For one half, everything was going great for the Florida State Seminoles. The offense was clicking under new offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, and it looked like FSU’s dismal 2018 was going to be left in the rear view mirror. Then the second half happened, and Florida State blew an 18-point lead at home in a 36-31 loss to the Boise State Broncos. Now, there is grumbling once more in Tallahassee.
Boise State scores 23 unanswered points to defeat Florida State! 🐴🙌 pic.twitter.com/SzhlADzKiw
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) August 31, 2019
Florida State couldn’t get anything done in the second half. The revamped offense that had looked so sharp in the first half only mustered 51 total yards on eight drives after halftime. A costly Cam Akers fumble cost the Seminoles their one chance to get points, and the defense couldn’t hold the line after being left out to dry so much.
Boise State ran a whopping 108 plays on the afternoon and held the ball for over 40 minutes. That kind of possession wore Florida State’s defense down, and by the end of the game, the Broncos were running with impunity. Boise State ended the game with over 600 total yards of offense, and freshman quarterback Hank Bachmeier had an incredible debut. Bachmeier went 30-51 and threw for over 400 yards to lead the Broncos to a big win.
That failure to recover a fumble is the most Florida State thing ever. pic.twitter.com/ufXXnyFbaK
— Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) August 31, 2019
The gut-wrenching loss has led to speculation on Willie Taggart’s job security. Some media members had already claimed that Taggart was on the hot seat after FSU’s record consecutive bowl streak came to end last season, and this defeat will only ratchet up the temperature on his hot seat in the minds of those individuals.
I don’t know how Willie Taggart is going to make it another season at FSU. What a collapse.
— Jared Stillman (@JaredStillman) August 31, 2019
Willie Taggart is over his head. Total mismanagement, lack of discipline and looks completely lost. He should be fired after this game and replaced by Briles to evaluate the future and see if Briles has potential to be the #Noles future coach.
— Landry Locker (@LandryLocker) August 31, 2019
And Boise State wins at Florida State. Mountain West Conference having a GREAT start to the season. FSU fans re-calculating Taggart buyout in their heads on the way out of the stadium.
— Pat Forde (@YahooForde) August 31, 2019
Willie Taggart’s massive buyout and FSU’s financial situation makes it unlikely that he will be fired at the end of this season, but if the Seminoles end up missing out on a bowl again, he could be replaced after just two years on the job. If FSU does end up parting ways with Taggart at the end of this season, it would cost the university $17 million.
H/T: Tampabay.com
