How Willie Taggart, FAU football are prepping for 2022 amid conference, NIL changes

Conference USA Media Day brought college football excitement to Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday morning as every team showed up to boast about the impending season.

A lot of that excitement came from FAU head coach Willie Taggart, who represented the Owls along with quarterback N’Kosi Perry and safety Teja Young.

“I'm excited to be here today with you all for this football season. You know, this time of year me, we’re all excited to get going. When I say ‘we all,’ I’m talking about this entire country. It's like Christmas in July, so really excited,” Taggart said. “Excited to talk about our football team and to be honest with you, ready to get out of here so we can get back to practice tonight.”

As the season inches closer each day, FAU was active in the spring after a disappointing finish to the 2021 season where the team finished with a four-game losing streak, missing out on a bowl game.

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Here are some topics Taggart talked about Wednesday:

Standout leaders with FAU

During the spring, Taggart mentioned Perry and Young as being two players who have stood out as developing into leaders on both sides of the ball.

Taggart said it’s good to know their best players have become leaders.

“I think whenever you see a good football team it is usually because of great leadership, and when your best players are great leaders, good things happen in the end. I'm excited that our best players are our leaders this year and they've taken pride in leading this football team throughout this entire offseason,” Taggart said to The Palm Beach Post.

“There's been few offseasons I had as a head coach where I haven't really gotten emotionally hijacked much at all, it has been because of the leadership that these guys have set for our football team and I got to follow and it hasn’t been that way around here. And I'm excited about that more than anything because these guys are not gonna allow anybody just to get by.”

Taggart’s words seem to be him taking accountability for the play the team has seen since his hiring in December 2019. Since taking the role, FAU has gone 10-11 with a bowl appearance.

NIL in college football

While the talk about college football has centered on name, image and likeness deals, the transfer portal, and conference realignment, Taggart said that change is inevitable.

“Well, I'm a big believer in changes, it’s the only constant we all have. And that's what you're seeing in college football right now. And usually, people don't like change, but typically, when you embrace it, and you get on board and it works out for us, we want to make sure that we're doing the things we need to do to be in the right position for our program with all these changes,” Taggart said.

“But I think a big part of it is just making sure you understand and do research to put your program in the right position. More importantly, with all these changes for the student-athletes, make sure they're educated so they can make the best decision for themselves and not for anyone else.”

Moving up to the AAC

While Taggart acknowledges and has in the past of FAU moving to the AAC in 2023 and how beneficial it is to the school, the focus is on this season and winning a Conference USA title.

“We will always focus on FAU no matter what and be in the best position to be successful no matter where we are," Taggart said. "Right now we're in Conference USA, we're trying to be the best football team in the conference.

"So to be thinking about anything other than the schools that's in our conference this year and winning the conference championship this year, we’re selling ourselves short."

Future of the Shula Bowl in jeopardy?

FIU is not one of the universities making the jump to the AAC with FAU.

The longtime rivals play in the Shula Bowl every season, but with that coming to a halt, Taggart said he still wants that to continue.

“I absolutely still want to see it. Again, that's a great rivalry. And you can see that every year, every time we play, especially down in South Florida, everyone gets excited and upbeat for that game,” Taggart said. “You know, and for our area and for the south, I think it's good for South Florida football.”

The preseason camp started Wednesday for FAU as they get ready for the opener at home on Aug. 27 against Charlotte.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAU football: Willie Taggart previews 2022, addresses Owls future