December 08, 2015 | Football
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By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer
TAMPA, DEC. 8, 2015 – Willie Taggart's past and present worlds will collide at the Miami Beach Bowl and USF's head coach couldn't be happier.
Taggart's third run with the Bulls has turned out to be a smashing hit and the grand prize for a season full of success is a postseason date with Western Kentucky, his alma mater and the program that made him what he is today.
“You're excited about both squads being in this game and you're excited about where both teams are,” Taggart said.
Before putting on his USF visor for the first time, Taggart did it all as a Hilltopper. First he was a record-breaking quarterback, then an assistant coach for seven years and eventually a head coach that took the program to new heights.
WKU won two games in the two seasons before Taggart took over in 2010. Taggart left the Hilltoppers in a great place with consecutive 7-5 seasons that included the program's first-ever FBS bowl game appearance in 2012.
Fast-forward to 2015 and WKU is ranked 25th in the nation after capturing the Conference USA title.
“To see them continue to build off that and get themselves to a top-25 team is awesome because not many thought it could happen there,” Taggart said. “Those guys are making it a reality now. I think everybody in the Bowling Green community should be happy and proud of the Tops, and excited about where they're going.”
Meanwhile, the Bay Area community is pumped up about where USF is going with Taggart at the helm. The Bulls are bowl bound for the first time since 2010 and they sprinted there with seven wins in the final eight games of the regular season. USF has set a new program record with six conference wins and a bowl victory would equal the single-season school record of nine victories.
“The biggest reason for our turnaround here is just like it was there. Guys are starting to play and have fun with each other, and taking pride in being the very best they can be,” Taggart said. “… The beauty is they're a young team, they're young guys, and they're learning to be that way at a young age. The future is very bright here at USF.”
Taggart will have to put on his Under Armour shades when the Bulls take the field with the Hilltoppers at the Miami Beach Bowl that kicks off Monday, Dec. 21 at 2:30 p.m.
“I'll tell you after the game what it felt like,” Taggart said. “I'm sure there will be some emotions. I don't know what kind of emotions or how it will be.”
Don't be surprised to see Taggart's trademark smile, at least for a moment, as he watches his two winning programs celebrate the season together in a great game at Marlins Park.
“This upcoming bowl game is about our players and the success that both teams enjoyed this season,” Taggart said.
Establishing a Winning Culture
WKU Director of Athletics Todd Stewart has a lot of respect for what Taggart accomplished as a Hilltopper.
“He's one of the key figures in our program's history,” Stewart said. “I think if a book was written on Western Kentucky football, there would be a very long chapter on Willie Taggart.”
Consider this the CliffNotes on some of Taggart's greatest feats at WKU.
- Taggart is one of four men to have their football jersey retired at the school. As a quarterback from 1995-98, he set 11 program records and earned All-America honors in 1998 after breaking the NCAA Division I career record for a quarterback with 3,997 rushing yards.
- Taggart still owns the program's touchdown record (47) and he now ranks third in total offense (8,112 yards).
- Taggart was an assistant coach at WKU from 1999-2006 and helped the Hilltoppers win the I-AA national championship as a co-offensive coordinator in 2002.
- WKU went 0-12 in 2009 and was 2-22 in the two seasons prior to Taggart taking over in 2010. WKU went 7-5 in each of Taggart's final two seasons with the program and played in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl while he took over at USF in 2012.
“He established a winning culture here,” Stewart said.
More Bulls With WKU Ties
Including Taggart, a total of nine Bulls on the football staff helped bring winning back to WKU on the way to USF.
Assistant head coach Raymond Woodie coached WKU's defensive ends from 2010-11 and the linebackers in 2012.
Defensive line coach Eric Mathies guided the Hilltoppers' D-linemen and was the recruiting coordinator for the program from 2010-12.
Defensive backs coach Alonzo Hampton held the same position on Taggart's WKU staff from 2010-12.
Running backs coach Donte Pimpleton, Taggart's teammate at WKU, was an offensive quality control assistant with the Hilltoppers from 2010-11 and coached the receivers in 2012.
Director of football operations Sharrod Everett, assistant director of football operations Trae Hackett, director of athletic performance Irele Oderinde and executive assistant Julie Reed also were Hilltoppers before becoming Bulls.
“That's what makes this game so interesting is all the connections, not just only me but some of our coaches that have either coached there or played there,” Taggart said. “It makes it a lot more intriguing. It's pretty cool.”
USFBowlCentral.com
Purchase bowl game tickets, get travel info and much more at USFBowlCentral.com. Fans that want to make the postseason a multi-day trip can check out the complete list of bowl game events that begin Saturday, Dec. 19 with the Beach Bowl Battle of the Bands.
Season ticket deposits for the 2016 season start at $50 and can be placed at USFBullstix.com. The Bulls will play seven home games in Raymond James Stadium in 2016, hosting Florida State on Sept. 24 as well as conference clashes with UCF, Navy, East Carolina and UConn.
