LEESBURG — The story of Ryan Taylor's decision to sign a football grant with the University of Florida could be entitled: A Seminole son goes to Gainesville; or perhaps, depending on the success of his collegiate career, it might be called: The Seminole who got away.
You see, Ryan Taylor, the 6-foot-5, 260-pound offensive lineman from Leesburg High School who announced Tuesday that he had committed to sign with the Gators, grew up in a Seminole household. Garnet and gold are the predominate colors in the Taylor house. Mom, Frances, and dad, Larry, grew up in Seminole country, Panama City, and both graduated from FSU. His parents are FSU boosters. Ryan's car was adorned with an FSU license tag and Seminole bumper stickers.
No doubt, when little Ryan was growing up, his parents envisioned him attending Florida State.
But what apparently happened is that the Florida coaches saw something in Ryan that the FSU coaches didn't. They wanted him, they went after him, and they got him.
The result is that Ryan is scheduled to sign with Florida next Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the office of Leesburg High School principal Ellis Wiley.
''There were a couple of times that I thought, should I really go to Florida?'' Ryan said. ''I grew up hating Florida, I mean, really hating Florida. But that has all changed.''
When Florida first started contacting Ryan, it became somewhat of a joke around the Taylor house. But Florida's persistence won over the Taylors.
''Florida was the first school he received anything from,'' said Larry Taylor, a Leesburg attorney. ''You know, he got one of those questionnaires asking for biographical information. Around our house, it was one of those things that you just kind of held out away from you like you do when something smells bad.
''It started out as a joke. We just couldn't perceive Ryan going to Florida.''
But a little thing like a Mother's Day card, sent from UF to Frances, made the Taylors start to look a little more seriously at the Gators. Florida had made the earliest and deepest inroads.
Schools like Wake Forest, the University of Miami, Auburn, Georgia Tech, FSU and the University of Central Florida tried to catch up, but couldn't. Ryan leaned towards Florida early in the recruiting process and nothing he saw about the program, or anything his parents saw, changed his initial beliefs.
''There were a couple of times that I thought, should I really go to Florida?'' Ryan said. ''I grew up hating Florida, I mean, really hating Florida. But that has all changed.''
When Florida first started contacting Ryan, it became somewhat of a joke around the Taylor house. But Florida's persistence won over the Taylors.
''Florida was the first school he received anything from,'' said Larry Taylor, a Leesburg attorney. ''You know, he got one of those questionnaires asking for biographical information. Around our house, it was one of those things that you just kind of held out away from you like you do when something smells bad.
''It started out as a joke. We just couldn't perceive Ryan going to Florida.''
But a little thing like a Mother's Day card, sent from UF to Frances, made the Taylors start to look a little more seriously at the Gators. Florida had made the earliest and deepest inroads.
Schools like Wake Forest, the University of Miami, Auburn, Georgia Tech, FSU and the University of Central Florida tried to catch up, but couldn't. Ryan leaned towards Florida early in the recruiting process and nothing he saw about the program, or anything his parents saw, changed his initial beliefs.
''They made Ryan feel like he was wanted,'' Larry said. ''With a kid that is kind of a big deal. All the guys that we met at Gainesville, we've been very impressed with. To me, Florida had one of the best organized recruiting situations.
''People have said Florida has one of the best recruiting programs around and I think they do.''
Larry and Frances may not be ready to turn in their Seminole Booster cards yet, in fact, Larry said he will re-enlist as a booster this year. But, don't be surprised if more and more orange and blue fixtures begin to show up in the Taylor house in the not too distant future.
Some changes already have taken place. Ryan has taken the FSU tag and stickers off his car and put a Gator bumper sticker on in their place. A friend of his father gave Larry a stuffed Gator mascot that is now displayed in the home.
''When I go to the Florida games, I will wear orange and blue because I feel an allegiance towards them,'' Larry said. ''My attitude is that if you treat my son well, then I'm going to like you. Florida has treated Ryan well.
''I'm not saying it isn't going to be easy rooting for Florida. I started at FSU in 1958 so I've been a Florida State fan for 30 years, but I also have a lot of good friends who went to Florida. It's just changing from an indian mascot to an alligator.
''Basically, though, I think I am a Gator and there is a little garnet and gold in there.''
''One thing that we tried to be very, very careful about is not to influence him because it is going to be five years of his life,'' Larry said. ''Of course, we would have loved it if he could have gone to Florida State and played for Bobby Bowden, but that didn't happen.''
Ryan was kind of a late-comer on the scene. After not playing football as a freshman and only playing junior varsity as a sophomore, he had a lot of lost time to make up for. Larry Taylor credits Leesburg Coach Richard Kennedy for helping build Ryan into a major college prospect.
''I don't know if the people of Leesburg know how lucky they are to have Coach Kennedy,'' Larry said.
RESOURCES
February 02, 1989Joe Williams of The Sentinel Staff
Orlando Sentinel
Article provided by:
Gerald Lacey
Staff Writer
Carver Heights Quarterback Club
www.leesburgyellowjacketsfootball.com
Gerald is a professional Internet marketer and social media marketing expert. His online business ventures and websites generate multiple streams of income annually. His consulting clients include best selling authors and international speakers.
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