North Carolina State

Well, that was humbling. After what was the worst loss in Doak Campbell history, the Seminoles must of felt the humiliation of their predicament. Three seasons in a row, the Noles quit against a rival opponent. After what appeared to be growth since the Louisville game, Florida State seemed to be on an upward trajectory. Now, there can be no doubt: there is a sickness that has rotted this once mighty program to a crippling point of depravity.

Willie Taggart is at a crossroads. His motto: Make no Excuses. Blame no One. Do Something. Clemson reminded the upstart Noles who is King in the ACC. But, more importantly, it was evident that the standards of the old regime linger. Players, assuming elite play based on some notion of divine endowment, quit on their team in the face of adversity. When too much risk is assumed at Florida State, select players defer to self-preservation instead of devotion to team and program. This isn’t the same thing as players preserving their NFL status. This was an instilled identity of greatness that would be assumed simply for wearing Garnet and Gold. Florida State, to many players, makes them great. Fact of the matter is, Florida State is nothing without the players giving every fiber of their being to it.

This is the Unconquered spirit of the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Players who never quit, even in the face of adversity and seemingly impossible odds. This is how Bobby Bowden built his program. Conquering mighty powers like Michigan, Florida, Notre Dame, against all odds. These players gave it all to defeat their foe. When overwhelmed, they faced defeat with pride, even to the bitter end. Many National Championships slipped away thanks to Wide Rights and Wide Lefts. Still, the Seminoles gave everything. When Bobby grew old, Jimbo assumed those responsibilities and instilled the Unconquered spirit yet again. Florida State and the players, having never been challenged in 2013, could of caved to the might of the SEC and the Auburn Tigers. That team fought back and, against the odds, brought home a third title to Tallahassee.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida was never eradicated by the vindictive foreign powers that assumed their lands. Similarly, since the rise of Bobby Bowden in Tallahassee, Florida State prided itself in stiff competition and unwavering fight. Even in blowout losses, these teams did not quit on one another. Unfortunately, Jimbo’s teams lost sight of their blue blooded legacy. 2016, Florida State quit against Louisville. Veterans lead the team to a 9-3 season and a win in the Orange Bowl. Yet assumed greatness proved fatal and instilled negative lessons in returning players. 2017, adversity struck when Deondre fell to Alabama. Florida State was never the same that season. Still, they persevered and managed a bowl game. The historic legacy continued. 2018, a new regime preaching growth, development, pride, and grit of Seminoles past now faces an instilled identity in the veteran squad of Upperclassmen that lead the Seminoles.

Make no mistake: 2018 was a rebuilding year for the Seminoles. But the lack of pride, leadership, and recognition of what made Florida State great now cripples a program that could of made a more profound statement in their Conference. Clemson has assumed sole-rule of the Division. Programs that used to strive for and emulate the Seminoles of seasons past have now built identities of their own in the newfound strengthening of the ACC. Syracuse has assumed it’s identity. Boston College has assumed theirs. The Wolfpack, Florida State’s foe in this next game, are rising to newfound heights in their new regime. Willie Taggart must make a decision in order to preserve the Florida State bowl legacy.

Make no Excuses. Florida State is crippled as a program thanks to a standard that is being set by upperclassmen. Willie now recognizes that this may not go away, despite best efforts at installing a new philosophical identity in habits instilled. Blame no One. Coach Taggart cannot blame anyone, including himself, for the manner in which his team embraces old habits that were adopted in a time long past. Do Something. If Willie Taggart does not make changes in his lineup, he runs the risk of instilling in his underclassmen a legacy that the previous regime had cultivated. He must decide whether to retain the quitting mentality that many starters have adopted based on their talent (even if poorly implemented and displayed this season), or make decisive cuts in the roster to cultivate a new mentality. One that Seminoles of the past could count on to persevere even in the toughest of occasions.

Willie Taggart must root out the losers on his team, and install players who have not given up. Players that recognize they must count on one another to push each other past adversity. Players that recognize they are what make Florida State an elite program in College Football. As important as recruiting is to his legacy, Coach Taggart must instill in the talent made available to him at this time the legacy and true values of Florida State University. Jimbo failed in this task, ultimately. The question at these crossroads is: will Willie Taggart do the same?

Final Verdict

In seasons past, Florida State used to trounce the hapless Wolfpack. In recent years, however, the pack of Raleigh have risen to match their division opponents. When the Noles arrive in North Carolina, the Pack have feasted. Now, the Wolfpack circle the Seminoles once more. Coach Taggart must make a decision in order to fight-off the encroaching pack.

I have not given up on Willie Taggart, despite the performance this season. The Wolfpack are beatable, as Clemson and Syracuse have demonstrated. Florida State has the defense to stop the dynamic alpha quarterback leading his pack in battle. The question remains, as it has all season: does Florida State have the pieces in place on offense to return the blows to fend-off the circling wolves? The answer, I believe, is a resounding yes.

However, there is little doubt in my mind that those offensive weapons do not consist of specific starters that currently represent Florida State on the field. Taggart must make those changes on Saturday to defeat the Wolfpack. For the sake of Seminole nation, and the pride they hold in their bowl legacy, I believe Coach Taggart must make these changes if he is to refrain from losing this team not only this season, but in future seasons.

This game will decide the trajectory of Florida State for the remainder of this decade. Even in defeat, these changes send a clear message to Seminoles nationwide: Coach Taggart can make the changes necessary to re-build the Seminoles into the program it once was. The program that it is. The program that it can be. The Seminoles do not need to beat the Wolfpack to instill this message; they simply cannot quit. To purge the sickness, he must cut the cancer out from his program, and instill it with new life-blood.

I predict that Willie Taggart will do just that against the Wolfpack and, with new fight and renewed purpose, slay the Wolves in their den. The fight will be bloody, but the Noles reset their destiny in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Florida State: 38

North Carolina State: 34

Make sure you follow the All Sports Discussion Twitter account at @AllSportsDACC and please like our Facebook Page