BOCA RATON, Fla. – Two days removed from the team’s first 2022 scrimmage, a controlled scrimmage, Florida Atlantic University Hagerty Head Football Coach Willie Taggart addressed members of the media before joining the Owls at their Monday morning practice.
QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Coach Willie Taggart:
On Saturday’s scrimmage:
“It was a good situational scrimmage and a good opportunity to teach our guys the game of football and not just run plays. It’s amazing how much we stress it. When you get in the heat of the moment, sometimes guys lose focus. That’s a big part of it, staying locked in and understanding each situation and how you go about executing those plays in those situations. Some guys responded the way we wanted to, some didn’t, but again, it’s the first scrimmage, so you don’t expect to be perfect. I think it was a good learning lesson from that scrimmage in a lot of areas on both sides of the ball. Today will be a good day to see if our guys will take what they learn from the scrimmage and get better.”
On the team’s performance during the scrimmage:
“I thought [the offense] did a good job, especially early in the scrimmage, running the ball and driving the ball downfield. On defense, we started off struggling a little bit, I thought we had too many missed assignments and too many alignment problems that we need to get fixed. It was good to see individual guys step up and make plays and make them when we needed them the most. Guys like [safety] Peter Warrick made some good plays, [wide receiver] and Jahmal Edrine made some plays in there that was big. It was good.
On the new coordinators during the scrimmage:
“They were coaching. They were coaching the guys. We’re nowhere near where we need to be, and those guys are still learning our players and knowing what they can and can’t do well. We are making sure that we continue to put them in the best position they can be in, and we are making sure that we understand what they don’t know so that we can get those corrected as well.”
On future scrimmages:
“We’ll have another scrimmage next Saturday. The first scrimmage is more situational and teaching our guys. Then our next scrimmage will be a full scrimmage where we go out and play like a game.”
On the great Joan Joyce:
“She’s a legend. She’s a pioneer. She’s done so much for women athletics. She’s going to always be remembered and I think we all as coaches would like to leave a legacy like she has.”
On what he wants to pass on to his team from Joyce:
“Win. She wanted to win. She hated losing. I think that more than anything is to win, and winning the right way.”
PRO DAY
The 2022 Pro Day is scheduled for Thursday, March 31. The Owls will go through weights and measurements prior to their timed 40-yard run. The run and field drills are open to the public and will be held on the FAU track, located behind the FAU Arena. General public will not be allowed on the track and are asked to remain in the bleacher area. The following former Owls are scheduled to participate: Damian Alloway, Caliph Brice, James Charles, TJ Chase, Zyon Gilbert, Akileis Leroy, John Mitchell, Zaire Mitchell-Paden, Desmond Noel, Brandon Robinson and Willie Wright. Nick Tronti will throw.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls will play their 2022 Spring Game on Saturday, April 9 at 6 p.m. FAU will open the 2022 season on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Athens, Ohio.
FOR SEASON TICKETS
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