First-year FSU coach
Willie Taggart received a standing ovation at the Seminoles’ annual kickoff luncheon, but tells fans he needs to win some games to keep their approval.
TALLAHASSEE — Willie Taggart received quite the ovation from boosters and fans when introduced during Florida State’s 67th annual Kickoff Luncheon on Friday.
As Taggart walked up to the podium, he was cheered loudly with a standing ovation that lasted nearly 20 seconds.
But he was quick to interrupt the moment.
“Gotta win a ballgame before I get a standing ovation,” Taggart said to open the pep rally of sorts for the Seminoles football team.
Less than two weeks remain before the season opener against Virginia Tech at Doak Campbell Stadium on Sept. 3.
While Seminole fans are optimistic about the team’s chances to win the matchup, Taggart knows the number he produces in the win column will be the primary measure of his success as the new Florida State coach.
“I understand the expectations here,” Taggart said. “This is why I wanted to be here. This is why it’s been a dream because of the expectation, which is to win a championship. I understand that. Our players understand that. Our
coaches understand that. And we’re going to do everything in our power to do what we want. We are capable and able to do it. And we will get it done.”
Players unite
When Taggart first took the job, he had some trouble locating his players at the Moore Athletic Center — the team’s home base on campus.
Unity was one of the first items on his agenda as head coach.
Team dinners and living on campus together during preseason camp has accelerated the process of becoming one unit.
“It was a like a hide-andgo-seek party. Everybody wanted to hide and not be around,” Taggart explained.
“And now we have guys around there everywhere. I can go to the locker room, and I can find a player if I needed him and that’s great.”
Coaches bond
The recruiting trail was Taggart’s first excursion after accepting the job in December. Taggart and receivers coach David Kelly decided that the best way to unify the coaching staff during a short time frame was to recruit together.
Along with creating chemistry among coaches, FSU landed the nation’s No. 11 recruiting class in February.
“When we were out recruiting, we made sure no coach was out there by himself. We were always with another coach,” Taggart said. “And what that did is all those guys that hadn’t worked together, it allowed them to bond with one another while they’re on the road. But also go find some players for us, and it really helped us come together as a staff.”
Taggart’s take
During the offseason, Taggart said he was given advice on how to coach his new players. But Taggart was quick to say he would form his own opinions about his athletes. It would be his responsibility to give players tools to succeed.
Taggart will be tasked with helping FSU recover from its 7-6 campaign last season under former coach Jimbo Fisher.
“I will say that everything people have said to me about our football team and our players has been absolutely false,” Taggart said. “We have some great young men in this program. Young men who have done everything I’ve asked of them. As a coach and as a head coach, I have been really impressed with our players. Not one day did I have to motivate them to practice. I've never had that before especially when you first take over a job."
Taggart’s ultimate goal remains changing the narrative at FSU.
“A lot of people aren’t talking about Florida State football like they had in the past and that’s on us,” Taggart said. “And we’ve got to change that perception, but I also told [the players] that we are not going to let anyone else define our football team. We are going to define ourselves by the way we play. And we start that Monday night, Labor Day.”