The Verdict Is In: GUILTY!

Eric Rivera, the worthless punk who shot and killed former University of Miami football legend Sean Taylor in 2007 during a botched burglary attempt was found guilty today of second degree murder. He was also convicted of burglary and assault while armed.

We are not going to waste any more time or typing on the scum who killed our Hurricane hero. Instead we will post the article that we wrote about ST#26 a several years ago and post every year in April and November on the anniversary of his birth and death in honor of one of the greatest players ever to put on a helmet at The U. We post it today as a result of the verdict being announced:

Sean Michael Maurice Taylor was born in Miami on April 1, 1983.

Perhaps by fate, maybe by coincidence, it was later that same year that the University of Miami, behind a quarterback named Kosar and coach named Schnellenberger, would win their first college football National Championship by beating heavily favored Nebraska in the Orange Bowl.

That game, which put the UM program on the big-time college football map, has often been referred to as the "Miracle in Miami".  Sean's Taylor's birth in April of that year could also be seen as a miracle for what this young man would soon bring to this team and its fans in his home town.

Sean would grow up in a tough South Dade neighborhood and later attend Gulliver High School where he would help them win the Class 2A State Title and become the #1 ranked prep player in the County by the Miami Herald.  Sean was so dominant at this level that he played multiple positions including running back, linebacker and defensive back for that team.

After a spectacular Senior season and a hotly contested recruiting battle for this star athlete, Sean decided to attend the University of Miami.  It would prove to be somewhat ironic that Sean would wind up being one of only four true freshmen to play in 2001 on the Hurricanes fifth National Championship team.

Even at this early stage, Sean's life had seemingly come full circle.  From being born during the Miracle in Miami season of 1983 to contributing to what was arguably the best UM team ever, the Canes 2001 championship team.  Sean Taylor had already become a hometown hero and would soon become a true legend in the 305.

As Junior at UM in 2003, after beating FSU at Doak Campbell Stadium in the pouring rain seemingly all by himself, Sean would win a slew of college football awards.

After that season, Sean decided it was time to take the next step and would opt for the NFL draft. He would be the first of six Canes selected in the first round that year (an NFL record) when he was drafted fifth overall by the Washington Redskins.

By 2006 there was no doubt that Sean Taylor had become the dominant player at his position and was honored by being selected to the NFL Pro-bowl that year.  Nicknamed "Meast" by teammates for being part man, part beast, Sean would become one of the most feared hitters in the NFL.

Entering his third year as a Redskin, Sean seemed to be at the top of his game and the NFL talent pool.  By the tenth week of the NFL season he was tied for the league lead in interceptions and was considered an automatic selection for his second straight Pro-Bowl.

Then came the fateful night of November 26, 2007.

Sean Taylor, while at home asleep with his wife and 18 month-old daughter, awoke to a loud noise in his home.  In an effort to protect his family, Sean confronted the would-be burglars.  He was shot once and would later die from the severe loss of blood as his femoral artery was torn apart by the single bullet.

That night would end the life of a real Hurricane hero.

Sean Taylor's sudden and tragic death shocked his family, friends, teammates and the Hurricane faithful.  When he died the day following the shooting, we promised to never forget his contributions to the University of Miami.

This blog article is our simple way of proving that we have not forgotten Sean Taylor, #26, who played at The U and was proud to wear the orange and green.

Some memories and images never fade.

Even now, if you close your eyes, you can probably still see him, #26 back peddaling into open space, picking off another deep pass, splashing through the rain and the mud at the Doak, weaving down the field behind several blockers, refusing to be denied and diving into the end zone for a pick six.

That is how we will remember Sean Taylor, as a miracle of a man who at times seemed completely capable of beating the other team all by himself.

 

Related articles

Sean Taylor's Legend Lives On

The Birth Of A Man And A Miracle

Sean Taylor murder trial jury deliberations day four

Jury in day 4 of deliberations in Taylor case

Comments

[WWIN]

From the game....

Was it just me or was everybody else annoyed by seeing Winston squinting to the sidelines every play??? No way he could see, his eyes were completely shut, he has to be legally blind.

