Texas Longhorns Fan Base Still Can’t Forget BYU Great Taysom Hill
Aug 24, 2021, 2:25 AM | Updated: 2:28 am
BYU's quarterback Taysom Hill breaks away on a run that was called back as BYU and Texas play Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in Austin, Texas. (Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G. Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY – Who knew a random preseason Monday Night Football game between the Jaguars and Saints would produce flashbacks to Taysom Hill running wild at BYU over the Texas Longhorns?
That’s what happened on Monday, Taysom Hill’s 31st birthday, no less.
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New Orleans Saints QB Taysom Hill connected with Saints wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey late in the third quarter for a 14-yard touchdown pass. Taysom’s lone touchdown of the night in New Orleans’ 23-21 win. Just your typical, meaningless preseason NFL touchdown, right?
You see, Lil’Jordan Humphrey is a Texas Longhorns alum. So naturally, ESPN’s Longhorn Network saw an opportunity to tweet about a former Longhorn hauling in a TD pass in a Monday Night Football game.
The Humphrey touchdown grab came at a cost. Flashbacks of former BYU great Taysom Hill running wild over Texas in 2013 and 2014 were seeping through LHN’s engaging commentary.
Texas Longhorns Network can’t get over Taysom Hill
The official Twitter account of the hard-to-find TV channel wrote, “Lil’Jordan Humphrey preseason TD from he who will not be named.”
Lil’Jordan Humphrey preseason TD from he who will not be named pic.twitter.com/irWxQIXoyR
— Longhorn Network (@LonghornNetwork) August 24, 2021
Give that LHN social media intern a raise.
Seven years is a lifetime in college football. There’s a laundry list of things that have changed in the sport since Taysom and BYU last faced the Texas Longhorns. Heck, Texas is headed to the SEC, and college athletes can make money now.
But the scars from the losses to BYU at the hands of the do-it-all Taysom Hill still linger to this day for one of college football’s blueblood programs.
Looking back at BYU’s memorable wins over Texas
For those that need a refresher, Taysom Hill ran for a record-setting 259 yards to lead unranked BYU to an upset 40-21 victory over No. 15 Texas. That night cost former Texas Defensive Coordinator, now Miami head coach Manny Diaz his job in Austin.
It also was the beginning of the end for Mack Brown on the Forty Acres. The legendary head coach resigned after the conclusion of the 2013 season.
Texas hired Charlie Strong as their head coach to “Put the ‘T’ back in Texas” in 2014. But, even in Austin, Texas was no match for Taysom Hill. BYU steamrolled through the Horns 41-7. Hill passed for 181 yards and ran for 99 yards and three touchdowns.
One of those three touchdowns became an iconic moment in BYU football history. With 12:17 remaining in the 3rd quarter and BYU up 6-0, Taysom hurdled Texas defensive back Dylan Haines as he scampered into the endzone.
Hard to blame Texas for not being able to forget Taysom Hill after all these years.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
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