Rivalry Week Taggart Talk

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Coming off a difficult loss last Saturday, the Florida Atlantic University football team reviewed and identified mistakes but has now turned its attention to “Rivalry Week” and the Saturday’s Shula Bowl XX.

The 20th addition of the annual event between the two programs that began playing football in 2001 (FAU) and 2002 (FIU) will kick off at 3:30 p.m. in Boca Raton. The Owls hold a 14-4 all-time record versus FIU, excluding one game that was redacted by the Panthers. FAU has won five of the last six games and will be led by Jordan Helm, who is ranked No. 11 nationally in solo tackles and No. 30 in total tackles.

TAGGART’S TAKE

Hagerty Family Head Coach Willie Taggart:
On his message to the team after a tough loss:
“We watched the film and saw the mistakes we made. There was a lot of missed assignments in that game. We talked about correcting those missed assignments. You can’t play games like that. You have to know exactly what you’re doing. Especially when you play games on the road and how one guy can mess it up for everyone. I didn’t think we were really focused the way we needed to be focused in that ballgame, and it made a difference. The bottom line is, guys have to know exactly what they’re doing and we [have] got to execute when it comes to offense. Defensively, in that ballgame, we could have done things better. We didn’t have our guys in the right position at times to really help ourselves against that [triple option offense]. Offensively, too many missed assignments by multiple guys, guys that we count on week in and week out. Our best players can’t be that way.”

On the first four games and normally being able to establish an identity, but with every other game being an option-type team, something you will not see again, was that possible?
“All games matter. In the first four games, it’s really trying to establish an identity, starting to establish who you are as a football team and trying to get yourself ready for the conference opener … We didn’t go through those four games the way we wanted to finish those four games, but we learned about a lot about our team. We have to build on our strengths and really correct some of those things that we’re weak at, to better ourselves for conference play. I know defensively, not seeing option every other week, we can really lock in on some of the things that we practiced all spring with Coach [Mike] Stoops and his defense and letting our guys get comfortable in some of the things that they know really well. And then offensively, we have to come out fast and need consistency early in the ball game. We’re a good offense when we can control the clock and run the football. Last game we got behind so early and our backs only had about 13 attempts and that’s unacceptable. We have to be able to run the ball a lot more than we did last week.”

On the Shula Bowl:
“I think everyone understands the importance of this game. It’s a rivalry game. I know everyone that’s associated with our program knows how important this game is, so the sense of urgency and understanding the importance of this game is big. And then you add on conference play on top of it, it’s a huge game. I think games like this you can throw the records out and come ready to play and be on your ‘A’-game.”

On FIU:
“I think you have athletic football teams on both sides of the ball. Those guys can run up front. They’re big on offense. But they’re very athletic and they can run. We have to try to play to our strengths and what we’re doing. On their offense they have a really good running back. I think their quarterback is doing well now and is pushing the ball down the field, so the receivers are making plays down the field. Defensively, they’re athletic. We have to do a good job of running the football. I think running the football helps our offense tremendously. It’s going to be important to find the ways to run the football and playing to our strength.”

On the differences between playing a rivalry game and a regular opponent:
“In a rivalry game, a lot of the time, you know guys from that team. A lot of times you know them very well. A lot of your friends, your teammates that you played with in high school are on those other teams. I’m sure those guys talk throughout the week about this game. They’ve been looking forward to it all year long. From that standpoint it’s different. And then the fanbase will get excited. Everything, the sense of urgency, the passion behind the game is just different when it’s a rivalry. It’s a must win.”