SHREVEPORT, La. -- Charles Kelly considered the question for less than a second. It was as if the query had only one possible answer.
Why was it so important for you and some of these other coaches to stay through the bowl game when you know you won’t be here next year?
“Man, it’s for the players,” Kelly said. “It’s always been about the players. And if you’ve got a job to do, you do your job.”
About 20 yards away, several of those players and interim head coach Odell Haggins were standing on a hastily assembled platform, celebrating Florida State’s 42-13 Independence Bowl victory over Southern Miss.
Dozens of other players were still on the field, exchanging hugs and high-fives with teammates, coaches, friends and family.
Some will be returning in 2018. Many will not.
While much of the attention was on new head coach Willie Taggart, who seemingly greeted every player as they left the field, the most poignant moments involved the coaches who had worked their last games for the Seminoles.
Offensive coordinator Randy Sanders, who will be taking over as head coach at East Tennessee State, shared long embraces with quarterback James Blackman and others.
Kelly, the embattled defensive coordinator who will leave despite having three years remaining on a five-year contract, was greeted by a long line of players and staffers delivering hugs and expressions of thanks.
“We’ll miss you,” several said to Kelly, who was still drenched from a Powerade bath given by his defensive backs.
It was a touching end to a wild year that saw Florida State open the season with sky-high aspirations only to finish at 7-6 and see former head coach Jimbo Fisher bolt for another job.
Haggins, who will stay on as defensive tackles coach under Taggart, is the only full-time assistant who will be retained. Running backs coach Jay Graham and tight ends coach Tim Brewster left weeks ago to join Fisher at Texas A&M.