[SOUP]

Chris Yandle ‏@ChrisYandle 49s

Al Golden on bullying: "There's no place for bullying in the workplace or in athletics. It's our job as leaders to protect the workplace."

[SOUP]

Susan Miller Degnan ‏@smillerdegnan 3m

#UM coach Al Golden on Duke's surgery: "All indications are everything went well. He has a great personality and is resilient.''

[SOUP]

Ohio...I don't think it is "WE" the collective blog at large, I think it is just one or a few. Don't generalize it that far to include the whole group as "WE".

[Terrance Sullivan]

Well said Soup. Most in the group have perspective unfortunately we do have a few space cadets in our group lol. Love em all though. CaneSpace Fam rocks!

[Ohio_Cane]

Ohio...I don't think it is "WE" the collective blog at large, I think it is just one or a few. Don't generalize it that far to include the whole group as "WE".

Posted by: SOUP | November 05, 2013 at 12:46 PM
----------------------------------------

Fair enough, and wasn't meaning to generalize an entire fanbase, as I'm one of those fans and don't want to fire any of the coaches.

We, specifically, was aimed at our Canes Family of fans. Small or large in group should've been specified.

[Ohio_Cane]

^^ Oh, and "we" was not limited to this blog, just happened to be where I posted it.

[CaneRock]

And when you look at it, football is basically 5 games in 1.

The QB is playin' His game with the safeties...the WRs are playing their games with the CBs...the OLine is playing their games with the D-Line...and the RBs are playing their games with the LBs.

So let's see here, FSU has Winston,Freeman,Wilder,Williams,Green,Benjamin, and O'Leary. So we're supposed to play man to man against THAT! LMAO!

[Ohio_Cane]

@InsideCarolina: BREAKING: Sources confirm shoulder injury ends QB Bryn Renner’s #UNC career. http://insideca.ro/175bC64

WOW!

[CGNC]

wwin - lol if he cannot see he sure can throw LOL. I think it was probably due to the lights.

[Ohio_Cane]

wwin - lol if he cannot see he sure can throw LOL. I think it was probably due to the lights.

Posted by: CGNC | November 05, 2013 at 01:02 PM
-----------------------------------------

Winston wears contacts. Doesn't wear them while playing football. Has to squint to see play calls.

[jsy]

Golden is a great ceo and coley needs time it's dno and only dno I wish could be replaced. We as fans talk about talent and needing more talent why don't we hold our dc to that same standard. I know we improved this year but come on we couldn't do anything but improve we were ranked in the 100s last year and how can u say that it's purely lack of talent. Butch during probation with a group much less talented never fielded a defense that bad. Shannon with dough boy cook and Romeo I'm going to pull on this guys hand warmer Davis didnt field a defense this bad. How can golden tell his fans we are going to go get the best recruits when he doesn't hold his dc to the same standard. Last year Clemson gives up a lot of yards in their bowl game and Dabo goes out and gets the dc from ou. Les miles at lsu sees his oc is sub par so he gets cam Cameron and now look at how their offense is now. Why will golden not hold his dc accountable? There are many teams even within acc that has far inferior talent than we do yet consistently play better d than us since dno was here. Can anyone of u guys please explain how that is possible if our biggest reason for subpar defense is lack of talent? How does bama get shut down by vt who had a far worse offense than we do, how do teams with inf talent play better defense than us? If u guys can honestly say its the talent and not dno then I will accept that fact and move on but please I can't think of any good reason to say the talent is worse than dno when I see so many dc field better defenses with so much less than we have.

[SinisterCane]

How many times have you heard Al in post game interviews saying players have to trust the coaches? Basically recruiting aggressive players who don't believe in NOd butter-scotch scheme.

[CGNC]

Hell Stevie Wonder plays the Piano, maybe if we close our eyes we might be able to bump into the QB.

Posted by: herbieibis | November 05, 2013 at 11:55 AM

NOW THAT IS FUNNY!!!

[CGNC]

Oh Miami Dolphins. Why can't I just have a normal team?

[SOUP]

Ohio...fair enough, I don't want anyone fired either.

But also consider that the criticism of Coach D did not start AFTER the FSU game, it has been going on for over 2 years now.

