Was Willie Lynched for Tradition? Who Really Noles?
Written By — Kei Ates @KeiAtes_Sports
As the dust settles & as that 17 million dollar check clears, the social media headquarters are flooded with tears and a serious tug of war. There are many celebrations as there are those shedding light on the similarities from segregation.
On November 3, 2019, Coach Willie Taggart was fired from his position at Florida State University (FSU) as the head coach. Coach Taggart’s reign was scheduled for 6 years however boosters and silent supporters of FSU cut that time short. The exchange? A $17–18 million dollar buyout of Coach Taggart’s contract. As of November 2, 2019 Coach Taggart had only completed one full season after being hired following Jimbo Fischer’s untimely departure.
Most failing (or rebuilding) collegiate programs are allotted at least 3 years to turnaround due to recruitment, staffing and coaching adjustments needed to be made. Many are outraged and want to know where is the grace and respect for Coach Taggart, given the circumstances and lack of “adequate” time. Others (most FSU fans) are celebrating the fact that they can blame Coach Taggart for their lack of relevance since Jameis Winston’s NFL departure. I’m just a satisfied Canes fan sitting wondering if there is some validity to points being made.
One point is that this move was similar to the Charlie Strong incident and it sheds light on the struggles of African American coaches in Leadership roles (specifically as coaches in the Power 5 conference). Many believe that darker coaches aren’t granted the same margins of era and or tolerances as their counterparts in the same or worse situations.
K. Stevens M.S. from Miami-Dade County stated “AS A RACE WE TOOK A MAJOR HIT IN THE NCAA POWER 5 COACHING WORLD. We are already outnumbered and not given a fair shot as it is. Willie took on a Job possibly thinking he will be given time to make a change. He entered a program broken and tarnished and it sucks how everyone turned on him and wanted him gone. It’s hard being a Head Coach (HC) but even harder being a black male HC in a power 5 conference. Think about what happened to Charlie strong at Texas they wanted him gone soon as he signed and possibly put barriers on his recruiting so he can lose and be gone. Possibly the same can be said about Willie and blacks in college football.”
On the other side of the rope there are people cheering Willie on because honestly, what other Negus made over 17 million in less than 24 hours of losing employment? That’s a historical figure. However deeper questions surfaced.
If Florida State University didn’t fund that buyout from school expenses then who are these silent supporters and boosters? And what is their message when the money that they spent will also determine how much they are able to offer the replacement coach? Was Taggart really that bad considering his 52–56 record prior to filling the position? Was there an internal issue and power struggle between athletics and the coaching staff? Was Florida State becoming too black? Is there a black fear or was the spear/dagger really necessary?
Whatever the answer may or may not be, it’s important to note that a camel can fit through a hole of a needle before people like coach Taggart, Charlie Strong, Randy Shannon (and a list of other deeply carbonated men) will be able to be treated and respected like a Scott Frost at Nebraska or Al Golden during his University of Miami reign.
As a two time graduate of FAMU a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) I see this as a perfect opportunity to take our coaches back and honor them. Before there was a power 5 conference HBCU football was a dominant powerhouse and staple for producing legends like Bullet Bob Hayes (FAMU), Walter Payton (Jackson State University), Jerry Rice (Mississippi Valley State University), Doug Williams (Grambling State University), Richard Dent (Tennessee State University), Shannon Sharpe (Savannah State University) and many others to come.
It is no secret that Tallahassee, Florida’s economy thrives off of College football. An entire city was transformed when Jameis led that 2014 team to a BCS National Championship victory. A desolate Gaines Street became a garnished suburbia benefitting those wearing garnet and gold built off of the backs of those members of that national championship squad. Historically tens and millions of dollars are generated in Tallahassee alone on Rivalry Game Weekends (University of Florida and University of Miami). However this past weekend that figure dwindled drastically. This past weekend attendance for the in state rivalry game was only 63,995 (Doak Campbell Stadium Seats about 80,000 YIKES!) the lowest numbers since 1991.
Could this have been an economic move? Loss of ticket sales means loss of revenue in Tallahassee for hotels, restaurants, vendors, bars, concessions, government agencies and loss of adequate funding for the newly added Gaines Street and Frenchtown developments. Firing Coach Taggart has also resulted in a loss of Recruits. Soon after the press release a few future FSU commits withdrew their decision to commit.
Last year the top prospect for the 2019 class visited Florida State University. Before his visit to FSU that recruit decided to visit Florida A&M University and consider their football program too. It opened doors to discuss the possibilities of HBCU’s getting top tier talents back in their locker rooms.
A major part of the recruitment process at FSU is using the HBCU Florida A&M University that is less than a mile away to appeal to the young men showcasing the different variety of chocolate women available to conquer. FAMU has an inaccurate reputation as “just a party school” but FAMU is currently a national contender and the best football team in Tallahassee. With an 8–1 record Coach Willie Simmons and the Mighty Rattlers are Nationally ranked and are starting to resemble the glory days of Coach Alonzo Jake Gaither and Coach Rudy Hubbard.
Maybe if we applied the Willie Simmons (FAMU) Affect to HBCU programs we can change the narrative and change the game. People support and respect winners. FAMU has reported record attendance this winning season as FSU continues to sulk in the shadows of greatness. Maybe if we can get power 5 coaching talent to turnaround HBCU programs we as a people wouldn’t be so bothered about almost $20 million dollars being raised to outcast our own. Instead we can build on what we have to produce those same numbers because who wouldn’t pay millions to experience the best football talent AND witness the baddest bands in the land?
Even if Willie Taggart was Lynched to Salvage FSU’s “Tradition”, there’s power in resilience. Maybe this isn’t the end. Maybe this is the beginning of a new and improved era. It’s hard to complain when you collectively have the power to make the necessary change.
There is a lesson in every loss and we are thankful for the lesson FSU and their boosters have provided and that is: don’t settle or get stuck on being denied, instead BE UNDENIABLY GREAT.
Build it and they will come.
HBCU’s vs. Everybody.
Written By Kei Ates
IG/Twitter: @KeiAtes_Sports
PodCast: https://anchor.fm/keiates_sports
YouTube: Kei Ates Sports
AKA “Master Kei”
Follow like and subscribe
FB: Kei Ates
-Kei Ates Sports
FB: Kei Ates
Copyright 2019
Intellectual Property of Kei Ates

