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Florida State football: 5 replacements for Willie Taggart

By Rucker Haringey

TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Willie Taggart of the Florida State Seminoles looks on during the game against the Clemson Tigers at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - OCTOBER 27: Head coach Willie Taggart of the Florida State Seminoles looks on during the game against the Clemson Tigers at Doak Campbell Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 19: Head coach Mark Stoops of the Kentucky Wildcats looks on during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GA – OCTOBER 19: Head coach Mark Stoops of the Kentucky Wildcats looks on during a game against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /

4. Mark Stoops – Kentucky head coach

Kentucky has come back down to Earth after a magical season in 2018, but it’s still hard to argue with how much Stoops has done to elevate the program. The Wildcats have gone from an SEC doormat to a legitimate contender during his tenure in Lexington.

Stoops might not bring the exciting sort of offensive attack Florida State fans covet, but he can improve a Seminoles defense that’s been porous at best. He’s churned out NFL talent at a place that’s generally struggled to recruit high-level talent. FSU officials would be wise to consider what he could do with the elite sort of prospects their program perennially attracts.

Kentucky fans might believe Stoops is firmly committed to staying in the Bluegrass State, but Florida State has the money and tradition to steal him away. The Wildcats will always struggle to consistently contend for an SEC East crown. The Seminoles have a much easier path towards an annual berth in the ACC Title game.

Stoops might not excite the FSU fan base immediately upon arrival, but there’s little doubt he can get the program back to respectability in short order. Stoops might be the coach before the coach who vaults the Seminoles back into the National Title picture, but that might be good enough for this hiring process.

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