Let's finish STRONG, continue to improve on offense, shut down VT, UVA, Pitt and Duke (toughest of all?) defensively and meet FSU again in a few weeks for the ACC title and ALL will be forgotten and forgiven.

[SOUP]

jsy...I gotta admit U do make some GOOD points in your arguements.

[Ohio_Cane]

I understand the Coach D criticism and have watched it basically since he came here.

I'm not always a fan of what he's doing with our defense, but the improvement from last year to this has been dramatic.

I realize we had to go up from where we were, but that big of a jump? Come on, he's doing SOMETHING right.

[herbieibis]

JSY,
It's a combination of both but we don't have enough talent and that's all I'll say in Deno's defense or Al's or whomever is running that defense. Blitzing has not been the answer because we suk at trying to blitz. It seems that when we try we are 3 weeks late getting there. as far as talent goes, it's been 10 years since we've gotten our talent to play at the level they should play at, consistently and yes we've had more talent than anyone in this league, with the exception of FSU.
Butch did have a bad defense, although it was young at the time when we coughed up 66 pts. to the Cuse in the late 90's But those pups would go on to be the foundation for our success in the early 2000's, plus he was just coming out of probation and the loss of 20 to 30 ships.

[CalgaryCane]

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | November 05, 2013 at 01:27 PM

Please keep in mind too that our less than stellar results have been in large part due to our Offence.

[CaneRock]

How can golden tell his fans we are going to go get the best recruits when he doesn't hold his dc to the same standard. Last year Clemson gives up a lot of yards in their bowl game and Dabo goes out and gets the dc from ou.

Posted by: jsy | November 05, 2013 at 01:12 PM

LMAO!

And what did FSU do to that DC this year...

And you say Shannon never had bad defenses, what do you call our last game in the OB?...or to Oklahoma that same season? You know why we got DRUBBED! in those games...TALENT! Or lack thereof!

And I disagree with you on Butch, He fielded some HORRIBLE! defenses His first couple of years!

[jsy]

Ohio I agree we made improvements but let me show u something currently we rank at 31 in total defense giving up 364.1 yds per game. Now if u subtract the truly scrub teams of fau, usf, sav state and look at only acc play and uf we are giving up 438.4 yds per game and currently Boise is in 94 place giving up 438.2 yds per game so our adjusted ranking would be 95 in total d. Last year when I adjusted the stats with only acc, kstate and nd we gave up 492 yds a game. That would have placed us between Indiana and temple at 117. So our improvement is not that impressive it's fools gold bc of the scrub teams.

[jsy]

My issue is not just the fsu games and Dabo and miles are just examples of a hc who is proactive. At least they are trying to fix the issues. Golden needs to be proactive and we as fans need to stop saying its just talent gap from the players side because our biggest talent gap is with opposing coaches not players. I know the players arent all American yet but golden is actively trying to make that a reality but he needs to find a better dc too. When the u is the u we sent just as many coaches to the league as players can u honestly say dno will make it one day?

[Go Canes]

I'm really happy with every aspect of this team.

In my opinion they are light years ahead of where they should be considering everything that's happened in Coral Gables over the last three years.

Just because the NCAA thing is over today, we can't forget the damage it did to this program. We lost out on perhaps a dozen top recruits over that period directly because of what was going on. There is little depth on this team in large part because of that.

We still have major gaps to fill and in my opinion Coach D is playing a defense that best suits the talent we have AT THIS MOMENT.

Plenty of brighter days ahead.

Thanks and Go Canes!!

[CaneRock]

When the u is the u we sent just as many coaches to the league as players can u honestly say dno will make it one day?

Posted by: jsy | November 05, 2013 at 01:58 PM

And you want Bud Foster why?...PLEASE!

[jsy]

Foster just has stayed loyal to Beemer for too long it's not a lack of talent that keeps him there it's just speculation but I believe if by a miracle we got foster this year after 3 years teams would come calling.
And I only wanted foster bc there is a potential situation up at vt that would make him available. But I would rather have barrow running the d than dno.

[j.w.]

