Willie Taggert to Oregon

[Tuco Salamanca]

I heard he was getting interviewed but since the state of Oregon has a "Rooney" rule of sorts, I wasn't surprised he was selected to interview.

I will be interested to see who he hires as his coordinators.

 

[headcard]

Wow, this surprises me. I really thought they would throw out some serious money to get a big name, after firing a coach who was in the title game two years ago. It will be interesting to see how things play out in Eugene.

 

[rrthusker]

With his offensive mind he may well call the plays.

 

[TwinsRRUs]

He did imrpove the USF record each year in his few years there.

10-2 ain't too bad!

 

[Pennsyhusker]

Pardon my ignorance but who is Willie Taggert? I am on the run and too lazy to look it up

 

[headcard]

Pardon my ignorance but who is Willie Taggert? I am on the run and too lazy to look it up

Head Coach as USF. He turned around the South Florida program the last couple years and built up the Western Kentucky program before that.

I like Willie Taggert, but I am shocked Oregon hired a guy with a 40-45 record as a HC.

 

[c3ntral08]

Dang, not the hire I wanted them to make. WT is a good coach. I think this will help them keep their recruiting class intact.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

Can't put my finger on it, but this doesn't feel like a good fit to me. I think they blew it.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

His offense is Zone read based but more like Beck at Nebraska than Oregon. QBs have been better runners than throwers. It's a run heavy scheme so he will need a different kind of OLinemen. He appears to like the 4-2-5 base defense.

 

[Harry Caray]

I am surprised given all of the money Oregon has, but I don't I think it's necessarily a bad fit. His teams put up big offensive numbers like Oregon likes. He was an assistant for Harbaugh at Stanford so he does have some Pac-12 ties. Both WKU and USF were in the dumps when he took over and they improved significantly in a short time. I'm not sure I'd be thrilled with the hire if I were a Duck fan, but I'd rather take a chance on Taggart than a retread like Kiffin or Schiano.

 

[chicolby]

I think he's a good hire. Certainly a change of guards from what they are used to, but I think he is a rising coach that will be successful there. I only hope they have a bit of a transition so that Nebraska can find a way to win on the road before they right the ship.

 

[headcard]

Can't put my finger on it, but this doesn't feel like a good fit to me. I think they blew it.

Kind of feels like rich at Michigan or Callahan at Nebraska to me. Good coach, good offensive mind, but a totally different direction.

 

[otismotis08]

I've said before..."Big boy programs make big boy moves."

I guess 0regon is not a big boy program.

 

[Husker.Wed.]

A 50% head coaching record - they're doomed.

 

[chicolby]

I've said before..."Big boy programs make big boy moves."

I guess 0regon is not a big boy program.

You know that every team can't simply go get a proven winner right? LSU brought in Saban before he was a "big boy move."

Tom Herman was once an assistant coach and now he's considered a big boy hire.

Gus Malzhan was once a coach at Arkansas State before he went to Auburn and competed in the BCS title game.

Yes, there are a few sure-fire coaches that most programs want, but they don't grow on trees and sometimes programs, even big boy programs have to find good hires elsewhere.

 

[cubsker]

good hire. easy transition on offense and he should have no problems recruiting there.

 

[hddude55]

No Scott Frost, no chance.

 

[Pennsyhusker]

You know that every team can't simply go get a proven winner right? LSU brought in Saban before he was a "big boy move."

Tom Herman was once an assistant coach and now he's considered a big boy hire.

Gus Malzhan was once a coach at Arkansas State before he went to Auburn and competed in the BCS title game.

Yes, there are a few sure-fire coaches that most programs want, but they don't grow on trees and sometimes programs, even big boy programs have to find good hires elsewhere.

I think this nails it. All this talk all the time from fans of every team that fires its coach about "opening its wallet" and getting a big time splash hire is just pie in the sky nonsense. I have to sadly admit I fell into that category when we fired Pelini and was thus very disappointed we hired Riley. I wanted a splash hire. But there are a very, very small number of coaches that fall into that splash hire category. The reality is you look for a coach who has a proven record wherever he has gone of building a winning program. You look for a coach who can run a tight ship, knows how to hire good assistants, knows how to recruit, knows how to relate to young people, has character and integrity and PR skills, etc... And there are many coaches that fit into that category. So I have no idea about Taggert but he seems to be one of those kinds of coaches. So Oregon seems to have gotten a solid coach.

