After Rebounding From Rock Bottom, Taggart and USF on Rise

TAMPA, Fla. — USF football seemed as if it was sliding backward in year three under coach Willie Taggart when the Bulls were soundly beaten last September at Maryland.

Many of the players were still coping with the stabbing death of a former teammate less than two weeks earlier, but both Taggart and his boss knew what happened at College Park was unacceptable.

"Willie will be the first to admit that we had arguably one of the worst performances that we've had in his tenure here," USF Athletic Director Mark Harlan said. "But after that game Willie and I spoke. And I just said, 'That can't happen.' And he said, 'That can't happen.'"

From that point, USF went 7-3, played like one of the best…