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Michael Taaffe Is our Standard

Professor Chesney

By Professor Chesney
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Professor Chesney

Professor Chesney 685

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This thread could very well be about how, despite several buffoons on this board loudly complaining otherwise, this former walk-on safety has been the best player on the field for short stretches despite playing on one of the most talented Texas defenses in recent memory.  Or for the Blake Gideon and Dylan Haines jokes. Frankly it’s unbelievable this thread title is said without irony or sarcasm.

But I also wanted to highlight and memorialize Taaffe’s postgame remarks in response to that heinous game day sign, because the remarks demonstrate remarkable character and why he is an exemplary representative of this program.

For the uninformed, some red ass “blue collar salt of the earth” ag inexplicably brought a sign to College Gameday making fun of deceased Texas walk on Jake Ehlinger, who tragically passed away in a fentanyl-related accident.  Obviously this behavior doesn’t represent the entire Texas A&M fanbase. Most alumni would condemn this once understanding the context, and many already have (although I am sure everyone here has met exceptions and can debate in another thread).  But unlike most game day signs and taunts, this one actually provokes a reaction.  Austin is now a big city but it is still a small community in a lot of ways. The Ehlingers live and work here. If you’ve met this family and know what they have been through in the past, that gameday sign gets even more odious.

So in the postgame press conference Michael Taaffe somehow trumps his cathartic performance on the field with remarks far better than anything I could have come up with:

“I want to say I feel sorry for the person that posted that sign. I feel sorry for him because I don't know what he's going through, how much he's dealing with in life. To think that that was a good idea, to think that was OK, to think that was appropriate for anything, no matter what rivalry. I just wanted to make that clear."

The national media and our fanbase will quickly move on from this win because at the end of the day we just beat a middling 8-4 SEC team.  But I felt that Michael Taaffe’s maturity and passion deserves special recognition and it shouldn’t get buried in a game thread. Proud he’s a Longhorn.

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Lhorn

Lhorn 5080

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He’s a great story.  For so long he was considered a liability and it was said that a sign of Texas being good is when guys like him never see the field. But he kept playing hard and getting better and turned himself into a really good player and a guy who reliably makes tough stops.  He’s earned respect.  

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Nuge

Nuge 2025

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He's a great example that perseverance and hard work will pay off. 

He's a great Longhorn and representative of the team. 

We are so fortunate that he loved this team so much that he believed in himself enough to walk on and earn a scholarship vs. play elsewhere.

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Dahobbs

Dahobbs 18190

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1 hour ago, Professor Chesney said:

This thread could very well be about how, despite several buffoons on this board loudly complaining otherwise, this former walk-on safety has been the best player on the field for short stretches despite playing on one of the most talented Texas defenses in recent memory.  Or for the Blake Gideon and Dylan Haines jokes. Frankly it’s unbelievable this thread title is said without irony or sarcasm.

But I also wanted to highlight and memorialize Taaffe’s postgame remarks in response to that heinous game day sign, because the remarks demonstrate remarkable character and why he is an exemplary representative of this program.

For the uninformed, some red ass “blue collar salt of the earth” ag inexplicably brought a sign to College Gameday making fun of deceased Texas walk on Jake Ehlinger, who tragically passed away in a fentanyl-related accident.  Obviously this behavior doesn’t represent the entire Texas A&M fanbase. Most alumni would condemn this once understanding the context, and many already have (although I am sure everyone here has met exceptions and can debate in another thread).  But unlike most game day signs and taunts, this one actually provokes a reaction.  Austin is now a big city but it is still a small community in a lot of ways. The Ehlingers live and work here. If you’ve met this family and know what they have been through in the past, that gameday sign gets even more odious.

So in the postgame press conference Michael Taaffe somehow trumps his cathartic performance on the field with remarks far better than anything I could have come up with:

“I want to say I feel sorry for the person that posted that sign. I feel sorry for him because I don't know what he's going through, how much he's dealing with in life. To think that that was a good idea, to think that was OK, to think that was appropriate for anything, no matter what rivalry. I just wanted to make that clear."

The national media and our fanbase will quickly move on from this win because at the end of the day we just beat a middling 8-4 SEC team.  But I felt that Michael Taaffe’s maturity and passion deserves special recognition and it shouldn’t get buried in a game thread. Proud he’s a Longhorn.

Dude is one classy mother fucking bad ass. I'm so glad a guy like that walked on and earned his spot on this team. He may have even played himself into the NFL at this point. 

