Sean Taylor: Hanging in the Balance

Sean Taylor, who made #26 famous for big plays and hard hits while at the University of Miami was the 5th player taken overall in the 2004 NFL draft.  He was the first UM player selected that year when drafted by Washington to bring back a feared presence in the middle of the field and become key cog in the rebuilding of the Redskins defense. 

Taylor has earned the respect of many and has already been selected to the Pro Bowl in his short NFL career.

In 2001, he was one of just four true freshmen to play for Miami in the 2001 national championship season, carving a niche for himself in Miami's secondary.  Taylor was named "Big East Special Teams Player" of the Week for his performance against the University of Pittsburgh.

In 2002, Taylor was a second-team All-Big East selection by the league's head coaches in his first season as a starter.  He led all defensive backs in tackles, interceptions and passes broken up and had a career-high 11 tackles (2 solo) and intercepted 2 passes in the Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State University.

During his final year at Miami, Taylor produced a historic season that culminated with honors and awards. He was a named a consensus first-team All-American, the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation's best defensive back. He led the Big East Conference and ranked first nationally in interceptions per game (0.98) with 10, tying the record for interceptions in a season with former Hurricane standout Bennie Blades. He finished first in total tackles with 77 (57 solos).

He intercepted two passes in Miami's impressive 28-14 win over Pittsburgh, playing a key role as the Hurricanes limited All-American receiver Larry Fitzgerald to two receptions for 13 yards. He returned interceptions for an average of 18.4 yards, including a 67-yard touchdown return at Boston College, a 50-yard scoring runback at Florida State, and a 44-yard scoring runback against Rutgers.

But as of  November 26, 2007 all of the foregoing seems unimportant, insignificant as Sean suffered a serious gunshot injury from an intruder in his own home.  His femoral artery had been severed and blood loss was significant.  He underwent surgery and lapsed into a coma, hanging somewhere in the balance between survival and death.  Thankfully, a recent update has him responding to slight commands from the doctors and they now use “cautiously optimistic” in regard to his condition.

Sean Taylor and his girlfriend had a baby girl last year. That had resulted in a change in the Pro Bowl safety, said Portis in a statement from the Washington Redskins. 

"Ever since Sean had his little girl, it was like a new Sean," Portis said. "He was always smiling, always happy, always talking about his child. It was good to see Sean walk by smiling.  Now all of a sudden, his back is up against the wall, our backs are up against the wall."

Sean Taylor.  A son, a father, a football player who wore #26 and became one of the best to ever wear the U.  He is a true warrior who wore the orange and green proudly and became a true Hurricane superhero.   

His on the field accomplishments, while forever legendary among Canes fans everywhere, now pale in importance with his life hanging in the balance...

Editorial Note:  Sean Taylor died from his gunshot injuries sometime in the early morning of November 27. 2007.  The Hurricane family mourns the loss of one of our own.  Sean Taylor, RIP.

Comments

[alf]

We're praying for you and a speedy recovery Sean. God Bless!

[PLAY THE FRESHMEN!!!]

If all the positive and prayer energy was taken away from the Canes and given to Everret and Taylor. I am very happy.

My prayers will be for both.

[86Cane]

Great work on the feature article by CanesgirlNC. Thanks for your contributions!

Be strong, Sean, be strong.

[AngryCane]

Good piece.

Come on Sean make it through!! Hang in there and keep fighting all the way to recovery.

[CanesgirlNC]

Rock on, Sean, rock on

[DallasTX Cane]

Very good article. Did U write it 86? Or, is CGNC the author?

It is amazing that the 1st responder was George Mira Jr, another CANE legend.

Hang in there ST. U can win this!

[AvaCane96]

hang in there Sean Taylor...the Legion is pulling for U!

[DallasTX Cane]

There wasn't. And, he was living up to his draft status in The League also. Just like Jerome Brown.

Crappy way for the Fins to lose.

[86Cane]

CGNC gets ALL the credit for the piece on ST. Quick work on an important issue. Great work on her part. Orange and green runs deep, even in NC, and especially in CGNC.

Please read the article again - more material added and new photos up if you missed them the first time. More photos and material to follow...

[86Cane]

I was at the great MUD BOWL game at the Doak in Tally with Mrs. 86 on the cold and rainy day that #26 showed he was a man playing against boys. He simply took that game over by himself. FSU had no chance.

His INT return for a TD was nothing short of spectacular and without a doubt one of the best plays I have ever seen, before or since.

[86Cane]

Sean Taylor's player page at the Redskins site. Great pics there too from Redskin and Hurricane games.

http://www.redskins.com/team/profile.jsp?id=1217

[LAcanefan]

Best wishes to ST and the Taylor family. You are in the thoughts and prayers of the Cane faithful tonight.

[MDCane]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Sean Taylor.

[rubcatane]

Great job Canesgirl.... Prayers and quick recovery to Sean taylor.

[dj moonbat]

Sean Taylor is one of the freaks of nature that show up periodically in 'Canes mythology, and particularly in the late Butchian Epoch. Guys who are both big and really, really fast, in a way that just doesn't make sense. Other examples include Andre Johnson and Willis McGahee. Earlier examples include Edgerrin James, James Stewart, and Yatil Green.

