Smart fans knew that Florida State might struggle without Jimbo Fisher, but few people thought Willie Taggart would turn into a dumpster fire.
Florida State fans aren’t used to starting ACC seasons 0-2. The only game the Seminoles have managed to win this year was a narrow victory against Samford. It’s safe to say the transition from Jimbo Fisher to Willie Taggart isn’t going well in Tallahassee.
It’s also no surprise that FSU fans are starting to freak out a little bit. Most expected their team to enjoy a pretty comfortable victory over Syracuse today. Instead, the Carrier Dome has turned into a house of horrors for their favorite team. Seminoles fans on social media are ready to make a coaching change yesterday.
Florida State’s season may not be over, but it’s awfully close. If Taggart doesn’t find some magic soon, he may not get a second season One thing working in the coach’s favor is how expensive it would be to make a change.
It would cost Florida State $21.25 million to get rid of Willie Taggart after this season, not counting whatever guaranteed money is owed to assistants.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) September 15, 2018
Willie Taggart come with a receipt?
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) September 9, 2018
In particular, lots of people are questioning some of his clock management issues against the Orange. It seems less than ideal to let the clock run out in the first half without kicking a field goal…..when you have a timeout.
Florida State -- DUMBEST TEAM IN THE COUNTRY. That sequence was just UNREAL. Is Willie Taggart awake??? What the hell are they doing???????
— Nick Kostos (@TheKostos) September 15, 2018
There is NO excuse for that kind of lack of clock management. #floridastate is learning what Oregon learned the hard way. Willie Taggart👏🏻is👏🏻not👏🏻a👏🏻good👏🏻coach👏🏻. Dude was looking at downs and not the clock. I feel bad for you, Seminoles. For real #willietaggart
— jesselynparks (@Jesselynparkz) September 15, 2018
Not surprisingly, there are quite a few fans of other Florida colleges and universities that are ready to pile on the ‘Noles. Decades of life in the Top 25 will definitely get you some enemies.
Which is gone first-
— Marc Hochman (@MarcHochman) September 15, 2018
Willie Taggart or the turnover backpack? #fsu
Can I get a 30 for 30 on how Willie Taggart convinced 4 ADs (including 2 championship level programs) that he should be head coach @espn
— Thomas Fredericks (@TFreds1991) September 9, 2018
Taggart isn’t about to get a statue at Oregon anytime soon. He enjoyed one good year on the West Coast, and some people still aren’t happy with his decision to leave after a single season.
Hot take: what if Oregon was a 10 win team last year and Willie Taggart is what held us back?
— GoDucksGraphics (@GoDucksGraphics) September 15, 2018
Remember that time Willie Taggart left Oregon after one season? I sure don’t.
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 15, 2018
The bottom line here is that it’s very likely this will be the worst football season at Florida State in recent memory. The schedule doesn’t exactly soften up for Taggart anytime soon.
For 9 months Willie Taggart preached togetherness and toughness in the face of adversity (lacking in ‘17). We’re gonna find out if the sermon was taken to heart. 0-2 in ACC. Next At Lville and UM. Ahead: Clemson, at NC St, at ND, BC. The real adversity: they are not good.
— Chris Fowler (@cbfowler) September 15, 2018
The bottom line is that losing 30-7 to Syracuse isn’t an acceptable outcome for Florida State’s football program. Taggart is going to face a lot of tough questions before his team takes on Northern Illinois next week.