 

[Bugeater]

Pardon my ignorance but who is Willie Taggert? I am on the run and too lazy to look it up

He's the brother of Sergeant Taggart, spells his last name a bit different to distinguish himself.

 

[mkbrkloster]

I've said before..."Big boy programs make big boy moves."

I guess 0regon is not a big boy program.

As I've said before, a "big boy move" is only a big boy move if it works. If it doesn't work, it's just another dumb move.

 

[otismotis08]

As I've said before, a "big boy move" is only a big boy move if it works. If it doesn't work, it's just another dumb move.

Right. Rinse...lather...repeat.

 

[maplesyrup95]

I don't understand the dislike. This is a great hire because he fits Nike's brand. Coaching is a lot about branding and Oregon knows all about this. Just like our former coach hurt the brand of Nebraska football and Mike Riley is slowly turning around the national perception of Nebraska football.

What's ironic and probably funny to Nike is Taggart was an Under Armour guy at USF. The other key part of this is that Taggart now knows the market of recruiting kids in Florida, which is a top 3 recruiting state right now. I can see this one working out for UO in about 1-2 years because of the facilities and talent they already have and will have in Eugene.

 

[headcard]

I don't understand the dislike. This is a great hire because he fits Nike's brand. Coaching is a lot about branding and Oregon knows all about this. Just like our former coach hurt the brand of Nebraska football and Mike Riley is slowly turning around the national perception of Nebraska football.

What's ironic and probably funny to Nike is Taggart was an Under Armour guy at USF. The other key part of this is that Taggart now knows the market of recruiting kids in Florida, which is a top 3 recruiting state right now. I can see this one working out for UO in about 1-2 years because of the facilities and talent they already have and will have in Eugene.

What does that mean? How so?

 

[PeliniTheCrutch]

What does that mean? How so?

 

[nebcountry]

I don't know much about Taggart. If he wants to win so badly, that losing is not an option, then he'll probably be a good hire.

 

[maplesyrup95]

What does that mean? How so?

While it may not seem that he has had his way with W-L records (40-45 overall coaching record), he has slowly built USF into a sustainable program. In 2013, they went 2-10 and now are 10-2 this year. I'm also pretty sure he coached running backs at Stanford under Harbaugh.

He feels like Nike guy to me (and clearly, Phil Knight too) because of one key idea. What I have learned in the branding industry is that Nike's key demographic and target market is black youth. Taggart is only 40 years old and will run a dynamic offense with a dual threat QB that a lot of recruits and high school kids from Los Angeles to Boca Raton are now growing up watching and playing.

I could be completely wrong and he very well could be a flop, but that's just what my business mind is telling me.

 

[Truehuskerfan]

I think this nails it. All this talk all the time from fans of every team that fires its coach about "opening its wallet" and getting a big time splash hire is just pie in the sky nonsense. I have to sadly admit I fell into that category when we fired Pelini and was thus very disappointed we hired Riley. I wanted a splash hire. But there are a very, very small number of coaches that fall into that splash hire category. The reality is you look for a coach who has a proven record wherever he has gone of building a winning program. You look for a coach who can run a tight ship, knows how to hire good assistants, knows how to recruit, knows how to relate to young people, has character and integrity and PR skills, etc... And there are many coaches that fit into that category. So I have no idea about Taggert but he seems to be one of those kinds of coaches. So Oregon seems to have gotten a solid coach.

Agree with this. People too often are looking for the "big name", and most of the big names aren't going anywhere. Most of the "big name" hires are unique situations like Harbaugh to Michigan. Seems like a solid hire to me too-not one that's going to make people think guaranteed success, but should have a good chance of succeeding if given time.

 

[Tuco Salamanca]

Oregon is a different animal as compared to USF, much like Nebraska is a different animal to Oregon St.

Taggart isn't going to get 3 years to "rebuild" at Oregon like he did WKU and USF.