Certainly, he's the most physically gifted safety, like, ever. He's what? 6'2" or so, and 235? Running a 40 in the 4.4s? With a big vertical? (See e.g. his combine numbers from Wikipedia.) That combo doesn't come around every decade.

I hope he's OK.

[Pastor Bob]

ESPN Radio just said Sean has passed away. I am speechless, so sorry for his family.

[MaryLouAlumni]

Oh My God----Sean Taylor has died! All of our hearts are broken. This damn violence has got to stop. We must pray for his family and for his soul.

[TICAL]

Another blow to the Hurricane Family. I cant remember a more difficult time with this program.

Thoughts and prayers with the Taylor family...

[dawgmeatcane]

Sean Taylor has pass away :(

[canechic]

Mary lou - ditto, so young, so much life to give. So Sorry! Man this stinks!

[AngryCane]

Unf%cking believable...

Why why why???

I hope they catch those f#cks and FRY THEIR ASSES.

From the Flores Family to the Taylor Family... Our love, thoughts, and prayers.

[Zakkee]

This is the worst feeling...

I'm tired

[MaryLouAlumni]

Tears are streaming down my face--I'm turning ESPN tv on now to see what they have to say. We have to catch the bastard that did this. His poor little girl. I hope the entire Hurricane football Family comes to Florida for his funeral and that includes all the guys who played with him during those glorious years.

[CanesgirlNC]

Zakkee - I agree - draining actually. Thoughts and prayers to the Taylor family.

[CanesgirlNC]

86 - check yur email

[PLAY THE FRESHMEN!!!]

Rest in peace and the blessings of the almighty be with you..

[SuperCooper]

God bless Sean, my all time favorite. Feel horrible right now. RIP bro

[RealCanesFan]

RIP Taylor another young man taken from this world way to early.

[86Cane]

Sean...the Legion of Hurricane fans will miss U.

Thanks for the great memories wearing the U and the orange and green.

You will NEVER be forgotten...

[Sarasota 'Cane]

Rest in Peace Sean!! We will miss U!!

[OCALACANE]

RIP!
Sean I am sure U were welcomed with the words. Thank U my faithful servant.
We will miss U.
Say hello to Bryan for Us.
God Bless U!
See U in paradise brother!
U yesterday
U today
U tomorrow
CANES!!!

[Carlos]

First Pata, now this....RIP ST. You will be missed

[LatinCane]

I'm sorry to hear that one of our greatest ever lost his life this morning. At age 24 with so much life ahead of him it's a damn shame. My prayers go out to him and his family. Especially the child that he had.

[norm]

I heard it on the radio today, and I have to say I was not expecting this outcome. It seems like just yesterday he was playing against FSU making plays and INTs. It shows how fast our lives can be taken away. We will remember you as one of the best players in Miami history. God bless his family.

[Hurricanedave]

God bless Sean Taylor and the Taylor family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
The U family mourns your loss, you will never be forgotten.

[CanesgirlNC]

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day
That nobody died

[imsane]

R.I.P
To one of the best You will be missed but not forgotten

[HearAcane]

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing."
--Edmund Burke

Sean Taylor, RIP – Miami Police do your job. Don’t let this be another Bryan
Pata case of very poor police work.

[Mike "U"]

RIP Sean Taylor Probably my favorite cane in the last 8 yrs.... outside of Ed Reed I think the hardest hitting safety out there... RIP

[OCALACANE]

We can't all be heroes because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.
Will Rogers (1879 - 1935)
Clap Loudly Canes!
Our Heroe has fallen...
26! Pray for us for we all hope to see U again!!!

[slim32]

You made me believe RIP

[Jake]

RIP Sean. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. This one hurts a lot. Sad, sad, day for the U family.

[Alex D]

My condolence goes out to the Taylor family. May Sean rest in peace, now we need to find out who those cowards are that slained both Bryan Pata and Sean Taylor.

[Seoul Cane]

To the Taylor family, I am truly sorry for your loss. We will miss you, Sean. RIP #26. Another terrible day for the U family and for humanity as a whole.

[Bryan]

R.I.P. Sean Taylor!!!!

[hornetcane]

HEAVEN NEEDED A HARD HITTING SAFETY AND GOD CHOSE SEAN AS HIS #1 CHOICE...IT WAS HIS TIME!

For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.

THANKS FOR THE GOOD TIMES SEAN...RIP

[IN_Cane]

This isn't right. This isn't fair. May God bless the Taylor family in this time of tragedy, and Sean, be at peace in a better place. You will be missed.

[DelrayCane]

Dear Sean Taylor - You didn't know me and I only knew what I saw of you on TV or read in the newspapers/online. I don't know what kind of person you were, but I thank you for the time you spent at UM. You provided, for me and the Hurricane Nation, endless moments of happiness, surprise, shock and awe. Your performance in "that" game against FSU is the stuff of legend. I am deeply saddened by your passing and hope for quick closure to this case. To your family, my thoughts and prayers are with you for your loss.

[KLCaneFan]

I'm devastated by the news of Sean Taylor's passing. He was so young and had so much to live for. I hope that the PD finds out who did this to him - the fact that his dad is the Florida City police chief can't hurt.

Rest in peace, Sean.

[MinnesotaCane4Life]

RIP Sean Taylor #26 You will be missed. God bless your family