The Willie Taggart era of Oregon Football officially will begin on Saturday, April 29, as the team battles it out in the annual spring game.
The 2016 college football season began with such high hopes in Eugene, Oregon, as the Ducks of were a favorite to compete for a title in the Pac-12. By the end of the season, a true freshman was starting at quarterback, while their prized running back was struggling to stay on the field. A new head coach means new expectations for the program in 2017, and with some solid pieces returning on both sides of the ball, they could make some noise.
As the Ducks look towards their Spring Game on Saturday, April 29, let’s take a look at five things to watch for inside Autzen Stadium.
5. Can Willie Taggart change the culture in his first season?
The 2014 college football season was a magical one for the Ducks, as they made it all the way to the National Championship Game. Quarterback Marcus Mariota was one of the best signal-callers in the country and had led the program to one of the best in the nation. After losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes 42-20 in the title game, Mariota headed to the NFL, and the program has not been the same since.
Mark Helfrich was the head coach of the Ducks for that game, but he is no longer with the program. Oregon fired Helfrich after a terrible 4-8 season in 2016, and will now turn to Willie Taggart to lead the next Era of Ducks football. Taggart comes to Oregon from the University of South Florida, where he led the team to their first double-digit win season in school history last year.
Taggart’s tenure in Eugene got off to a rough start, as he had to fire his tight ends coach following a DUI arrest just weeks after arriving. However, he is an absolute winner, and he is going to get the best out of his kids every day. He is bringing in new schemes, solid freshman, and a brand new coaching staff, which will be something to watch during the spring game on Saturday.