OR meets with USF’s Willie Taggart, BSU’s Bryan Harsin

Mullens will introduce Taggart at a press conference Thursday in the main theater of the HDC at 11 a.m. Taggart has a big-name proponent in his corner in former National Football League coach Tony Dungy, who said he spoke to OR officials on Taggart’s behalf.

Taggart and the Bulls are coming off of the 20-year-old program’s best season in history. Both have been at their respective schools for the past four years and both have had their best records this past season.

Taggart was South Florida’s head coach for four seasons, after spending three seasons as Western Kentucky’s head coach. He’s been named the new head coach at the University of Oregon.

The Oregon job is going to be a rebuild and Harsin has never had to coach in that environment like some of the other candidates. “They’ve been doing the right thing based on the talent they have”, Shaw said.

South Florida would end up losing that day, mostly because they could not stop the running attack of the Seminoles (478 rushing yards by Florida State). “So I know that Willie and his staff will make smart decisions with the talent that they have at OR”.

Former NFL Coach, Tony Dungy (who’s son played at OR from 2010-2013, and transferred to USF) weighed in on how Taggart and OR fit together by saying, “I certainly think he’s a good fit” and “I had a chance to watch him coach a year when my son played there (USF)”. Athletic director Mark Harlan said a national search for a new coach will begin immediately.

Willie Taggart has become known for rebuilding programs at Western Kentucky and South Florida.

Now nieces and nephews, you all know that Uncle Mel does not like to poor salt in a wound because that hurts but if the University of South Florida defense does not show up, show out and make plays then it will be a long painful afternoon under the sky of the great state of Alabama for the Bulls.

“I certainly think he’s a good fit”, former Colts coach Tony Dungy said, whose son played under him for one season at USF. After talking with over a dozen candidates OR picked Taggart His offensive background and West Coast ties have made him a logical fit in Eugene, Ore. At times this season OR looked completely lost- getting blown out by Pac-12 foes Washington, Washington State, USC and Stanford. “If not, we’re happy to still have him in Tampa”, said Dungy. “Welcome Coach Taggart, and go Ducks!”

One of Taggart’s success stories in recruiting was quarterback Quinton Flowers, the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and a Walter Camp Award semifinalist.