Michael Taaffe provides his vantage point on his Peach Bowl tackle
Texas safety Michael Taaffe was the subject of a controversial play late in the fourth quarter of the Longhorns’ 39-31 Peach Bowl win over Arizona State.
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On a 3rd and 15 with the Sun Devils near midfield and driving to win, ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt threw a pass to Melquan Stovall over the middle. Almost immediately after the reception, Taaffe was there and made an extremely hard hit that sent Stovall to the turf and kept him there for a short time.
There was no flag on the play, but the instant replay booth initiated a review for targeting. In a decision that has garnered considerable controversy, Taaffe was not flagged for targeting nor ejected. Arizona State was forced to punt, and the Longhorns earned a final opportunity for a game-winning field goal that was ultimately missed.
Speaking via Zoom on Sunday, Taaffe provided his perspective on that consequential tackle.
“To discuss that hit, I think first thank God that I don’t have to have my foundation in the opinion of others, the approval of man, or the game of football because the things that were thrown my way after that game on text — people that were finding my phone number — or on social media, I don’t think anyone should have to go through,” Taaffe said. “Thank God I don’t put my trust in what others say about me.”
“Second thing, I said a prayer for that guy. I know No. 5, it took him a long time to get up from that hit. I know it’s football but I wanted to pray for him. I hope he’s doing okay. You never want to see anybody go down on the football field.
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“The third thing is I’ve always been taught all my life, whenever you’re tackling, to tackle with your eyes up. If your head is ever down, then your neck is going to get injured. I always try to tackle with my eyes up, and I always try to wrap. I think that’s what I did on that play. I had my eyes up and I wrapped. I left it up to the officials.
“I’ve probably got to get my pad level down a little bit more, but I tackled with my eyes open and I wrapped. When your eyes are up and you’re wrapping, that’s fundamental football. That’s what you’ve been taught since the second grade.”
That was Taaffe’s 10th and final tackle of the game. He also notched two pass breakups.
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The Longhorns will battle Ohio State on January 10 in the Cotton Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff semifinals. The game will be televised on ESPN and kick at 6:30 p.m.
