Why Oregon Fans Can’t Let Go of Hostility Towards Willie Taggart and Florida State
The Florida State Seminoles have started 1-2 for the second straight season under head coach Willie Taggart, and seemingly no one is happier than Oregon Duck fans.
In life, it’s unhealthy to hold grudges; whether it be against other people, certain establishments, or unfortunate life happenings, they generally just aren’t worth holding on to. Keeping this in mind, in the world of sports and for all of its residents, this ideology is quite ludicrous. Especially in Eugene.
Duck fans will likely never forgive Willie Taggart for leaving in such devious fashion. You can take it from me, because I’m one of them. We welcomed him, we liked him, he showed (and spoke) promise, and then he took off in less than a year of being in Eugene to accept his "dream job" as the head coach of the Seminoles. We put our trust in him, and he ran with it back East.
Consequently, the entire Florida State football program has become Puddles’ favorite voodoo doll, and trust me — he’s got quite the assortment.
The Barstool Ducks twitter page is all the proof one needs to see how little Duck fans have let go of this. With every week between Oregon and their opponent, they will make tweets boasting for us, roasting the opponent, and an eventual wise crack at Florida State.
The distaste runs deeper than Taggart’s departure, in case anyone is wondering if this outward, one-sided beef has any roots stemming beyond the past year-and-a-half. It does.
After whipping the Seminoles in the inaugural College Football Playoff game, our prized, Heisman-winning quarterback Marcus Mariota was taken second in the NFL draft behind then FSU quarterback Jameis Winston. Since then, Duck fans have wanted one thing at the very least: for our player to outshine theirs (he has).
In this case, the competition has been Oregon representation vs. FSU representation for the past 5 years. Way before Taggart, and far more petty — but let me assure you — fans think about it.
Fans think about all of these things. It’s in our nature to be petty. We want to prove to others and rest assured that we’re worthy. Coach Taggart made us feel otherwise for a bit, as did the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when they passed on our high-class quarterback for the crab-leg-stealing Winston. But still: we rise!
As is often the case, things have taken care of themselves. Mariota has become a solid game manager and has made the playoffs for the Tennessee Titans, while Winston has not made the playoffs, and is one bad game away from being benched.
Here in Eugene, second-year head coach Mario Cristobal — who I should mention came here with Taggart — has the team in great shape and is slowly but surely winning over the leery hearts of Duck nation. It was fun while it lasted Willie, but we think we like your friend more. So, maybe it’s time for us to move on?
Ehh. Nah. We don’t forget, nor do we forgive. Not until Taggart is fired, Winston is cut, and Mariota retires after a long, successful career. Because for us, it’s personal. If they can’t appreciate what we have to offer, then I suppose we can’t offer any more appreciation for them going forward.
That goes for you too, Chip Kelly.
