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Taylor's TidbitsA Special WeekendWed, 12/12/07 I’m on the last leg of my trip back home and things have just now slowed down enough to have a chance to reflect on what was a pretty emotional weekend. As many of you know, I spoke at the 87th Notre Dame Football Banquet last Friday. It had been some 19 years prior that I sat in the same arena of the JACC as a wide-eyed recruit as super stars like Tony Rice, Chris Zorich, Coach Holtz, Raghib Ismail and others wowed me with their presence and air of confidence a mere year after winning the National Title. As a senior in high school, I remember that night almost two decades ago as having a particular feeling of excitement. With an agenda filled with motivational speeches, a 30-minute game-by-game highlight video, and a capacity crowd that erupted into applause seemingly after every play, the night had a very special and distinct feeling of celebration. The energy and hype were undeniable. So, needless to say, after an unfortunate 3-9 season filled with more disappointment than excitement, the overall energy of this year’s banquet was a little somber. There were a few less highlights, a few less rounds of applause, a few less tables, and therefore, a few less fans. A few less (OK, a lot less) wins will do that apparently, but for a banquet seemingly lacking the enthusiasm of years before, there was a distinct feeling of unity amongst the “intimate” crowd. And although the teams I played on had slightly better records, it was this feeling of unity that I so strongly remembered from my own time at Notre Dame. Whether it was our own football banquets, walking from Sacred Heart to the stadium after Mass, or being booed in the L.A. Coliseum as we prepared to go to battle with USC, I always felt part of something special that seemed to somehow transcend everything else (by the way, there is nothing better than getting booed at kickoff, only to hear the deafening silence of an opposing crowd after shoving the ball down their throat and scoring a touchdown on the road). Anyway, I strangely felt that feeling of togetherness again last Friday night at the banquet, and it was from that familiar place that I decided to speak from my heart and share with the crowd what that meant to me. I won’t go into great detail, but the speech itself focused on the significance and importance of the people in our lives. I shared that the people I met while at Notre Dame had had a tremendous impact on my life, and that everything that had happened in my life since leaving campus had Notre Dame written all over it in one way or another. And I also shared that it was the people I met while on campus that I remember most. For, in the end, it’s the people that make life, and Notre Dame, so special. BackPost new commentMan, I'm sorry, but we gotta have you log in. That's so we don't get spammed. Appreciate your understanding. Don't have an account?
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Comments
ABM
Aaron,
This is great just getting the opportunity to see what you have done with this web sight. i have been a fan since the early 60s when dad (who passed last year) sat me down on Sundays before mass every Sunday and taught me that this was my football team. This was the family college football team and boy did I buy in. It was the ND reruns. Lindsey Nelson became a great friend through that TV. I never attended ND. Heck I was the first one in my family to go to college let alone ND. But I want to say that even though this has been a very painful year for the Irish. I have great faith in them and I know that they will turn this around. Charlie Weis I believe is the answer. He will not rest until he brings this team back. I believe that. I also believe that he will make those teams that have mocked the Irish on the field pay for their deeds. He will do it by his total dedication and determination to make the team excellent. They also need guys like you on the sidelines. I hope and pray that you are asked to join the staff because those kids need you. They need to know what ND stands for from one who lived it as much as anything else. They never gave up this year though they were sorely outmatched. They never gave in though they had every reason to if they were lesser individuals. These young kids along with what is coming in this year and from here on out will turn this around. They have something very special upcoming this year. I know dad would have never believed that ND would be 3 and 9. He died last year before this all happened. But he never lost faith in ND and neither will any of us who really love the Irish. I can't wait for the kickoff against San Diego State. I hope that I see you there on the sidelines when it happens because I know that you'd be thrilled to go on for this new upcoming ride. It will be special.
ABM
Echoing
Aaron,
I want to echo what other's have said and thank you for this great site. And I agree with those who feel that you would make a good football coach. You are already an excellent life coach and I think that should be the first qualification of a football coach. But then again, if you don't see yourself as a football coach, have you ever pictured yourself as a priest (or minister)? I often find your Tidbits to be food for the soul.
