Oregon Football: Willie Taggart’s Father, John Taggart Passes Away

With the start of the College Football season three weeks away, the game of football has taken a a brief back seat for Head Coach Willie Taggart.

On Thursday, Taggart did not seem like his usual self when meeting with the Media, and late on Thursday we learned why. His father John Taggart passed away in Florida after battling an illness for the last few months according to Comcast Sportsnet. The Senior Taggart was looking forward to getting back to work. That is what John Taggart will be remembered for, his work ethic was unparalleled. It clearly rubbed off on his Willie, his youngest son.

In an article written four years ago by the Tampa Bay Times, John Taggart was profiled as the epitome of a blue collar working man, something that also helped tie John Harbaugh and his son Jim into the family so to speak. John wanted his son to play basketball, but his son what more into Football and showed how hard work would pay off at both Western Kentucky and at USF. It was that ethic that brough Willie Taggart eventually to Oregon.

In just eight months, Taggart has made Oregon relevent again. He, along with his coaching staff have turned around recruiting opening doors and offering players that want to come play here.

Oregon Head Coach Willie Taggart was at Practice on Friday, but did not address the media.