Bucs vs. Jaguars Game Day Newsletter 7 Dec 1 Bucs_Layout_Digital | Page 40

TWENTY-FIVE SEASONS,
TWENTY-FIVE GAMES
In Their Own Words
Taylor: “That’s my favorite game of all-time.
That’s still the game that stands out the
most.”
By the time of the game against the
Buccaneers, Taylor was emerging as a star.
After a slow start in training camp and not
starting the fi rst three games, he fi nished the
regular season with 17 touchdowns receiving
and rushing. Teammates knew quickly that he
was special.
WR Keenan McCardell: “I knew we had a
player early in his rookie year, the things he
would do in practice. One thing about Fred
was he just waited his time and when he got
his opportunity, he didn’t talk about it. He
didn’t say a lot. He just went out and said, ‘I’m
going to show you.’ He went out and showed
everybody.”
Even without Taylor’s run at the end, this
game would have been memorable. It started
late in the afternoon, and Alltel had an
electric feel. The Jaguars took a 14-3 lead on
early runs by Taylor, but Dilfer and Anthony
kept the Buccaneers in it.
Taylor: “The game turned dark, I remember
the lights being on. My family came in town,
all of our families came in town. We had a lot
of guys from college in town. Reidel scored,
then I scored, then Reidel scored, then I
scored.”
The Buccaneers led 24-23 when the Jaguars
took possession at their 30 with just under
three minutes remaining. Taylor started right
and found a huge hole in the line. He started
back left then got behind a block from wide
receiver Reggie Barlow before outrunning the
Buccaneers defense to the end zone.
Taylor: “I saw the Bucs defense over-pursue
and I was able to get up into the line of
scrimmage behind Tony [Boselli]. He pulled
outside. I cut it up inside, cut back to the
right, made the safety miss in the hole and
went down the left sideline 70 yards for a
touchdown.”
For more information on the Jaguars’
25th season celebration, please visit
www.jaguars.com/25years.
“That’s the specialty of Fred Taylor. Big, fast, 228 pounds that could run with the
wind as if he was a 215-pound back. He was a great mix of size, power and speed.”
– WR Keenan McCardell