WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:13.075 --> 00:00:16.345 Sam Acho: Welcome to the Sam Acho Podcast, where we talk about faith, 00:00:16.645 --> 00:00:18.655 family, football, and finances. 00:00:18.655 --> 00:00:19.495 We go first. 00:00:20.035 --> 00:00:21.985 We give space and we grow hope. 00:00:22.525 --> 00:00:25.855 And today, as usual, we have a very, very special guest. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:29.830 Clif Marshall: Today, Sam, we have Michael Taf, a college football 00:00:30.010 --> 00:00:31.365 player from the Texas Longhorn. 00:00:32.410 --> 00:00:35.620 Michael attended Westlake High School in Austin, Texas. 00:00:35.650 --> 00:00:38.320 He played cornerback and wide receiver in high school. 00:00:38.710 --> 00:00:43.480 He helped lead Westlake to back to back state championship titles, and on 00:00:43.480 --> 00:00:47.200 November 5th, 2020, TAF committed to rice. 00:00:47.710 --> 00:00:52.810 However, he was also offered a walk on spot at Texas and decided 00:00:52.810 --> 00:00:54.460 to accept the Longhorns offer. 00:00:55.060 --> 00:00:59.380 After proving his worth, Michael was granted a full scholarship. 00:00:59.890 --> 00:01:03.640 By Texas head coach Steve Kian in 2022. 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:12.520 During tap, during TAFs, uh, 2022 season, he earned AP All American Honors. 00:01:12.880 --> 00:01:16.210 This season, he has considered one of the top safeties in the country 00:01:16.210 --> 00:01:18.640 and a projected NFL draft pick. 00:01:19.420 --> 00:01:21.725 So Michael, welcome to the Sam Acho podcast. 00:01:22.660 --> 00:01:22.870 Michael Taaffe: Yeah. 00:01:22.870 --> 00:01:23.965 Thanks for having me on, guys. 00:01:24.085 --> 00:01:24.685 I really appreciate it. 00:01:25.675 --> 00:01:26.965 Sam Acho: No, we're glad to be on with you. 00:01:26.965 --> 00:01:31.105 And, uh, one thing we do, we talk about adversity, but we also talk about joy. 00:01:31.105 --> 00:01:35.995 And the first question I have, Michael, is what coach in your career, 00:01:36.115 --> 00:01:41.575 collegiately high school, peewee, has impacted you the most and why? 00:01:42.940 --> 00:01:47.140 Michael Taaffe: Yeah, that's a, that's a tough question just because every coach. 00:01:47.710 --> 00:01:53.170 In my journey and my steps, um, chasing, you know, perfection on the football field 00:01:53.170 --> 00:01:55.270 and knowing that I'll never achieve that. 00:01:55.600 --> 00:02:00.040 Um, but helping me try to chase that perfection has, has made an impact. 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:03.160 Um, the first two people I would mention is my, uh. 00:02:04.140 --> 00:02:09.420 DB's coach at Westlake and my defense coordinator, um, uh, coach Jones and 00:02:09.420 --> 00:02:13.320 Coach Salazar, just everything that they did, like, they were always 00:02:13.320 --> 00:02:14.640 demanding perfection outta you. 00:02:14.640 --> 00:02:19.080 And, um, they got all that little kid talk outta you. 00:02:19.080 --> 00:02:22.260 You know, when you know, they tell you to keep your eyes on your man 00:02:22.260 --> 00:02:25.230 and you want to go try to look at the quarterback when your guy's running a 00:02:25.230 --> 00:02:27.000 double move and you're like, no coach. 00:02:27.000 --> 00:02:27.780 I know what to do. 00:02:27.780 --> 00:02:30.780 And he's grabs your helmet and he looks at you straight in the eyes and he's like. 00:02:31.090 --> 00:02:34.660 No, you listen to me, you respect, um, people that are 00:02:34.660 --> 00:02:35.920 trying to coach you and lead you. 00:02:36.040 --> 00:02:40.480 And that's kinda what, what made me who I am now today, um, going into 00:02:40.480 --> 00:02:42.940 my next steps, but also Coach Gideon. 