Oregon Football: Willie Taggart Shines In First Press Conference

Willie Taggart started a new era of Oregon Football with a fresh approach that included honesty, candidness and some humor.

The Oregon Ducks introduced new Head Coach Willie Taggart on Thursday and after some pomp and circumstance from The University President Michael Schill and Rob Mullens, Taggart took to the podium.

Right off the bat there was something different. A different energy, a different style. Willie Taggart has emotion and enthusiasm joking in his connection with Jim Harbaugh that he was “a brother from another mother.”

Taggart sold his style of football and his philosophy last week with Rob Mullens. On Thursday he won over the media and started a new Era in Oregon Football for the University of Oregon.

His Mantra is Simple: “Make No Excuses. Blame no one. And do something.” I’m not sure if we’ll see it wrapped around Autzen Stadium come Spring, but I like it.

“Buckle Up.” – if there was a way to win over press conference, Taggart did.

He was honest when speaking with the media and said that his team was “going to attack each day with energy unknown to mankind.”

What’s ahead?

It starts with finding a Defensive Coordinator to lead his idea of what Oregon Football will be.

There are the conversations he will have with Coordinators that have been here for the better part of the last decade to see “if they fit into his plan”. He is motivated. He has a vibe that I have not seen in Eugene in a long time,

“I think it’s really important that we get the right fit, and that’s so important when hiring a staff. For me personally, I want to make sure that we hire a staff that’s going to capture the hearts and minds of our football players.”

It is time for him to get busy. His final quote of the day showed some style and personality. He ended the Press Conference with, “Thank You Very Much and have a great day if you want to.”