The Birth Of A Man And A Miracle

Every year in April and again in November, in honor of Sean Taylor's birth and tragic death, Canespace will dedicate a memorial feature to recognize his contributions to the University of Miami.

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 choose to remember Sean Taylor.  As a miracle of a man who at times seemed completely capable of beating the other team all by himself.

Comments

[VA Cane]

1st!!!

[CaneRock]

FIRST! WHAT! HUH!...WHAT!

[CaneRock]

DAMN!...a tie. Congrats to me & VA Cane LMAO!

[VA Cane]

What an honor to be first on the article about one of our greatest players!!!!! If I had 22 guys that played like this cat, I would never lose a game!!!!! This should be an example to all involved...players and coaches and fans....as how this game is played. Hats off and a VA Country Azz Cane salute to The Man ST26!!!

[VA Cane]

and an honor to be tied with the great CR!!!!

[SOUP]

We haven't seen such good footwork from white guys since the last season of dancing with the stars.

Posted by: UpNorthCane | April 01, 2014 at 11:40 AM

Very funny! LMAO

[UMike]

Truly great... R.I.P.

[Ohio_Cane]

Ohio.. dude your full of it lol... You say just as much as me, but then say some shyt like "U prove every day that you'll go to any length to extend your argument, no matter how ridiculous."... as if you never said anything.... your EXACT words were...

"I just refuse to get down about a DB being beat, IN PRACTICE, twice. U say multiple times, but I've seen 2. TWO. Find me another and I'll change my answer. I've watched every video of practice, multiple times. "

So I post ONE video and he gets beat 3 times in that ONE video alone... to add to that you yourself posted a tweet about Coley beating him, that alone is 4 times,.. so if I am correct 4 is more than the 2 you said was require to change your answer. So once I prove it was more than twice you resort to saying I cant include 1 on 1's in my opinion, GTFOH with that bs... but like CR said it wont matter since your boy D'No will have him 10 yards off the line anyway

Also.. I have said "moving on" at least twice, so who exactly keeps extending this argument?

#ExcusesCauseImAHomer

Posted by: UMike | April 01, 2014 at 12:46 PM
--------------------------------------

1. 4 times = #BurntAllSpring? Got it.

2. "GTFOH"? UH OH! I thought we weren't allowed to use this "tough guy" lingo? U tried to castrate me for using that towards U.

3. My boy D'No? Lol, mmmkay pumpkin.

4. After U said "moving on", U kept going, in response to me, Go Canes, etc. If you're moving on, stop responding.

Lastly,

5. Here is 3 clips of Richard Sherman getting beat. Can't believe he got burnt all year...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTpEQmTo8Mc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBgVZIQfEps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-J2wJ8KOXU

#BurntAllSpring

[Ohio_Cane]

Garrett Kidd beats our DBs in 1 on 1 drills. He should prob be starting.

[UMike]

Ohio.. there you go AGAIN responding... so take your little cute hashtags and move on.. got it?

[SOUP]

SportsCenter ‏@SportsCenter 59m

BREAKING: Tiger Woods underwent surgery for a pinched nerve in his back and will miss the Masters. pic.twitter.com/ICRfteMzXg

Did I just hear the TV producers from CBS that covers The Masters yell "DAMN IT!" out loud? Yeah, I think that is what I heard, pretty sure abpout it.

[AeroCane]

Mike man you're the one who brought this up in a new blog. I'll get you on a whole new topic - maybe Howard is awesome and just keeps getting beat because our DC and DB coaches suck and have them out of place!

[Ohio_Cane]

Ohio.. there you go AGAIN responding... so take your little cute hashtags and move on.. got it?

Posted by: UMike | April 01, 2014 at 01:05 PM
-----------------------------------------

I'll respond as much as I want on here until I'm banned. Got it?

[AeroCane]

Oops - I meant ohio - sorry

[Ohio_Cane]

Mike man you're the one who brought this up in a new blog.

Posted by: AeroCane | April 01, 2014 at 01:06 PM
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No, I brought it up here. Carried over from last blog.

[UMike]

Aero.. all I said was it was concerning to see our top DB get beat so many times... then Captain Homer had to run to his defense. I know TH3 is a good CB, but from what I have seen this spring its a bit worrisome imo.

Ohio, if you want to keep going thats fine with me, I can argue until the blog comes down, but dont say Im the one who keeps extending the argument. So keep on with your girly hashtags even thought I already proved you wrong an hour ago.

[UMike]

Sometimes you just got to let a homer have his moments

[raizecane]

Wow - changing subjects - just curious - where is the camping trip this weekend?

