As a reference to former Longhorn football player Jake Ehlinger, Texas safety Michael Taaffe goes off on sign.
In response to a billboard that went viral from College Station honoring former Longhorn football player Jake Ehlinger, who passed away in 2021, Texas safety Michael Taaffe, who was instrumental in the Longhorns’ outstanding defense in a 17–7 victory over Texas A&M on Saturday night, took to social media.
The Longhorns, particularly fourth-year junior safety Michael Taaffe, were obviously offended by one of the placards that went viral from College Station before to Texas’ 17-7 victory over Texas A&M on Saturday night.
With an interception, a pass breakup, and a tackle for loss, Taaffe, the Longhorns’ second-leading tackler, contributed to a strong defensive effort in the team’s victory over the Aggies.
The history of Steve Sarkisian’s fight with addiction is extensive. Jake Ehlinger, a walk-on football player at Texas and the younger brother of former Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger, was discovered dead on May 6, 2021, at the age of 20.
Following Jake’s passing, Ehlinger’s family said in a statement that they think he consumed a dose of Xanax, a prescription medication, tainted with fentanyl and other harmful chemicals.
Taaffe is a close family friend of the Ehlingers and a graduate of Austin Westlake High School, where the Ehlingers also went.
After the game, Taaffe said, “I want to start by saying that I feel bad for the person who posted that sign.” “To believe that was a good idea, to think that it was okay, to think that it was appropriate for anything, regardless of rivalry, makes me feel bad for him because I have no idea what he’s going through or how much he’s struggling with in life. I just wanted to be clear about that.
The second issue is that Jake Ehlinger did not die from an overdose, just so everyone is aware. He was poisoned and drugged. He overdosed, yet he survived. He loved this team so much, and I wish he could have been a part of this. I want everyone to know that he was poisoned. He was drugged, though. He didn’t take too much. By no means was he a drug addict. I want to be really clear about that.
As the Longhorns caused two turnovers and prevented the Aggies’ offense from reaching the end zone, Taaffe made an interception at the Texas 7 with 7:48 remaining in the first quarter. A 93-yard pick-six in the third quarter was the sole point scored by A&M.
Prior to Saturday night’s game at Kyle Field, Taaffe admitted he was aware of the notice.
“Yeah, I did know about the sign before the game,” Taaffe replied. “And I knew that during rivalry games, supporters would attempt to get under your skin. And I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little affected by it. I had to use a lot of effort to keep my emotions in check.
“You know, I try to emphasize to myself that you should never act on your feelings because that’s when you start making poor choices. It required a lot of energy for me to suppress it.
“But, you know, with everything on the line, 13 years of waiting, with the SEC championship game at risk, it just made this game even more personal. When I take the field, I always give Jake Ellinger credit and appreciate him for his guidance and lessons, for which I am incredibly grateful.”
The defense of Texas produced three fourth-down stops, including a 3-yard tackle for loss by Ethan Burke on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with 4:36 remaining, two sacked by Vernon Broughton, and a strip-sack by Trey Moore. With 34 carries for 98 yards, Texas restricted A&M to 244 total yards and 2.9 yards per carry.
According to Taaffe, “The standard is the standard for our defense,” “Defending our paint and the end zone, regardless of the opponent, is our objective and what we advocate. Nobody is allowed to enter our end zone. We are proud of ourselves for that reason. Therefore, we put forth a lot of effort throughout the week to make sure that level is maintained. The guys up front make my job so much simpler, and I’m really pleased with them.”