagonal Blue

MH20

December 16th, 2018 at 4:38 PM ^

Gee, Maizen, what a shock that you posted in a negative recruiting thread but not a positive one (Quinten Johnson).

You're so predictable, Shawn.

JimmyFresh

December 16th, 2018 at 2:53 PM ^

Sounds like we are in good shape to get needs filled with WR Cornelius Johnson and LB Anthony Soloman.  Everything after that will be a pleasant surprise.  This is going to be a very nice class.  

OwenGoBlue

December 16th, 2018 at 3:36 PM ^

Bummer but not surprising. 

Lot of noise about how the parents loved Jim and Michigan's culture but Taggart is pretty much a Harbaugh so I'm not sure that would be a huge point of differentiation. 

JimmyFresh

December 16th, 2018 at 3:51 PM ^

Michigan only has four spots left.  DeLoach was told those four spots are reserved for Dax Hill, Zach Harrison, Anthony Solomon, and Cornelius Johnson...who are all coming.  They are all full and he was told by UM to sign with FSU.  I totally see what’s going on here....  ?

Big Boutros

December 16th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^

FWIW Sam Webb disagrees with this conclusion. FSU 247 plants its reporters outside the on-campus facilities waiting for visitors to emerge so they're always going to get rosy quotes. Sam says wait and see until Tuesday.