Posted by: AeroCane | April 01, 2014 at 12:51 PM

***************************************

Wekiva State park located in lovely Longwood, florida

[Ohio_Cane]

U've proved nothing other than U can talk bad about the team even with hardly any evidence (FOUR times getting beat out of hundreds of reps in practice) and can run with it to say someone has been awful and you're very worried about them.

Let me make an example. Try to follow along...

U post half of your comments negative. The other half, positive. Are U negative ALL THE TIME? No.

TH3 gets beat a few times (negative). The rest of the time he doesn't (positive). Does he get beat ALL THE TIME?

U see where I'm going?

[Ohio_Cane]

UMike, U "worry" more than anyone on this blog, man. Answer my question from the last blog. If our DBs NEVER got beat, would U worry about the WRs?

[Terrance Sullivan]

RIP Sean Taylor

[UMike]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir7fMQXdNKw

^^ He is beat at the 0.14 mark, just a bad throw.

Gets beat again at the 0.50 mark.

Gets beat BAD a the 1:55 mark.

Again beat bad at the 3:20 mark.

That is just ONE video, also, no other CB, Safety or LB was getting beat as constantly as TH3.

He got beat bad in the scrimmage and again against Coley. In YOUR words it was twice, wrong again.

My point is... and my ONLY point is, our top CB, our 5-Star CB, our black jersey CB shouldnt be getting beat that often, that was basically ONE practice. I'm not saying he isnt good, just that video and others are a little worrisome.

That is all I am going to post, if you want to go on you can, I will be talking about other topics.

[SOUP]

Al Golden interview from either today or yesterday. He finally announces Gray Crow as starting QB!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNJT7PyoUz0&feature=em-uploademail

[SOUP]

"Worry is like a rocking chair,
It keeps U busy, but gets U nowhere."

[UMike]

lol SOUP.. the starting scout team QB maybe... and I said it was worrisome, Im not worried personally, my Canes have sucked for almost a decade now and my life as gone on just fine lol.. so no need to worry.

[SOUP]

Ohio and UMike...U guys should get a room! LOL

[UMike]

Ohio knows he is my boy..we just have strong opinions and feel the need to prove them right lol

[Ohio_Cane]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir7fMQXdNKw

^^ He is beat at the 0.14 mark, just a bad throw.

Gets beat again at the 0.50 mark.

Gets beat BAD a the 1:55 mark.

Again beat bad at the 3:20 mark.

Posted by: UMike | April 01, 2014 at 01:21 PM
----------------------------------------

1. U won't find much better coverage on a fade route.

2. Yes he did.

3. Yes he did.

4. Yes he did.

Again, what DB in the country is keeping up with 4.3 Dorsett on a go route with no help? Find me one.

[The Dude]

ST26, the baddest.

[Ohio_Cane]

Ohio knows he is my boy..we just have strong opinions and feel the need to prove them right lol

Posted by: UMike | April 01, 2014 at 01:30 PM
---------------------------------------

Str8 up. You're still wrong to worry. Lol

[Ohio_Cane]

I think U saying "burnt all spring" just irked me because that's overshooting it by a lot. Retract those 3 words and we're good. Otherwise, I'm going to keep going. LOL

[RCCF]

when is ProDay????

RCCF

[The Dude]

I wouldn't be too concerned UMike. Our WRs may be the best in the country. And none of us are there to see the whole practice.

[UMike]

Well you go ahead and keep going, Im sticking with my story haha

[UMike]

I do like our WR's and TE's and RB's... if we can just convert on 3rd down now lol

[VA Cane]

From a different perspective.....from someone who played it in HS and college and has coached it for long time.....as far as one on one Man corner, in my opinion is the toughest position on the field. A QB may have to know more....but when you did what I and many others did and do....its gonna happen...you are gonna get beat....I have been beat....practice, scrimmage, games...happens....but you learn to have super memory loss re: beat....you learn from your mistakes refine your fundamentals and technique....watch your film...and go back after it. The greats get beat....I was fortunate to see practice with and learn first hand due to my godfather from 3 of the best I have ever seen or that have been...Willie Brown, Mike Haynes, Lester Hayes.....I went to a coaching clinic once and Deion taught a whole day....he may not tackle but damn he could cover....all of them get beat and they will tell you that...it aint no big deal so stop dealing about it til you done it mate...you're on an island against great speed and talent...you will get beat....you learn to correct it and deal with it....no big thing if you have done it been there Easy Does It fellas...JMO and 2 cents.....