JSY: Butch had a lot more talent, especially on the line, than D'Onofrio did almost every year. And the defense wasn't good at all in Butch's 1997-1999 years, we were torched worse than ever against Syracuse and UCLA in the late 90's, on Butch's watch. Shannon's defenses in the mid-2000's played against mostly inept ACC offenses, their stats may have looked better, but they were beaten badly by good offenses several times. We need difference makers, and they were hard to find with the NCAA cloud overhead for three years.

[CaneRock]

Don't nobody want Foster except Beamer.

Did you not see what Andrew Luck do to that HIGHSCHOOL DEFENSE!

Did you not see Lamar Miller run through that HIGHSCHOOL DEFENSE in 2010!

Do you not remember Willis McGahee RUN THROUGH that defense for 6 TDS!

Did you not see Dorsey TORCH! that defense in 2000?

And besides, why would I want a coach, who was a part of a staff, that THREATENED! one of OUR recruits on NSD!

PHUCK! Foster!

[jsy]

Canerock I'm not saying he's the answer but he's still superior to dno. Those examples you gave are true but basically dno has career days put up against him almost every game.

[jsy]

And if foster runs a hs defense what does dno run? A two hand touch defense?

[SOUP]

Just because the NCAA thing is over today, we can't forget the damage it did to this program. We lost out on perhaps a dozen top recruits over that period directly because of what was going on. There is little depth on this team in large part because of that.

Plenty of brighter days ahead.

Thanks and Go Canes!!

Posted by: Go Canes | November 05, 2013 at 02:01 PM

THIS.

[CaneRock]

And if foster runs a hs defense what does dno run? A two hand touch defense?

Posted by: jsy | November 05, 2013 at 02:42 PM

He ran a HELLUVA! better defense than one Will Muschamp...with LESS TALENT!

[SinisterCane]

Don't nobody want Foster except Beamer.

Did you not see what Andrew Luck do to that HIGHSCHOOL DEFENSE!

Did you not see Lamar Miller run through that HIGHSCHOOL DEFENSE in 2010!

Do you not remember Willis McGahee RUN THROUGH that defense for 6 TDS!

Did you not see Dorsey TORCH! that defense in 2000?

And besides, why would I want a coach, who was a part of a staff, that THREATENED! one of OUR recruits on NSD!

PHUCK! Foster!

Posted by: CaneRock | November 05, 2013 at 02:29 PM

That's NOd stats sheet for 1 season

[jsy]

Soup we keep pointing to depth and talent as the reason our defense is subpar gt is ranked 14 currently in total d, vt is number 3 can we as fans honestly keep saying that depth and talent is the biggest issue when teams who consistently have less talent do more. I know our talent isn't where we are used to but to keep giving dno a pass saying its the talent nd depth that's the issue is wrong and not fair to the players or the fans.

[CaneRock]

JSY, fact of the matter is, you woulda been bitchin'-n-gripin' after Maryland came back on JJ's team His 1st year...after JJ got blown out in the Sugar Bowl to UT...after Shannon got blown out the OB to UVA...after Shannon got blown out to OU in 08'...after Butch got blown out to Syracuse...after Butch got blown out to FSU for several years.

You sound like a Johnny Come Lately fan, while the real fans, have seen this movie before.

[jsy]

CR 413 vs 212 the only reason we won was bc driskel decided to channel his inner kyle wright/ freeman against us. We won and a good win at that but to say dno is a better defensive mind than muschamp is just crazy talk.

[Go Canes]

jsy in the second half of games leading up to FSU we gave up a very lated TD to Georgia Tech up 24 with our second string in, six points to UNC and one broken play TD to Wake Forest.

With those results who is give Coach D a pass?

FSU was just better than us, in every way a team can be. Live with it and move on my friend.

We will still finish 10-1 and go to the ACC Championship game then a very good bowl.

That's really good considering where we have been for the last three years.

[jsy]

CR why am I not a "real" fan? Is it bc I want DNO gone? Is it bc i want excellence and accountability at every level? Is it bc I dont think DNO will ever allow us to be elite when he game in and game out gets out coached? And yes i did bitch and moan when those above happened except the difference is that those were isolated incidences squeezed between alot of good wins. I know all teams can lay an egg once in a while but DNO has been consistently bad and laying eggs for almost 3 years. its not just an isolated incidence. And butch only got blown out 1 yr to fsu and that was 47-0.