00:02:43.240 --> 00:02:49.270 Um, he was a long time, you know, great Longhorn player here, um, but also just 00:02:49.270 --> 00:02:50.680 a great coach for me the last four years. 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:56.440 Uh, he just got a job as a DC at Georgia Tech, so I won't be with him this 00:02:56.440 --> 00:02:58.300 year, but I got a good coach coming in. 00:02:58.300 --> 00:03:00.580 That's a legend in the 40 acres. 00:03:00.580 --> 00:03:03.640 But, uh, but yeah, coach Gideon just taught me everything, how to be a 00:03:03.640 --> 00:03:08.260 man before, how to be a good football player and, um, you don't see a lot 00:03:08.260 --> 00:03:12.085 of that and this day and age in D one football, so couldn't thank him enough. 00:03:14.405 --> 00:03:18.075 Clif Marshall: Michael, you were a walk-on to start your career at Texas. 00:03:18.615 --> 00:03:21.225 I mean, as a matter of fact, you passed up a full athletic 00:03:21.225 --> 00:03:24.225 scholarship to Rice to be a walk-on. 00:03:25.195 --> 00:03:26.460 Why did you bet on yourself? 00:03:28.360 --> 00:03:29.110 Michael Taaffe: That's a good question. 00:03:29.110 --> 00:03:30.790 That's a question I ask myself every day. 00:03:32.450 --> 00:03:37.430 Um, you know, I think just the motivation, and Sam definitely can 00:03:37.430 --> 00:03:41.370 hit on this, but the motivation that you have when you put on that burnt 00:03:41.390 --> 00:03:43.820 orange, it's just a, I can't explain it. 00:03:43.820 --> 00:03:48.260 It's a sense of pride that nobody else in the country gets to wear that 00:03:48.260 --> 00:03:50.780 certain particular burnt orange color. 00:03:51.050 --> 00:03:52.850 Um, and you represent so much. 00:03:53.190 --> 00:03:54.540 Greater than yourself. 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:56.640 You represent the great state of Texas. 00:03:56.880 --> 00:04:01.260 You represent, um, the pride of being a fifth generation Longhorn and myself. 00:04:01.590 --> 00:04:05.760 Um, you just represent so much more than yourself and, um, we weren't, 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:09.450 everybody knows we weren't in a great spot as a university, as a, 00:04:09.690 --> 00:04:13.890 as a team on the football team, uh, when I joined the, the squad. 00:04:14.100 --> 00:04:14.341 And so. 00:04:14.640 --> 00:04:18.690 My mission was to try to get Texas back to where it always belongs. 00:04:18.690 --> 00:04:21.990 And that's the top of the pedestal, that's national Championship 00:04:21.990 --> 00:04:23.490 talk every single year. 00:04:23.490 --> 00:04:27.780 And um, so when I was going, I was like, nothing's about me right now. 00:04:27.930 --> 00:04:30.210 I'm working for such a greater purpose. 00:04:30.210 --> 00:04:31.380 And, and it pushed me. 00:04:31.990 --> 00:04:32.320 Sam Acho: Hmm. 00:04:33.310 --> 00:04:36.370 Michael, it's interesting, so I, I, you talked about Coach Gideon, I played with, 00:04:36.370 --> 00:04:39.760 with Blake Gideon for three years, and I know you went a couple of those years. 00:04:39.760 --> 00:04:41.350 One of those years we went to a national championship. 00:04:41.350 --> 00:04:44.230 Blake actually had an interception in the national championship game. 00:04:44.230 --> 00:04:46.930 You talk about going to Texas and having it go back to the top. 00:04:46.930 --> 00:04:51.250 I played for Mac Brown and he always said that it's a 40 year decision. 00:04:52.045 --> 00:04:55.735 Not a four year decision why? 00:04:55.735 --> 00:04:59.935 Or not even why, but what has been the impact that the University 00:04:59.935 --> 00:05:03.290 of Texas has had on you during your time at the university? 