Florida State University Athletics
Five Takeaways From Willie Taggart’s Virginia Tech Press Conference
8/29/2018 4:01:37 PM | Football
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – It’s been more than nine months and, thanks to a Monday-night kickoff, a few extra days, but game week is officially here for Willie Taggart and the Florida State football team.
With an adjusted schedule leading up to Monday’s opener against Virginia Tech, Wednesday was considered a “Monday” in FSU’s in-season preparation schedule.
And part of that schedule includes Taggart’s weekly press conference, which he held for the first time a little while ago.
Here are highlights from that conversation.
A good nervousness: In a few days, Taggart will become just the third man in more than 40 years to make his debut as Florida State’s football coach.
That thought would be enough to give butterflies to just about anyone, much less someone like Taggart who grew up in Florida, rooting for the Seminoles.
It’s a big moment, and it’s starting to feel close.
“They’ve been hitting me a lot, in a lot of different places,” Taggart said with a smile, when asked if he was feeling any nerves or eagerness. “… There will be a lot of nervousness. It’s all a part of it – good nervousness. But it will be fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
Taggart also said that he expects that any extra emotions or outside influence to fall by the wayside once the game finally kicks off.
“Once you run out of the tunnel and you get to the sideline, it’s locked in and (it’s about) the game plan and going out and trying to execute and help our team do the very best to try to win that ballgame.”
About those uniforms …: Tune up the electric guitars, Florida State is “Back in Black.” So said the football program’s official Twitter account on Wednesday, in a video revealing the Seminoles’ uniform combination:
Black/garnet helmet, black jerseys, black pants, black socks and black cleats.
BACK. IN. BLACK. ?
(oh hey, @fsufootballeq)#DoSomething pic.twitter.com/j2qSp4P0QS
— FSU Football (@FSUFootball) August 29, 2018
The alternate uniform has officially been an option since the university’s rebrand in 2014 but has been worn just once, against Chattanooga in 2015.
FSU also wore similar black uniforms in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
Taggart said that the team’s unity council chose the threads, and that while he makes the final call over what the Seminoles wear, he’s glad to let his players have a voice in the matter.
“Our players should have some say over something,” he said. “You know, they’re excited too. And they want to go out and play well and look good. I let them choose. …
“I think it will be fun. It’s not for everyone to like, but I think our players will like it. And there will be some fans out there that will like it as well.”
While the non-traditional choice might ruffle the feathers of those hoping to see the usual garnet and gold, Taggart offered some reassurance and said that FSU’s uniforms will still be plenty recognizable this fall.
“It won’t be crazy,” he said. “We can’t be crazy. We only have so many colors that we can use.”
Good news for injured Noles: Taggart confirmed that defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, defensive end Joshua Kaindoh, linebacker Dontavious Jackson and safety Stanford Samuels III are all expected to play against Virginia Tech, meaning the Seminoles’ defense will be close to full strength for the opener.
Wilson had been a limited participant for much of fall camp, while Jackson, Samuels and Kaindoh have all been dealing with nagging ailments over the last few weeks.
Taggart spoke especially highly of Wilson, a sophomore who he said has worked diligently to rehabilitate his surgically repaired knee.
“You could tell the young man was so hungry to get back out there,” he said. “I commend the young man for his effort when it comes to rehabbing. He rehabbed like no other out there.”
As for the rest, Taggart said that Jackson practiced with the full team on Tuesday and that Samuels did individual drills.
“I expect for them both to play,” he said.
Same goes for Kaindoh, the sophomore who came into the season expected to form a fierce pass-rushing tandem with junior end Brian Burns.
Kaindoh had been limited for much of camp, but recently seemed to ramp up his efforts.
“Josh is going to play for us on Monday,” Taggart said. “I think it’s kind of like any other athlete. … You’re going to have some bumps and bruises and some things that go on, and (you) try to take care of them and do what’s best for them and make sure they’re healthy and can perform for you.”
VT’s Fuente, Foster two of the best: Taggart is plenty familiar with Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente, having coached against Fuente’s Memphis teams when he was at South Florida.
And just about any college football coach knows of Bud Foster, the Hokies’ longtime defensive coordinator who over the last 30 years has authored some of the sport’s stingiest units.
Put the two together, and it adds up to quite a test. Especially for a coach making his debut with a new program.
“They are fundamentally and technically sound,” Taggart said of Foster’s defenses. “I think that’s a huge part of playing really good defense, and they are rarely out of position. Those guys are always in position to make plays, and I think he has a good understanding of how he wants to call the game.”
Taggart’s connection to Fuente stretches even further than their American Athletic Conference days. The two first met as opposing quarterbacks, Taggart at Western Kentucky and Fuente at Murray State, before becoming two of college football’s brightest young coaching stars.
Fuente, 42, is exactly 28 days older than Taggart.
“He turned the Memphis job around … and they’ve been winning ever since,” Taggart said. “And then, to be able to go to Virginia Tech, and in the first year to play in the ACC championship game, it says a lot about who is as a coach and what he stands for.
“He’s a winner. When you watch his team play, they are very well-coached and they play hard and they play tough.”
‘Goosebumps’ with Bowden in attendance: Florida State and Virginia Tech share a surprisingly rich history. Their clash in the 2000 Sugar Bowl was just one of 36 all-time meetings between the two, and they’ve also competed in bowl games, conference championship games and in each other’s home stadiums.
The two schools will celebrate that history on Monday, when coaches Bobby Bowden and Frank Beamer serve as honorary captains.
Bowden and Beamer are the two “winningest” living coaches in the Football Bowl Subdivision, with more than 650 career victories, two national titles (both Bowden’s) and 12 conference championships between them.
Although Bowden has been a more regular fixture around the program since Taggart took over, having Bowden present for a game on the field that bears his name will still be a thrill for FSU’s new head coach.
“I get goosebumps every time I see Coach Bowden,” Taggart said. “Very happy for him to be back on that field. To start the season off for us as honorary captain, it’s going to be great.”