[scottditzen]

1) That game at the Rubber Bowl against a ranked Virginia Tech team where he had a bushel of tackles, several sacks, an interception (I think), a forced fumble (and recovery) on kick-off coverage, and a blocked kick (extra point?). Don't remember the exact stat line, but it was the most impressive performance by a Zips defender probably ever. NFL scouts were there to watch a highly-touted VT DT, and Taylor absolutely stole the show and got him the national notice he so richly deserved. It was a miserable November night, weather wise, but I am so glad I was there to see what he did. Only a win could have made it sweeter. (EDIT: Found the stat line from the 1996 VT game: 12 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, three stops for loss and tackled a punt returner in the end zone for a safety. Named AP's NCAA Defensive Player of the Week.)

Ah, perhaps my favorite Zips football memory outside, of course, of the MAC Championship game -vs- Northrn Illinois. I don't even remember the name of 14th-ranked Virginia Tech's All-American DE that JT completely out-classed.
I also remember the crowd erupting when Willie Spencer threw a last-minute TD to bring the Zips to within 10 (IIRC). Even though the Zips still had no chance of actually winning the game, the pride & tangible sense of community in the Rubber Bowl that night was epic.

That was a great football game. Has a Zip defense EVER played better? I believe the Va Tech DE was Cornell Brown.

B&G, my memory is that we were down by around ten (more than one score) when Spencer hit the TD pass on the very last play of the game. I think we might have even went for two and converted (even though there was no time for any onside kick), making the final deficit 2 points?

I seem to remember (with no time left) we scored on a ridiculous series of laterals to apparently win. Except there we a flag on us...

I'm senile though. Anyone else remember that?

[johnnyzip84]

I seem to remember (with no time left) we scored on a ridiculous series of laterals to apparently win. Except there we a flag on us...

I'm senile though. Anyone else remember that?

I edited my previous post to add the box score from the game. It does indicate 14 seconds on the clock when we scored the TD, so maybe the ending was even crazier than I first recalled? Skip-zip where are you????

[Blue & Gold]

1) That game at the Rubber Bowl against a ranked Virginia Tech team where he had a bushel of tackles, several sacks, an interception (I think), a forced fumble (and recovery) on kick-off coverage, and a blocked kick (extra point?). Don't remember the exact stat line, but it was the most impressive performance by a Zips defender probably ever. NFL scouts were there to watch a highly-touted VT DT, and Taylor absolutely stole the show and got him the national notice he so richly deserved. It was a miserable November night, weather wise, but I am so glad I was there to see what he did. Only a win could have made it sweeter. (EDIT: Found the stat line from the 1996 VT game: 12 tackles, two sacks, two fumble recoveries, three stops for loss and tackled a punt returner in the end zone for a safety. Named AP's NCAA Defensive Player of the Week.)

Ah, perhaps my favorite Zips football memory outside, of course, of the MAC Championship game -vs- Northrn Illinois. I don't even remember the name of 14th-ranked Virginia Tech's All-American DE that JT completely out-classed.
I also remember the crowd erupting when Willie Spencer threw a last-minute TD to bring the Zips to within 10 (IIRC). Even though the Zips still had no chance of actually winning the game, the pride & tangible sense of community in the Rubber Bowl that night was epic.

That was a great football game. Has a Zip defense EVER played better? I believe the Va Tech DE was Cornell Brown.

B&G, my memory is that we were down by around ten (more than one score) when Spencer hit the TD pass on the very last play of the game. I think we might have even went for two and converted (even though there was no time for any onside kick), making the final deficit 2 points?

I seem to remember (with no time left) we scored on a ridiculous series of laterals to apparently win. Except there we a flag on us...

I'm senile though. Anyone else remember that?

I remember the play you're referring to. I don't remember precisely when, in the game, it occurred, but I'm fairly certain it wasn't the final play of the game. I think this was the blocked extra-point attempt someone referred to earlier. IIRC JT recovered the blocked kick, returned it about 90-yards down the VT sideline & lateralled it to George Cameron for the final 5-10 yards & the score. But it didn't count for some reason that I can't remember.

