Steve Taylor (quarterback)
Encyclopedia
Steve Taylor was a quarterback who played in the Canadian Football League
. Taylor had signed a four year contract with the Edmonton Eskimos
just one month after finishing his senior season with the University of Nebraska. The dual threat QB was selected in the 12th round by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts
during April 1989, but Taylor was already committed to playing in the CFL
.
Taylor played for four different CFL teams including the Eskimos, Calgary Stampeders
, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
, and the Ottawa Rough Riders
which began in the summer of 1989. He spent his entire career of eight seasons as a backup playing behind notable CFL starters such as Tracy Ham
and Doug Flutie
. His career passing statistics included 4,947 yards passing with 35 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. He completed 366-of-652 pass attempts during his CFL career.
as the starter for Nebraska from 1986 to 1988. His freshman season in 1985 included Taylor coming off the bench to help Nebraska nearly defeat Michigan
in the Fiesta Bowl - a game the Wolverines won, 27-23.
Taylor passed for 2,815 yards and rushed for 2,125 yards in a tailback predicated option offense that featured such excellent Husker runningbacks as Keith "Endzone" Jones, Doug Dubose, Tom Rathman
and Ken Clark
. He recorded 32 rushing touchdowns and 30 touchdown passes.
Taylor's best single season came as a senior in 1988 when he rushed 157 times for 826 yards and completed 72-of-151 passing attempts for 1,067 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He had 13 rushing touchdowns with a longest run of 60 yards as his Husker team completed an 11-2 season ranked No. 10 nationally in the AP poll.
One of Taylor's most memorable moments came on Sep. 12, 1987 in a 42-33 win over QB Troy Aikman
's UCLA Bruins
. Taylor threw for a school record five touchdown passes including a 48 yard scoring toss to WR Rod Smith and two approximate 35 yard touchdown passes to TE Todd Millikan. Taylor was 10-of-15 passing for 217 yards without an interception and had 12 rushes for 27 yards that included his sack yards.
Another such moment came when Nebraska played the famous former Detroit Lions
runningback, Barry Sanders
, and his Oklahoma State team
that went 10-2 that season. On Oct. 15, 1988, Taylor and Nebraska outscored Oklahoma St., 63-42, in a shootout in Lincoln, NE. Taylor overcame Sanders' 189 yard rushing performance with a solid performance of his own that included the Nebraska signal caller rushing 11 times for 140 yards while completing 6-of-11 passes for 92 yards. Taylor threw an 11 yard touchdown pass and scored on rushes of 60, 43, and nine yards in a game that included over 1,000 yards of total offense by the two teams combined.
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. Taylor had signed a four year contract with the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
just one month after finishing his senior season with the University of Nebraska. The dual threat QB was selected in the 12th round by the NFL's Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
during April 1989, but Taylor was already committed to playing in the CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Taylor played for four different CFL teams including the Eskimos, Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
, and the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
which began in the summer of 1989. He spent his entire career of eight seasons as a backup playing behind notable CFL starters such as Tracy Ham
Tracy Ham
Tracy Ham is a retired Canadian Football League quarterback for the Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts, Baltimore Stallions, and the Montreal Alouettes. He was known for his abilities as a dual threat quarterback...
and Doug Flutie
Doug Flutie
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. Flutie played college football at Boston College, and played professionally in the National Football League, Canadian Football League, and United States Football League...
. His career passing statistics included 4,947 yards passing with 35 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. He completed 366-of-652 pass attempts during his CFL career.
Collegiate career
Taylor's college football career was quite different. The 6-foot, 205-pound option quarterback was the perfect fit for Head Coach Dr. Tom Osborne's vaunted option offense. Taylor was 31-6 with a conference championship (Big Eight Champions - 1988)1988 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 1988 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.-Schedule:...
as the starter for Nebraska from 1986 to 1988. His freshman season in 1985 included Taylor coming off the bench to help Nebraska nearly defeat Michigan
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
in the Fiesta Bowl - a game the Wolverines won, 27-23.
Taylor passed for 2,815 yards and rushed for 2,125 yards in a tailback predicated option offense that featured such excellent Husker runningbacks as Keith "Endzone" Jones, Doug Dubose, Tom Rathman
Tom Rathman
Thomas Dean Rathman is a former American football fullback who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders . He is currently the running backs coach for the 49ers.-High school:...
and Ken Clark
Ken Clark (running back)
Kenneth R. Clark is a former professional American football player who played running back for three seasons for the Indianapolis Colts.-External links:*...
. He recorded 32 rushing touchdowns and 30 touchdown passes.
Taylor's best single season came as a senior in 1988 when he rushed 157 times for 826 yards and completed 72-of-151 passing attempts for 1,067 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He had 13 rushing touchdowns with a longest run of 60 yards as his Husker team completed an 11-2 season ranked No. 10 nationally in the AP poll.
One of Taylor's most memorable moments came on Sep. 12, 1987 in a 42-33 win over QB Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
's UCLA Bruins
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
. Taylor threw for a school record five touchdown passes including a 48 yard scoring toss to WR Rod Smith and two approximate 35 yard touchdown passes to TE Todd Millikan. Taylor was 10-of-15 passing for 217 yards without an interception and had 12 rushes for 27 yards that included his sack yards.
Another such moment came when Nebraska played the famous former Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
runningback, Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
, and his Oklahoma State team
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State Cowboys are the athletic teams that represent Oklahoma State University. Their mascot is a cowboy named Pistol Pete. Oklahoma State participates in the NCAA's Division I-A and in the Big 12 Conference's South Division. The university's current athletic director is Mike Holder...
that went 10-2 that season. On Oct. 15, 1988, Taylor and Nebraska outscored Oklahoma St., 63-42, in a shootout in Lincoln, NE. Taylor overcame Sanders' 189 yard rushing performance with a solid performance of his own that included the Nebraska signal caller rushing 11 times for 140 yards while completing 6-of-11 passes for 92 yards. Taylor threw an 11 yard touchdown pass and scored on rushes of 60, 43, and nine yards in a game that included over 1,000 yards of total offense by the two teams combined.
Personal life
Taylor is now a real estate sales associate with Home Real Estate in Lincoln, Nebraska where he, his wife, and their three daughters currently reside.Additional sources
- huskerpedia.com/games/1988/07oklahomastate.html