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deech

deech 2381

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I was one of the people who I am sure in one or two threads last year questioned whether one of the reasons our secondary struggled last year was in part due to him.  I mean it's easy to blame the former walk-on instead of other more highly touted recruits or some issues with scheme or coaching.  Clearly this year his performance on the field and our secondary's overall performance shows that hot take last year was pure garbage.  What he has done one and off the field this year has turned him quietly into one of my favorite players on the roster this year and one of my favorite players of all time.    

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ztejas

ztejas 44114

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6 minutes ago, deech said:

I was one of the people who I am sure in one or two threads last year questioned whether one of the reasons our secondary struggled last year was in part due to him.  I mean it's easy to blame the former walk-on instead of other more highly touted recruits or some issues with scheme or coaching.  Clearly this year his performance on the field and our secondary's overall performance shows that hot take last year was pure garbage.  What he has done one and off the field this year has turned him quietly into one of my favorite players on the roster this year and one of my favorite players of all time.    

Didn't he have a ton of picks last season?

I never felt strongly about his game either way but the signs were there. 

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deech

deech 2381

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Just now, ztejas said:

Didn't he have a ton of picks last season?

I never felt strongly about his game either way but the signs were there. 

He was everywhere in terms of turnovers last year.  No doubt about that.  It may have just been a feeling at the time, but it seemed like some of the bigger passing plays we gave up last year he was a step or two slow coming over from safety on the play.   It seems obvious I think this year that it was the improved CB play and improved edge/overall rush that was the problem and not him.

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South Austin

South Austin 53154

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1 minute ago, ztejas said:

Didn't he have a ton of picks last season?

I never felt strongly about his game either way but the signs were there. 

I'll admit I was among those who had a knee-jerk Dylan Haines comparison.  Haines started his career as a walk-on, earned a starting role, and racked up 13 career interceptions.  But what I really remember is that he played on some shitty, shitty defenses that gave up a ton of yards.  Oh, and he's white.  So maybe with that comparison at the back of their minds, a lot of Texas fans [raising hand] just designated him as the weak link of a defense that struggled mightily the past two years.  But I've become a big fan of him this year.  Unlike Haines, he's benefitting from a more talented defense across the board playing at a dominant level.  But he's a significant contributor and leader of that effort, and has played balls out in run support.  Forget high-school recruiting ranking and walk-on status.  He's playing at the same level as the blue chips in his backfield.   

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sidis

sidis 9990

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taaffe's pick was a big one in this game and a great play...but the play that he made against the agros that stood out to me was on the first drive - the only one tamu had all night - there was a 2nd and long run where our dl had its worst containment moment of the night and there was a huge tract of land for reed to run in. taaffe was the only one to fill the space and he did a phenomenal job of fundamentally breaking reed down in the open field for the tackle that turned into a 6-7 yard gain instead of what would have been a 15-20 yard gain. i think that play stuck with reed through the night and made him a little less confident about running upfield when chances presented.

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Bevo

Bevo 13825

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I'm friends with his uncle and played football with him. It is amazing how much better than us, he is. And MT would have been the best player on our team and we should have won state and had multiple players on the team start at Texas. Sadly, he never got to meet his grandparent's cat who tried to stay warm by crawling into the engine compartment.

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Bevo

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9 minutes ago, Billy Pilgrim said:

I’m so proud that he’s my 13 yo son’s idol. Git his autograph at the orange-white game a couple of years ago and he’s idolized him ever since.

 

That's crazy to hear - I remember her mom when she was in elementary school.

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Funk Doctor Spock

Funk Doctor Spock 13121

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Dude is incredible. He's intelligent, knows where and when to be there. He's the lynchpin of the safeties. Sucks about Williams, but having Barron. Taaffee, and Mukuba makes up for it. Our only true weakness is Guilbeu. But other than we have lock down corner in Muhammad. 

Also, Georgia's WR's can't catch for shit. 

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Rimbo

Rimbo 26853

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19 hours ago, Wilcox Cummingtonite said:

 

Gd96fAzW8AAZp8-.thumb.jpg.ba0a829f2c233b59db635bea9df5cb5f.jpg

One of these things is not like the others.

0 Stars. Zero. Zero recruiters. Walked on.

90.7 PFF grade, 8 points higher than a certain would-be HEISMAN FINALIST and a buncha blue chips.

Amazing.

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TexArcher

TexArcher 38816

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I was critical of Taaffe last year, as most of us were, and frankly it was valid.

But the kid worked his ass off and shut us all up.  

I've asked more than once if any Longhorn has *ever* improved more from one season to the next.  I haven't heard any names thrown out yet.

So yeah, keep making us all eat crow and go get that trophy, sir!

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