Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Taggart bringing new vibe to Seminoles
TALLAHASSEE — Florida State running back Jacques Patrick would like to hear a few more songs from Drake during the Seminoles’ bowl game practices.
Offensive lineman Alec Eberle would prefer to have a few more rock and country songs added to the team’s predominantly hiphop practice playlist.
Wide receiver Nyqwan Murray says injured quarterback Deondre Francois needs to do a better job of playing less music the players can dance to and play more songs to help them get “crunk” as the Seminoles prepare for their matchup with Southern Miss in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 27 in Shreveport, La.
The music blaring from FSU’s football practice fields on Tuesday is a subtle change new head coach Willie Taggart has instilled in the program and a far cry from the exuberant yelling the players grew accustomed to under former coach Jimbo Fisher over the years.
“It’s kind of different,” said Murray, FSU’s leading receiver during a rocky 6-6 season that saw Fisher leave for Texas A&M and Taggart swiftly hired after one season at Oregon.
“We used to have [crowd] noise playing with Jimbo, but it’s different now because it’s music, getting us energized, people out there bopping to the music. … It’s a way different vibe. Everybody is more laid back, more relaxed. We get through practice smoother. I like it.”
The Seminoles will play their second game without Fisher at the Independence Bowl, a bowl bid the team clinched with its regular season finale win over Louisiana Monroe on Dec. 2. It extended the program’s nation-leading bowl game streak to 36 years.
But the bowl could also present its fair share of difficulty as the Seminoles aim to clinch a 7-6 record and the 41st consecutive winning season in program history.
Standout juniors in safety Derwin James, defensive end Josh Sweat and cornerback Tarvarus McFadden will skip the bowl game to prevent injury and get a head start on preparing for the 2018 NFL draft.
And FSU has kept most of its assistant coaches on board to coach the team behind interim coach Odell Haggins, despite tight ends coach Tim Brewster, running backs coach Jay Graham and offensive analyst Dameyune Craig each following Fisher to Texas A&M.
Quarterbacks coach Randy Sanders, who was introduced as East Tennessee State’s new football coach Sunday, will remain with the team and call offensive plays during the bowl game, while defensive coordinator Charles Kelly is also in tow after interviewing for the same job with Colorado State last week.
“Sometimes you have to do what’s best for you,” Eberle said of the player and coaching turnover the Seminoles are enduring.
“We’re still going to focus on our job and get our job done [with] no hard feelings or anything. I still respect all of them and love all of them. They’re my teammates and my coaches. They’re a part of this family, and they did what’s best for them and their family.”
The Seminoles are trying to remain focused on the bowl game preparation, but the thoughts of moving forward under Taggart’s new leadership is a healthy distraction.
Taggart has continued to hire new assistant coaches to his staff while trying to salvage his first recruiting class, which is ranked 48th nationally after Fisher’s departure ahead of the early signing period that runs today through Friday.
During Taggart’s first round of official visits for recruits Saturday, players flooded their social media accounts, posting numerous photos from a paintball outing and several new uniform options during a photoshoot.
Taggart is trying to bring some lighthearted fun back to the Florida State football program, and the players are showing their appreciation for the change.
“He’s doing exactly his job, and I feel like he wants to implement a relationship with the players,” defensive tackle Walvenski Aime said.
“Coach Taggart has something special brewing,” Patrick added.