Stranger Things: Taggart to FSU, Harsin to Oregon?
Update: As of 1:50 p.m. MST, Oregon's Willie Taggart is expected to become the next head coach at Florida State University.
The original article is below:
The coaching carousel has jilted to the West and, it could disrupt what many believe to be one of the best Las Vegas Bowl Match ups in recent years. Eugene is abuzz with reports that Florida State has interviewed Oregon Head Football Coach Willie Taggart. If Taggart leaves, do the Ducks make a run at BSU's Bryan Harsin? Willie Taggart is an excellent coach who has moved the chain on restoring the Duck's Program. The administration has been so impressed with the coach, that they offered him a new deal after only one year in Eugene.
Florida State would be a perfect and permanent fit for Taggart. He coached at South Florida, where he restored that program to one of the tops in the Group of Five. He's well known and knows the Sunshine State. Recruiting at FSU, is a lot easier, than Eugene. FSU knows this, and that's why Taggart could be the next Seminole Head Coach.
If Taggart leaves, who's the next leader of the Ducks? Addicted to Quack has a list of the usual suspects here. One name not on that list is Boise State's, Bryan Harsin. Oregon did interview Coach Harsin last year, but chose to go with Taggart.
Harsin would fit the Eugene model more than most. He's a product of the Northwest. Which is vital in college football, where regional hires are usually the rule. (Oregon is the exception lately with hiring Chip Kelly and Willie Taggart.) Harsin's BSU teams should be in the PAC 12 considering they play against them almost every year.
Could we see a Las Vegas Bowl without Taggart, who's gone to FSU, and possibly Harsin who would be at Eugene? That would genuinely rival anything that we've seen this year in college football.