Florida State coach Willie Taggart wants his players to embrace what it means to be a Seminole.

After a humiliating blowout loss to Clemson, FSU (4-4, 2-4 ACC) faces the challenge of extending a streak of 41 consecutive bowl bids. The Seminoles have little margin for error the rest of the season, and it would be easy to give up now after falling 59-10 to the Tigers.

Taggart, however, believes in the benefits of high expectations.

“Here at Florida State, it’s such a rich tradition [of winning] and our fans haven't been in this position before,” Taggart said. “All this is new to them, too, so they're learning. We need them to continue to have expectations because that's how we're going to get back to where we need to be quicker.”

Taggart was once an FSU fan with high expectations. Born in August 1976, Taggart was just a few months old when Florida State last finished the season with a losing record (5-6).

Growing up in Bradenton, it was his childhood dream to play quarterback for Bobby Bowden at Florida State.

He grew up believing strongly in the winning tradition Bowden established, and it was all he knew about the Seminoles.

Now the life-long Seminole fan has been placed in a tough spot as FSU’s first-year head coach. He must find a way to secure two more wins in order to lock in bowl eligibility and a possible winning record.

The streak was in danger of ending last year when interim head coach Odell Haggins took over following the departure of Jimbo Fisher, who left before the 12th and final game of the regular season.

Haggins was left with a 5-6 record and pressure to keep the nation’s longest active bowl streak alive. He led FSU to a victory over ULM in the final game of the regular season and past Southern Mississippi in the Walk-On’s Independence Bowl.

It is not hard for Florida State fans to demand wins. They have seen the Seminoles earn three national titles, 15 Atlantic Coast Conference titles and 28 bowl victories. Three Heisman trophy winners have led the Seminoles.

But for the second consecutive season, Taggart says the fans will need to be patient as his staff works to rebuild the program.

“When I say progress, sometimes you don't necessarily see it on the football field, you see it in other areas,” Taggart said. “Then you also have got to understand your team and where you're at and what's holding us back. You try to work on those things daily, knowing that, again, it's not going to happen overnight, but you've got to stay true to who you are and what you're doing and make sure you're constantly evaluating everything, but don't steer off.”

As Florida State looks to rise above .500, its next biggest challenge rests in Raleigh, where NC State (5-2, 2-2) will try to add another loss to Florida State’s record. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and the game will air on ABC.

“I know our guys are hungry and want to work to get back in the winning column after last week,” Taggart said. “A tough opponent, a tough environment to play in, and we've got to bring our ‘A’ game going up there.”

Taggart said pressure and high expectations are vital, coaxing the best effort out of the Seminoles and holding them accountable.

“I think it's still down and out because of our storied tradition and the high expectations we have for our university and our football team,” Taggart said. “But we've got to work. We've got to recruit, and we've got to keep teaching.

“The key is as long as there's progress while you're trying to get to where you're going, then things will eventually turn.”