I think people are confusing his offensive system a bit. The similarities to what Oregon ran is basically formation. As I said before it's more Auburn 2016 and not necessarily fast paced it's just spread. Without linemen to block this run oriented offense, his teams will have to have to get much better defensive play than they have in the past.

I like the hire personally, but I have a feeling the powers that be in Oregon won't have the patience to allow him to transition. I hope he is able to get a quality DC, that will take advantage of the athleticism they have up there.

 

[otismotis08]

Wish him success there (except next year). Takes a potential Frost landing spot away.

 

[TheLiberalHunter]

I've said before..."Big boy programs make big boy moves."

I guess 0regon is not a big boy program.

People probably said the same thing when they hired Chip.

 

[Mr.Scary13]

He'll win alot of games there.

 

[resdog851]

I heard he was getting interviewed but since the state of Oregon has a "Rooney" rule of sorts, I wasn't surprised he was selected to interview.
I will be interested to see who he hires as his coordinators.

His current RB coach is a former Husker. Chris Norris was a backup fullback on the back to back championship teams in 94-95.

 

[mothmonsterman]

His current RB coach is a former Husker. Chris Norris was a backup fullback on the back to back championship teams in 94-95.

I think Taggart was also a high school teammate of Tommie Frazier.

 

[scarletred]

He'll win alot of games there.

But not necessarily RIGHT WAY.

 

[studed]

Dang, not the hire I wanted them to make. WT is a good coach. I think this will help them keep their recruiting class intact.

problem with this hire is it is more of the same. oregon had big problems on defense and it was getting worse every year. so they hire a coach of a team that could score a ton and couldnt stop anyone

 

[resdog851]

I think Taggart was also a high school teammate of Tommie Frazier.

Small world. Chris moved to Papio in fifth grade and lived up the street from me. Dude looked like a really muscular and fast Barney Rubble. In jr. high, he was faster than another future Husker Reggie Baul, and was also the top discus thrower in the metro. Dude was cool. I learned about concussions long before anyone talked about it. He came to school telling us how he had to go to the hospital after a junior high game because he hit some dude so hard, he briefly knocked himself out and couldn't remember playing the entire second half of the game.

 

[cubsker]

problem with this hire is it is more of the same. oregon had big problems on defense and it was getting worse every year. so they hire a coach of a team that could score a ton and couldnt stop anyone

their d was quite disappointing this year. last year at dc, they had the guy who just got the indiana job and were really solid. he'll need and should be able to get somebody real good at DC. dont think it will be brady hoke.

 

[TheLiberalHunter]

their d was quite disappointing this year. last year at dc, they had the guy who just got the indiana job and were really solid. he'll need and should be able to get somebody real good at DC. dont think it will be brady hoke.

Why is it that dynamic Offenses can never seem to be coupled with stifling Defenses? I can't imagine Oregon couldn't have lured some top DC over the last decade to go with that O. 95 Nebraska had both but I can't seem to think of many others where one side of the ball didn't overshadow the other by a ways. Maybe a couple of the SC teams a few years back.

 

[cubsker]

oregon had good defenses a few years back. might have given up a bunch of yards, but i looked at 3 years and they were 7th, 30th, and 33rd in yards allowed per play between 2011-2013.

 

[ridge22]

oregon had good defenses a few years back. might have given up a bunch of yards, but i looked at 3 years and they were 7th, 30th, and 33rd in yards allowed per play between 2011-2013.

Yep horrible defense will get you fired a lot sooner than a sputtering offense. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you Brady Hoke!

I think the hire that Oregon made was similar to Nebraska's in a sense that they were looking for someone to change the identity of the program a bit. Oregon is a finesse team and soft on defense. I do think that Targgart will make them tougher and more physical. Maybe not like a Stanford in the Pac-12 but much different than they are now.

I also think the same thing is going to happen at Baylor. I do like their hire of Rhule from Temple. I don't know how it will shake out in wins and losses for Baylor and Oregon, because they have been kind of gimmicky football schools for a while now. These changes might go away from what put them on the map, but in the end it will probably be good for both schools.