’Noles look to rally around Haggins
FSU to face BC in first game without Taggart as coach
This is not an unfamiliar position for Florida State interim coach Odell Haggins.
Two years ago, he was put in the same situation when Jimbo Fisher resigned before the end of the 2017 season to take the Texas A&M job.
Haggins was named FSU’s interim coach at the time and tasked with holding together a disappointed group of players.
Instead of spiraling before the final game of the season against LouisianaMonroe, the Seminoles rallied around Haggins and defeated the Warhawks 42-10 prior to turning around and beating Southern Mississippi 42-13 in the Independence Bowl.
Following the dismissal of Willie Taggart, FSU (4-5, 3-4 ACC) looks to rally around Haggins again during the final stretch of the season.
It begins when the Seminoles travel to Boston College (5-4, 3-3) on Saturday at noon. The game will air on the ACC Network. The Eagles are favored by 2.5 points.
Haggins, in his 26th season as an assistant coach with the program, said he learned what to do and what not to do two seasons ago.
“I just learned just keep being yourself, really, because the kids, they see — they will see if you’re not authentic if you’re being fake,” he said during a news conference Monday.
“The kids will see that, so, therefore, I’m going to be myself and make sure I let them know it’s all about them and the university. That’s what it’s about. Just be yourself. Anything in life, if you be yourself, you’re not trying to be somebody else, you’re going to be OK.”
The Seminoles will have to win two of their last three games to clinch bowl eligibility. One of those contests includes a trip to Gainesville to face No. 10 Florida.
But Haggins is not looking past Saturday’s game against the Eagles.
“To be honest with you, I’m not thinking about three, I’m thinking about one,” he said. “I’m thinking about today, preparing, breaking film down, seeing how we’re going to stop Boston College and the things we’re going to do to prepare for Boston College. I’m not thinking about three, I’m thinking about the first one, this week of practice, preparing the kids, making sure everything is going well in the classroom, they’re going to class and practicing well and playing Boston College Saturday.”
Boston College coach Steve Addazio said he had to spend this week focused on his own team and couldn’t consider what changes the staff might make following Taggart’s departure.
“I’ve got to work off what I see in the film and expect the very, very best Florida State team,” Addazio said during his Monday news conference when asked about the impact of FSU firing Taggart. “We seem to — I think, when people play us, I think they have a great deal of respect for our program, and I think they try to be at their very, very best, realizing that they’re going to line up against a real physical, tough football team, and they have to be prepared. I would assume that’s what will happen. Everybody is a professional in this business. You’ve got a job to do.”
FSU will be without star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, who had seasonending hand surgery this week after sustaining an injury in the Seminoles’ 27-10 home loss to Miami. Wilson’s injury is a blow because of the Eagles’ strong running game, specifically running back AJ Dillon.
Dillon is second in the country with 1,286 rushing yards. The 6-foot, 250-pound workhorse has 13 touchdowns. Backup David Bailey has rushed for 698 yards and six touchdowns.
Boston College starting quarterback Anthony Brown is out for the season after he sustained a lowerleg injury in mid-October. Backup Dennis Grosel has completed just 41.4% of his passes but is coming off his best game of the season, throwing for three touchdowns in a 58-27 win over Syracuse.
Haggins said that offensive coordinator Kendal Briles will decide who will start between Wisconsin grad transfer Alex Hornibrook and James Blackman. Hornibrook has started the last two games.
Haggins acknowledged the final stretch of the regular season will not be easy. The coaching search will bring up numerous distractions. He believes he can help guide the Seminoles the rest of the way.
“I think this is a blessing,” Haggins said. “God put me in this situation for a reason because God knows in my heart what I think about our players and Florida State University. So both feet in, both hands, all gas, no brakes. Let’s go.”