00:05:04.545 --> 00:05:06.195 Michael Taaffe: Man being able to, to. 00:05:08.395 --> 00:05:09.955 Have conversations like this. 00:05:10.315 --> 00:05:15.325 Um, I'm so blessed to be in a room sitting with Cliff Marshall and Sam Acho. 00:05:15.715 --> 00:05:18.895 Um, and I don't think, to be honest, I don't think I would've had that 00:05:19.195 --> 00:05:20.875 opportunity if I went elsewhere. 00:05:21.115 --> 00:05:25.345 Um, but the platform that Texas offers is just so incredible. 00:05:25.645 --> 00:05:31.015 Um, and, and having these conversations, having conversations with CEOs of really. 00:05:31.300 --> 00:05:35.200 Um, insane businesses that I would never think I would have an opportunity to do. 00:05:35.200 --> 00:05:38.830 And all they want to talk about is football and, and yourself. 00:05:38.830 --> 00:05:40.630 And I'm like, guys, I wanna talk about y'all. 00:05:40.630 --> 00:05:42.520 I wanna learn about what y'all do. 00:05:42.520 --> 00:05:45.070 Y'all have, you know, y'all have the game of life. 00:05:45.070 --> 00:05:45.970 Y'all have crushed it. 00:05:46.270 --> 00:05:50.470 Um, and so everything that, uh, Texas offers networking 00:05:50.470 --> 00:05:52.420 wise has been such an impact. 00:05:52.420 --> 00:05:57.190 But also on the field, I think the brotherhood that I've, um, that I've made. 00:05:57.325 --> 00:06:00.775 With all my, my teammates from year one to year five. 00:06:01.135 --> 00:06:02.065 It's so cool. 00:06:02.065 --> 00:06:06.715 And, uh, y'all both know this, but how do you get a team from all over the country, 00:06:06.775 --> 00:06:08.605 from all over different backgrounds? 00:06:08.815 --> 00:06:13.285 I, I grew up in a two family household and a lot of the guys on my, on my 00:06:13.285 --> 00:06:17.250 defensive back squad, they didn't have a father or mother growing up. 00:06:17.605 --> 00:06:19.705 It's like, how do y'all become friends? 00:06:20.155 --> 00:06:23.965 And that's through football, that's through faith, that's through communion. 00:06:23.965 --> 00:06:25.945 And um, it's so cool. 00:06:25.945 --> 00:06:28.975 And I wouldn't get that opportunity if I wasn't at Texas. 00:06:31.480 --> 00:06:32.590 Clif Marshall: You mentioned your faith. 00:06:32.620 --> 00:06:35.740 I just wanna know how does your faith play into your life? 00:06:35.770 --> 00:06:38.200 Not only as a football player, but just as a person. 00:06:39.025 --> 00:06:40.045 Michael Taaffe: Yeah, it's everything. 00:06:40.135 --> 00:06:44.815 Um, as a person, first it reminds me who's my. 00:06:45.805 --> 00:06:47.365 Everything, who's my identity? 00:06:47.665 --> 00:06:52.165 Um, because a lot of times y'all both know this, a lot of times being in 00:06:52.165 --> 00:06:55.975 the football platform, everybody tells you how great you are or everybody 00:06:55.975 --> 00:06:57.295 tells you how terrible you are. 00:06:57.625 --> 00:07:01.915 Um, and lucky enough, I was a All American last year, so right now 00:07:01.915 --> 00:07:05.275 everybody's telling me how good I am, how they can't wait to see me on the 00:07:05.275 --> 00:07:07.495 field, this, this, this, this, this. 00:07:07.825 --> 00:07:10.495 But God's telling me, Hey, no, I'm on top. 00:07:11.215 --> 00:07:12.775 And you should serve me. 00:07:13.345 --> 00:07:18.325 And that helps me be a, a family man first, because now I'm not 00:07:18.505 --> 00:07:21.655 expecting people to tell me, Hey, you're so good at this. 00:07:21.655 --> 00:07:22.195 You're so good at this. 00:07:22.195 --> 00:07:22.410 I'm like. 00:07:23.635 --> 00:07:25.555 No, I'm just as broken as every single one of y'all. 00:07:25.885 --> 00:07:30.325 Uh, and, and my faith is the only reason that I have that, that 00:07:30.325 --> 00:07:32.095 approach on the football field. 