[SOUP]

if we can just convert on 3rd down now lol

Posted by: UMike | April 01, 2014 at 01:34 PM

I seriously think IF we can raise our offensive 3rd down conversion ratio by 10% and drop our defensive third down allowance rate by 10% we could play FSU for the ACC title this year.

We have gotten stronger.

The team is more unified than in recent past.

We have more talent than the last few years.

Our penalties against have gone down.

Turnover ratio has improved.

Now all we have to do EXECUTE a little better and play more consistently.

Then in 2015, we go all the way to the playoff cvhampionship game.

[Lurker]

VA so you were a cornerback?

[UMike]

SOUP,. I agree with that. The D needs to get off the field and the O needs to stay on... I still have NO faith in D'No, but Im hoping the talent will cover up some of his deficiencies lol

[30CINCO]

#TrendingUp!

[HawaiiCane]

PRACTICE, are we talking about PRACTICE?

LOL! That AI3 quote will never die.

[trianglecane]

Barry Jackson

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sports-buzz/

[UpNorthCane27]

Sean Taylor the greatest Cane ever and the Greatest football player ever in my humble opinion!!!

ST26 RIP and happy bday!!

[Terrance Sullivan]

Totally agree Soup

[SOUP]

UMike...U may be a little too young to remember this but what I would give for a 1972 era Miami Dolphins SUSTAINED drive right about now! Shula was the head coach, Schelly was their OC, Griese at QB and Csonka, Kick and Morris at RB with Twilley and Warfield at WR.

They would go on these epic 14 play drives for 80 yards and convert like three third and 2's, a few third and 6's or 12's and just grind the other team's defense into submission in a 1 PM game in Miami in September. It was thing of beauty to behold.

Now U got a play every 13 seconds, no huddle and throwing the ball around like the harlem globetrotters. I HATE IT! They have ruined football IMHO and turned it into basketball where the team with the ball last throws up a 3 point shot and wins at the buzzer. Give me OLD SKOOL football any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

[SOUP]

SOUP IS OUT!

[VA Cane]

Yes I played LCB in HS and college way back in the day when Man meant you could do anything you wanted until the ball was in the air.....and believe me I did...hold...punch...jab...grab.... gouge...kick...bite LOL!!!!

This is the one thing I can say as well....this is what Spring Ball is for for these guys....fundamentals, technique, practice...so that in the fall when we start counting Ws and Ls you will be ready prepared!!!!!

[VA Cane]

Give me OLD SKOOL football any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

.....this is why my guys are 79-3 over the past 7 years and have won 5 of the last 7 titles.....we dominate destroy defy and defeat all comers....the old way...we run it down your throat......then open you up and expose you to the pass.....and we absolutely maul you punish you hurt you beat you until you quit....with fundamentals and intensity as a team...old style still works....bring that spread on we beat it all the time!!!!!

Thats my problem with these morons coaching on Friday Night Tykes....yea their loud mouth asses got all the sayings down....but no substance no fundamentals no technique no coaching...the kids are pretty good coaches out there for themselves....not to teach kids fundamentals technique TEAM FIRST.....just to yell Punch em in the mouth....or we dont want any scores or smack them in the head....dumbasses.....thats not the way I do it I have never seen so many backs get outside in my life.....damn thats the first thing a corner does...turn it back in to the pursuit that ought to be coming hard like a freight train!!!!!!!!!

[VA Cane]

Couple things....MLB opens Down Under boooooo.....then allows Barry Bonds the melon head cheater loser asshole attitude give McCutchen the MVP award.....I would have kicked Bonds in his shriveled up non existent juiced up steroid [email protected]@king chump....and as for Braun....dumb ass cheese heads give him as standing O.....cheater liar loser don't care that he went to UM stain on the U baseball....these guys have no respect for the damn game they play....and the commissioner who let it all happen should get a cod shot as well screw Selig the jerk!!!

[VA Cane]

Good points Soup....we need to get off the field a lot more on defense. We need to get that breather on D.....we need more pressure up front we need more intensity ie animal behavior blasting people....and get the coverage better. Little more in the run game, protect the passer...we should have good playmakers at WR.....we can go much further....its really on the D shoulders...can you imagine a film session with Dno.....you think he would have some excuses? I can only imagine them....but it is what we have now and you go with it. I am willing to say if things do not improve quite a bit that Dno will have to leave next year....theres no way AG can cover for the poor streak and bowl game of last year, have another year like it and keep making excuses for him....it would be unacceptable. got to get the D right this year this is it. willing to give him a chance no real choice but got to get better.