[johnnyzip84]

I remember the play you're referring to. I don't remember precisely when, in the game, it occurred, but I'm fairly certain it wasn't the final play of the game. I think this was the blocked extra-point attempt someone referred to earlier. IIRC JT recovered the blocked kick, returned it about 90-yards down the VT sideline & lateralled it to George Cameron for the final 5-10 yards & the score. But it didn't count for some reason that I can't remember.

I think you're right, B&G. That play might have been in the 1st half. The Zips really jumped all over the Hokies at the beginning.

[scottditzen]

Yeah thanks for helping clear that up, it's funny how the memory gets clouded ha ha.

[NewZipsFan]

As a Miami Dolphin fan since 1972, I am so glad that Jason came "home" to finish his NFL career. One of the greatest players and role models a team could ever ask for. Congratulations on a wonderful career - looking forward to seeing what his next chapter will be!

[Zip_ME87]

Nice article and billboard.

[trimmy10]

On the main CNN page:

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/01/02/ja...peech?hpt=hp_t3

Just saw that it was the same link as Zips_ME87 posted. Sorry.

[skip-zip]

Ah, perhaps my favorite Zips football memory outside, of course, of the MAC Championship game -vs- Northrn Illinois. I don't even remember the name of 14th-ranked Virginia Tech's All-American DE that JT completely out-classed.
I also remember the crowd erupting when Willie Spencer threw a last-minute TD to bring the Zips to within 10 (IIRC). Even though the Zips still had no chance of actually winning the game, the pride & tangible sense of community in the Rubber Bowl that night was epic.
That was a great football game. Has a Zip defense EVER played better? I believe the Va Tech DE was Cornell Brown.

B&G, my memory is that we were down by around ten (more than one score) when Spencer hit the TD pass on the very last play of the game. I think we might have even went for two and converted (even though there was no time for any onside kick), making the final deficit 2 points?
I seem to remember (with no time left) we scored on a ridiculous series of laterals to apparently win. Except there we a flag on us...

I'm senile though. Anyone else remember that?

I remember the play you're referring to. I don't remember precisely when, in the game, it occurred, but I'm fairly certain it wasn't the final play of the game. I think this was the blocked extra-point attempt someone referred to earlier. IIRC JT recovered the blocked kick, returned it about 90-yards down the VT sideline & lateralled it to George Cameron for the final 5-10 yards & the score. But it didn't count for some reason that I can't remember.

Great game. We actually led in the 3rd Q before VT scores back to back TDs to take a commanding lead. The late TD pass was thrown by Mike Junko.

Funny that it happened the week after we got pummelled by Ohio U. And it ended up being a bad season, even with this remarkable defensive effort holding a ranked team to 21 pts.

It's one of the best examples i have ever seen of a defensive lineman taking over a game. They had no answer for him. He spent a lot of that game in the VT backfield.

[GP1]

I don't even remember the name of 14th-ranked Virginia Tech's All-American DE that JT completely out-classed.

Cornell Brown? John Engelberger was also on that team...During his NFL career in Denver, he dated a former Zips WBB player.

[RootforRoo44]

Hey UA, Retire JT's Number Already!

[Dr Z]

Don't forget Woodland Hills coach Bowden, Zips have had a few good ones from there.

[UAZip0510]

Did you miss the Marshall game a few years ago? How do we do that all over again? Would be kinda strange.

Yep, I was there. I was alluding to his number being retired this time.

[skip-zip]

Yep, I was there. I was alluding to his number being retired this time.

I gotcha. I'm just wondering how we honor a former player again, after we just did this a few years ago.

Maybe we should have just retired his number at that time. I'm not sure why we didn't. Because, I think we got far more mileage out of having a "JT Night" while he was at the peak of his playing career, when he was getting national attention, and was one of the best defenders in the game, rather than after he's in NFL retirement. Even if we wait until after his HOF inductions 5 years from now, the only people left that will remember his Akron connection are die hard Zips fans who are at least 40 years old. Younger fans willl have long ago moved on to admiring the best players of their day.

I think the timing 5 years ago was ideal. Maybe we just should have done more when we had the chance.

[mes102]

JT tweeted this earlier today:

"About to have breakfast w/ #Akron new head coach Terry Bowden and the AD. Gotta get the Zips going. Watch out MAC conference"