FSU Football: Virginia Tech Should be Toughest Foe for Coaching Debut

Florida State head coach Willie Taggart has certainly rejuvenated the fan base as the Seminole faithful counts down the days until Labor Day.

The beginning and first year of the Taggart era however, appears to be an arduous one. The Seminoles play the nation’s toughest schedule, according to 2017 winning percentage, which includes nine bowl teams and five teams that finished in the AP top 25 last season.

Things will open at home on Sept. 3 — Labor Day evening — with Virginia Tech. The Hokies finished 9-4 last season and ranked 24th nationally.

With Taggart being hired at the 10th full-time head coach in FSU program history, the Hokies look to be the toughest team any Florida State coach has faced to begin his tenure. Here’s a look at the previous nine:

When it comes to FSU coaching debuts, the Hokies will be the first team that finished ranked the previous season. It should be noted that in 1974, Pittsburgh did finish the season ranked No. 20 in the AP Poll after a 6-5-1 finish the year before.

Aside from the 1973 Panthers and last year’s Hokies, the only other team to finish with a winning record the year before to welcome in a new FSU head coach was Memphis in 1975.

We were unable to find out too much about how Cumberland College fared in 1947 other than it did win its conference, but considering the Seminoles won 30-0 after going winless the previous season, it suggests the competition may have not been the greatest. Overall, FSU head coaches previously are just 4-5 in their debuts.

Taggart has never faced Virginia Tech during his coaching career, but is 0-3 against Hokies’ head coach Justin Fuente. The three prior meetings took place while Fuente was at Memphis and Taggart at South Florida.

As for the Seminoles and Hokies, the teams haven’t met on the field since a Thursday night thriller in November 2012. FSU quarterback E.J. Manuel found Rashad Greene in the final minute for a 39-yard game-winning touchdown in a 28-22 victory for the Seminoles.

Since 1999, Florida State and Virginia Tech have met seven times, including twice in bowls — once for the national championship — and twice for the ACC Championship. At least one of the two teams were ranked for each match-up and on three occasions, both teams were ranked.

Over the last two seasons, only Clemson has more wins than Virginia Tech among ACC teams. The expectations in Tallahassee are high for the start of the Taggart era. With the Hokies coming to Doak Campbell Stadium to open the year, there will be little time to settle in for what should be the toughest opener ever for a first-year FSU head coach.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson