“FSU Got Sacked” refers to a significant moment in college football, particularly the struggles of the Florida State University (FSU) football team in the context of a high-profile coaching change. The phrase “got sacked” is a metaphor, implying that the team’s performance or a coach’s tenure was “sacked” or ended abruptly, much like a quarterback getting tackled or knocked out of the game. The most notable event related to this phrase is the firing of FSU’s long-time head coach, Willie Taggart, after just 21 games, a short stint by modern coaching standards.
Willie Taggart was hired as the head coach of FSU in December 2017, succeeding Jimbo Fisher, who left for Texas A&M. Taggart, previously the head coach at South Florida and Oregon, was seen as a promising hire. However, despite high expectations, his tenure at FSU was marked by underwhelming performance. In his first season (2018), FSU finished with a 5-7 record, failing to qualify for a bowl game, a rarity for the program, which had been one of the dominant teams in college football under Fisher. The 2019 season saw some improvement but still failed to meet expectations, as FSU finished with a 6-6 record, another lackluster season that left many questioning Taggart’s future.
The tipping point came midway through the 2019 season when the Seminoles were struggling with inconsistency, particularly on offense. Despite bringing in a new offensive coordinator and making several changes to the coaching staff, Taggart’s team continued to show poor discipline, a lack of development, and an inability to compete with the top teams in the ACC. The loss to rival Miami in November 2019 proved to be a major blow, leading to FSU’s decision to part ways with Taggart, despite the significant buyout clause in his contract.
The firing of Willie Taggart was a controversial and somewhat shocking decision, but it reflected the high-pressure expectations of the FSU program, which has a storied history with three national championships and numerous conference titles. His sacking prompted a search for a new head coach, which eventually led to the hiring of Mike Norvell from Memphis.
“FSU Got Sacked” serves as a reminder of the high-stakes world of college football coaching, where performance is paramount, and even experienced and promising coaches can fall short of the demands of a prestigious program like Florida State.
