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Rumor: $20 million raised to buy Taggart out of contract, boosters deny rumor

Posted at 5:17 PM, Nov 04, 2019
and last updated 2019-11-04 19:06:40-05

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Firing Willie Taggart comes at a big price tag for Florida State.

There are reports that Taggart's buyout is just over $18 million. Add that to the cost of paying out the contracts for assistant coaches and other staff.

When you add up all the numbers, firing Coach Taggart will cost Florida State somewhere around $22 million.

It's rumored that Boosters raised $20 million to buy Taggart out of his contract.

We were able to catch up with two boosters, one who told us that's all just a rumor.

Andrew Miller calls Taggart "a fine man" who did work hard to restore the program, but just wasn't able to pull it off. That's why he believes this needed to happen, even if they had nothing to do with making it so.

Les Akers says if the school didn't bite the bullet and payout, the Noles and the university in general would keep suffering.

"I absolutely support it. It's something that needed to happen and it certainly could've happened earlier than this but no I think the administration was compelled to move forward and everything that transpired was contingent on that," said Akers.

"Florida State is used to winning traditionally and when we fall short of that it does affect ticket sales, booster contributions and support of the program," said Miller.

Local businesses are also reacting to the Taggart termination. Garnet and Gold says just like tickets may not have been selling at Doak, they've seen a huge dip in sales too.

Garnet and Gold is already showing their support for Coach Haggins.