I dont know who you are or anything about you but I wouldnt call you a fake fan for disagreeing with my view point. Isnt the mantra of this blog for the fans by the fans. Every point I made was an opinion based on my obervations. I never once made a personal attack or said anything remotely unprofessional towards another so why question my fan realness?

Btw i went to undergrad, medical school, and I did my residency at the U. After finishing residency I moved up to NY and I gave half my first check to Miller School of Medicine bc I love the U so much. So please dont question if I'm a real fan. U can go to their wall of donors in the lobby and see my name there if u want. Disagree with my points and arguments but dont question my intentions all im trying to do is express my disappointment in DNO

[CaneRock]

JSY, where was all this Negative Nancy-ing when we were 7-0? You sound like one of those folks who's all for you when you're up, but wanna jump on somebody when they're down.

You see, that's dat $hit that CaneRock don't like!

[SOUP]

He ran a HELLUVA! better defense than one Will Muschamp...with LESS TALENT!

Posted by: CaneRock | November 05, 2013 at 02:53 PM

I see what U did there!

[SOUP]

Only ONE way to tell a REAL Canes fan:

They have green AND orange hoses on the side of their houses.

[jsy]

Hahaha soup that is true. CR I guess it comes across that way but i guess when I kept hearing ppl saying its the lack of talent constantly after fsu I just wanted to add that I really feel it's more on dno than lack of talent. Trust me man in the end we want the same thing it's just we have defferring views on how to get there

[CGNC]

Posted by: Ohio_Cane | November 05, 2013 at 01:05 PM

I know. I thought maybe the lights contributed to the squinting

[Terrance Sullivan]

Rock give em hell Bruh! I love It!

[j.w.]

jsym if you've been associated with the U for that long, you've seen a lot worse than this before. And for what its worth, other teams are saying D'Onofrio gave them the blueprint of how to contain Winston.

[LA3]

Def....our def has not been good all year. Even against UF...their off was just worst than ours. But against NC and WF were bleedling out. We won because we scored last..NC almost did. FSU...they played hard but they were on the field way to long.
It is TEAM sport. Def get worn out becuz Off has not and can not sustain drives on regular basis.

And we all have to look at STAFF....Off playing calling is not good but WR were running open in last 3 games. Oline and QB need to step up. Def. we can pressure with 4 and LB/DB take bad angles and mis tackles...or is it lack speed...or being told don't get beat deep. NO ONE comes up to lay a HIT on anyone. No one is wreckless! We had chances to hit Winston but it was not a manic attempt to HIT him...it was controlled effort...worried about gaps. And our BLITZ packages stink.
I would be happier if we lined up with 8 in box with men over the gaps....not just position players so O-line can engage them every play. And that WEARS out D-line.

Big Al's nature is not gambling or risk taker. And he will never get Def C that does. He is blue collar, hard working, stay within the norms, kind of guy. He is not inventing anything or cutting edge!!!!!

[CalgaryCane]

FWIW FSU's results thus far;
41-13
62-7
54-6
54-6
48-3
63-0
51-14
49-17
41-14

Pitt did better than us... must be a whole lot of bad DC's out there.

Seriously... if our Offence did get going, FSU would have been shaken.

[j.w.]

sorry about that jys, my fingers hit inadvertant keys all the time and after 25 years of trying I haven't figured out how to avoid typos.

[jsy]

I'm just sensing a pattern similar to nix bc at first with nix all he kept saying was team needs to follow assignments and very similar excuses dno uses and we even as fans kept saying it was the lack of talent due to Coker. It worries me that dno isn't like him

[LA3]

Defense Talent....I think we have some good to great talent. Just throwing some young "BALLERS" out there....given chance or allowed to play!!!

DB's will be good:#3 Howard.#2 Bush. #1 Burns will be shut down corner. #26 Jenkins will get better. All under classmen. Not sure if #21 Crawford, #12 Carter, or #29 Elder. Bethel III should be GOOD too.

Need one with elite cover skills and one hybrid S/LB that can run with TE or come up to support run. (Think #26 ST). And then let loose....let em play to their strengths and not so much scheme!