The mood has been different around Florida State since interim coach Odell Haggins took over following Willie Taggart’s firing.
Hours after Taggart’s dismissal on Nov. 3, Haggins began to rally the Seminoles.
Players feed off of his emotion and passion, and they’ll need more of both this week.
FSU (6-5) plays rival Florida (9-2) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in Gainesville. The Gators are favored by 17.5 points. It is the first time Haggins, who is 4-0 as an interim coach, enters a contest as a double-digit underdog.
Haggins downplayed his role rallying the team. He said he doesn’t need to appeal to the Seminoles’ emotions heading into the rivalry game. The rivalry, the atmosphere and playing for FSU should be enough to get his team ready for the game.
“First of all, being a Florida State player, you should play with those emotions all the time,” Haggins said. “A coach shouldn’t have to rally you around. Once you’re a Seminole, you’re always a Seminole. You play for Florida State University pride.”
Haggins added the team will be playing music during practice to get ready for the raucous crowd at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. To combat the loud environment, Haggins said he is telling the Seminoles to tune out the crowd and focus on their fundamentals and technique.
“Not one week we should go in there thinking about another team, preparing for another team,” he said. “We need to be thinking about practicing well, preparing well. That’s the thing. That’s what I’m trying to get back at Florida State in a short period of time.”
Stopping Trask
FSU’s defense will have its work cut out for it when it comes to defending UF quarterback Kyle Trask.
Since taking over for Feleipe Franks, who sustained a season-ending ankle injury, Trask has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country. He has thrown for 21 touchdowns and only six interceptions in 10 games, impressive numbers for a player who didn’t start in high school.
“You can tell he’s an intelligent quarterback,” Haggins said. “He makes the right reads. He puts them in great plays. He [doesn’t] make many mistakes, and he’s a kid who’s mobile. He’s a lot more mobile than you think he is. Seems like he has a knack for the game.”
Trask’s favorite target is tight end Kyle Pitts. Pitts, a 6-foot-6, 239-pound sophomore, has enjoyed a breakout season. He leads the Gators with 46 receptions for 566 yards and is tied for the team lead with five touchdowns grabs.
The Seminoles will have to find a way to neutralize Pitts, and how they do it could shape how the contest goes.
On the defensive side, the Gators will be one of the toughest defenses FSU will face this season. The Seminoles have faced Clemson and Miami earlier this season, and both of those teams had success slowing down the FSU attack.
“They’re stacked,” offensive coordinator Kendal Briles said during the bye week. “They got really good personnel and good depth and they roll a lot of guys in there and play. … They are really, really well-coached up front, and it’s going to be a challenge for us.”
Bello thanks family
FSU senior offensive lineman Abdul Bello will play in his final college game on Saturday.
Bello, a former boxer who emigrated from Warri, Nigeria, played at Montverde Academy before signing with the Seminoles.
Bello thanked his Montverde Academy host family, Amy and John Bekemeya, along with their son and his son’s wife Andrew and Meredith Bekemeya, for helping him with his transition to the United States.
Bello has appeared in 31 games with FSU and has started eight contests.
