Trooper addresses Texas rumor

By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer
      Tennessee sportswriters promised Trooper Taylor, OSU’s new co-offensive coordinator, would be a quote gold mine, an assistant coach the media would love. They were right. Taylor was on the road assisting OSU’s recruiting efforts his first two weeks on the job. Finally given a chance to interview him on Friday, Taylor more than met expectations.
      Taylor’s response to a rumor that Texas coach Mack Brown tried to sway him to join his program days after having a hand shake deal with OSU coach Mike Gundy, was an indication of Taylor’s honesty and his ability to give the media a good quote.
      “It was flattering (Texas was interested) but coach Gundy and I, and what we’re trying to get done here…,” Taylor said, stopping in mid-sentence. “To me if you chase two rabbits you’re not going to catch either one of them. Once you focus and set your mind on something you can’t let things distract you even though it might sound greener or some people think it’s better.”

        Taylor said Art Briles, Baylor’s new coach, visited him and his family in Knoxville and offered the offensive coordinator at his alma mater. Taylor turned them down.

       ”The reason was I had already experienced that,” Taylor said. “I was there as an assistant. I was there as a player… They put a real good package together. But for me I had already experienced that. I wanted to come and see something different. I feel that helps you grow as a coach and a person.”