R.I.P Willie Taggart (2013-2014)
As shocked as I was that USF lost to McNeese State to open the Willie Taggart era, its become clear after the Bulls 14-13 win at winless SMU that this Bulls team has gotten worse since their first loss to an FCS team. Don't be fooled by the score - this team is bad, historically bad. Coach Taggart has shown an inability to develop players, specifically quarterbacks, and his stubbornness to stick with an offensive gameplan that doesn't mesh with his personnel will ultimately be his downfall.
Scoring 14 points against the worst defense in FBS is the latest in a long line of offensively embarrassing performances Bulls fans have seen over the last two years. Taggart was hired to turn the program around after Skip Holtz's departure, but instead has driven the Bulls to new lows. Every SMU opponent has scored at least 38 points this season, except for the Bulls. No matter what quarterback Taggart has put on the field this year each has been inept. The common denominator is Willie Taggart.
While many Taggart supporters, at least those that are left, will say USF cannot afford to pay off another coach. But with a weak 2015 home schedule and no hope of any improvement for next season Athletic Director Mark Harlan will have to weigh how much money will be lost by retaining Taggart as USF encounters a rapidly shrinking fan base.
On its current path USF will have to begin to worry about meeting FBS requirements for attendance or face relegation later in the decade to the FCS sub-division. USF doesn't have the generations of fans that many other schools have that will stick around for a long stretch of lean years. While the idea of being forced to FCS seems impossible, so were the prospects of losing to McNeese State and SMU.
Having Willie Taggart as head coach has taught us all that anything can happen and its usually bad.