Florida State
Seminoles ‘all business’ as they begin workouts at IMG
begins the first of four preseason workouts on IMG’s football practice fields, where coach Willie Taggart hopes his players and coaches can continue cultivating bonds he believes his team will need.
BRADENTON – The question was an unassuming one for new Florida State coach Willie Taggart, and his response was just as simple.
“Why here?” a local reporter asked.
“Look around,” Taggart replied.
Florida State began the first of four preseason workouts on IMG’s football practice fields Monday, where Taggart hopes his players and coaches can continue cultivating bonds he believes his team will need during his first season as the Seminoles’ coach.
FSU agreed Friday to a twoyear deal to host several preseason practices at IMG Academy. By reaching the multi-year agreement, FSU established IMG as a regular full-time facility and can now promote its preseason practices at the school, in accordance with NCAA regulations.
Florida State has not yet responded to a public records re- quest for the IMG agreement. While FSU will have a better idea of costs of the total trip after it is completed, school officials do not expect the cost to be more than what Michigan paid — at least $348,000 — to use the IMG facilities in spring 2016.
“I was trying to think of a place we could go, take our guys
and get away from where we’re normally practicing to try to take our kids out of their comfort zone and see if they can compete at a high level and consistently away from campus,” Taggart said. “And also it gives us a chance to bond as a team.”
Unlike Michigan, where exuberant coach Jim Harbaugh championed satellite camps around the country for a recruiting advantage and national exposure, FSU’s visit to IMG was not met with much fanfare because practices are closed to the public.
The Seminoles were upbeat and engaged during their limited portion of practice open to media, while Taggart shared a conversation with FSU legend and NFL Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks, who took the short drive over from the Tampa area to watch the workout.
FSU players, coaches and other personnel left Tallahassee in four tour buses on Sunday, while the Seminoles needed two 18-wheelers to transport player equipment and practice equipment like football sleds, tackling dummies, quarterback passing trainers and training chutes for pad-level exercises.
The Seminoles began their bonding on the bus ride. While some players used their phones as entertainment, others socialized and some played pranks on their teammates.
Quarterback Deondre Francois and wide receiver Deonte Sheffield had toothpaste poured in their mouths after they dozed off. Quarterback Bailey Hockman, who was sitting in front of Francois on the bus, said Sheffield was pretty upset, but he eventually joined in on the fun.
“It was funny,” Hockman said with a smile. “It was a good time.”
Athletes in different sports from as many as 80 countries train at IMG, according to a communications staff member. Francois, FSU kicker Ricky Aguayo and tight end Tre’ McKitty are among the current FSU players who attended IMG.
Aguayo enjoyed reuniting with former IMG staffers and took some of FSU’s special team players on a short tour.
“They’re astonished by the place,” Aguayo said.
The IMG Fieldhouse, where the Seminoles occupied locker rooms, has eight banners hanging by the entrance of former students in action. Francois and Orlando Magic rookie Jonathan Isaac fittingly represent both FSU and IMG on the banners.
“It makes me thinks it’s a great place — I’m really happy for them,” quarterback James Blackman said of the FSU standouts showcased on the building.
“Seeing a banner of Deondre, it shows he set a standard here and did some great things here.”
As the Seminoles walked past the official football field and track to take the practice fields, they looked just like any other set of patrons on campus.
On the track, campers stretched on yoga mats before working on their running technique. Another set of campers dribbled soccer balls on an adjacent field while baseball campers fielded groundballs on a field next to the FSU players. “It’s just practice,” Taggart said. “We’re down here. We’re practicing. No one’s out here.”
While IMG students are on campus, they may see some FSU players and coaches and even a truck trailer featuring the Seminoles’ three national championships. But Taggart said there won’t be any direct interaction.
Michigan may have used its spring visit for exposure, but Taggart says he does not see these practices as a recruiting advantage for some of the nation’s top players enrolled in the school.
“They can go on Twitter and see the logo — it’s a national brand,” Taggart said. “… I don’t think the kids are near here. They’re on different sides from where we’re at. I don’t think it’s a recruiting advantage at all.”
Taggart, who grew up minutes away from Bradenton in Palmetto, will go visit his mother and a few siblings at some point before FSU leaves IMG Academy on Thursday.
But for the most part, it’s a “strictly business” trip for Taggart and the Seminoles.
“It’s just a place to practice,” Taggart said of his team’s visit to IMG. “Hopefully we get something out of it.”