Lawrence Taylor has had quite the 24 hours.
The NFL Hall of Fame linebacker held court before a capacity audience at the Little Rock Touchdown Club Tuesday, Sept. 2, having spent the previous evening at his alma mater watching North Carolina take on TCU.
“This is better than the reception TCU gave us,” Taylor told the crowd, referencing UNC’s 48-14 drubbing at the hands of the Horned Frogs. “I left about three minutes into the third quarter. I was shocked. When [North Carolina] came out and scored their first touchdown, everybody was like ‘here we go.’”
Photo Credit: DeWaine Duncan
Taylor’s presence in Chapel Hill Monday wasn’t just a visit to where it all began. It was also a show of support for first-year Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick. The longtime NFL coach was a defensive assistant for the New York Giants from 1979 to 1990, and Taylor has credited him for helping launch a career that included two Super Bowl victories, three Defensive Player of the Year awards and the 1986 Most Valuable Player award.
“Nobody knows football like Bill Belichick,” Taylor said.
Taylor also spoke fondly of former Giants head coach Bill Parcells and drew laughs when he talked about asking Parcells to dial back his trademark loud coaching style.
Photo Credit: DeWaine Duncan
“Every play, he was like ‘you gotta do this, you gotta do that,’” Taylor said. “That was year one. I didn’t have to talk to him for another 10 years.”
Both Taylor and the Touchdown Club received a surprise in the form of a video greeting from John Daly. Daly grew up in Dardanelle and attended the University of Arkansas prior to setting off on a successful professional golfing career, and he and Taylor have bonded through the years over their shared love of the game.
Taylor took the opportunity Tuesday to deliver a friendly tweak to Daly for his trademark bushy beard.
“Where has he come from,” Taylor asked. “He looks like he’s in the mountains.”
AY Media Group is a proud media sponsor of the Little Rock Touchdown Club.
Photo Credit: DeWaine Duncan
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