Your Banquet Address
I watched you address the banquet on All Access. You did an excellent job. I've been a sub alum since I was in the first grade way back in 1946. Everything you talked about went right to the heart of the matter. Growing up I thought Notre Dame was it. But as a grew older and able to travel ,go to some home games meet some Alum and former players and even Sub Alum I realized there was more there than I could have imagined.
I took my last daughetr to sports camps there every year. The first evening on campus we sat on a bench looking at the Dome and I posed this question? "I wonder what my life would have been like if I had gone to school here?" My 10yrs old daughter replied, "Dad, you probably would have been somebody important."
I decided right then she would never have to ask her child than question.
She's in her second year now, and as I told her that day 10 years ago if I live to see her graduate from Notre Dame I'll die a happy man. I have come to believe that's what I was put here for and it looks like I'm going to get it done.
Long time no see.
Aaron,
It has been a lomg time. This is Chris Candelaria from Chicago. Mara and Rey are my sister and brother. You used to come and stay at the house with Derek Brown. It is great to see your web site is doing well I hope everything else in your life is going well. Mara is now the first female hispanic state representative in the state of Indiana history. She has two kids, a boy and a girl 8 and 7. Rey has three kids a boy 12, and two girls 5 and 2. I am blessed with two kids. A boy, Carlo(7) and Olivia(5). Our mom passed away on July 4th 2004. My dad is doing fine and he is now remarried. (whopee)How is everything going with you? I just wanted to drop you a line and touch base. Have you talked to Derek at all? I saw him when he stopped by with his son on the way to the Lou Holtz Banquet on the weekend of the Blue and Gold Game. Well I hope you get this. Have a great day!!!
Christian Candelaria
What's up?!!!
Hey budddy-
drop me an email at aaron.taylor@legendsofsouthbend.com and let's catch up!
So good to hear from you!
A
my appreciation
your comments are indicative of what the notre dame experience is all about..I applaud your class and the way you express yourself...I am one who also believes that coach weiss will turn it around..I was very surprised at the lack of cohesion on this years team but I also feel that the 'humble pie' ingested weekly will be turned into a 7- 8 win season next year and national champs in '09..keep up the excellent work aaron..
Aaron Taylor
The January 1, 1994 Dallas Texas $5 football program for Texas A&M vs Notre Dame Mobil Cotton Bowl Classic has a full page (pg. 8) picture of Aaron Taylor. The article is titled "Careful When Playing Re-Matches" Both teams 10-1. NOTRE DAME
ALL-AMERICAN OFFENSIVE TACKLE AARON TAYLOR ANCHORS AN EXCELLENT OFFENSIVE LINE THAT MAY BE THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY. TO ALL SEASONS GREETINGS ! ND 24 TEXAS A&M 21
Irish hopes for 2008
Aaron
I hear what you are saying for next year, but I really believe the Irish will pull out an 8-4 record. I am not just being a blind, hopeful fan. The schedule is softer and I believe that these boys are pissed off. When I watchd the Rocket at the pep rally, it was the under-classmen that were getting really fired up. I also believe in Coach Weis, I really do. I think he made some miscalculations; but he is acknowledging this fact. Weis is a stand up guy and the team and the recruits recognize that. He is no Petrino.
Tim Krutzmann
Can't wait
until ND starts dominating USC again on their own field.
Suggestion
AAron;
Terry here from Maine. I went to ND in the 60s - I remember John Huarte and Jack Snow and Norb Roy and Mike Lind and Nick Buonoconti and guys like that and I remember being in the service in the mid-east and listening to the 1966 USC game on the shortwave, where the Irish pulled out a 51-0 thriller. Legend has it that after the game John McKay, USC coach at the time, swore "I'll never lose to that Armenian bas**** again!" He referred of course to Ara "Ara stop the snow" Parseghian.
Anyway - you said you would NEVER want to be a position coach which is understandable, but with you enthusuasm for the Irish it strikes me that you might be a pretty good recruiter, especially for O line guys, which we are still short of. Is there any chance that that kid from Nebraska might committ? I sure hope so.
Just wondering. I am also a Patriots fan, so this is still a good year.
All the Best,
Terry