00:07:32.485 --> 00:07:36.835 Um, I think, Sam, you probably could attest this more, you know, just being 00:07:37.045 --> 00:07:41.605 in that national championship talk and, and not finishing the mission, but it's. 00:07:42.610 --> 00:07:46.240 It's the number one thing that keeps me going when everybody on Twitter is 00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:48.010 saying that you're not good enough. 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:50.020 You shouldn't be on the field, you're a walk-on. 00:07:50.350 --> 00:07:54.730 Um, and it just helps me keep going to know that no matter what 00:07:54.730 --> 00:07:58.750 people are saying, God knows my ultimate plan and everything that 00:07:58.750 --> 00:08:00.130 I do, I'm gonna give him the glory. 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:00.980 Sam Acho: Hmm. 00:08:03.505 --> 00:08:04.675 How does it help you? 00:08:05.095 --> 00:08:07.555 Like how, because I'm, there's people listening. 00:08:07.555 --> 00:08:10.255 It's like, man, that sounds awesome, but man, they, they probably 00:08:10.255 --> 00:08:11.485 struggle with the same thing. 00:08:12.475 --> 00:08:15.640 How does your faith help you keep the main thing? 00:08:15.640 --> 00:08:16.225 The main thing? 00:08:16.990 --> 00:08:17.440 Michael Taaffe: Yeah. 00:08:17.650 --> 00:08:18.700 Uh, it's tough. 00:08:18.790 --> 00:08:19.990 It's, it's, it's a. 00:08:20.500 --> 00:08:22.510 Ongoing battle every single day. 00:08:22.930 --> 00:08:28.720 Um, but knowing that what it says in the word that nothing on this earth is gonna 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:34.360 matter in, in eternal life, um, nothing on this earth is, you know, permanent. 00:08:34.660 --> 00:08:35.710 It's all temporary. 00:08:36.010 --> 00:08:39.551 Um, and so I can be a really, really good football player, um, but. 00:08:40.390 --> 00:08:43.600 The end of the day all that's gonna happen is I'm gonna be in the record books. 00:08:43.870 --> 00:08:46.480 Maybe some people will remember me, maybe some people won't. 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:49.360 Um, and that's, that's okay. 00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:55.690 That's, I know that because of my faith and how it helps me is I go every single 00:08:55.690 --> 00:09:00.370 day knowing that, like I said earlier, I'm gonna try to chase perfection. 00:09:00.370 --> 00:09:03.760 I know that I'm not gonna get it because God and Jesus is the 00:09:03.760 --> 00:09:06.880 only one that has walked on this earth and lived a perfect life. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:10.490 Clif Marshall: a great word, Michael. 00:09:10.550 --> 00:09:15.440 Um, on this podcast, we like for our guests to share kind of their 00:09:15.530 --> 00:09:20.120 testimony or in other words, a test that they've been through in life that 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:23.570 has become their testimony because I believe that pain has purpose. 00:09:24.025 --> 00:09:28.615 And God doesn't cause pain, but he can use pain to draw us closer to him. 00:09:29.275 --> 00:09:34.945 Can you describe, uh, for our listeners the greatest adversity that you've had 00:09:34.945 --> 00:09:39.385 in your life and how at the end of that it's really helped you as a person? 00:09:40.360 --> 00:09:41.230 Michael Taaffe: Yeah, for sure. 00:09:41.380 --> 00:09:46.960 Um, adversity's, the, the number one thing in, in my life, I think, um, just starting 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:51.370 on the football field, uh, before, not a lot of people know this, but before. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:55.150 The whole walk on and had to make it from the bottom to the top. 00:09:55.480 --> 00:09:59.650 Uh, in high school I was placed on the freshman B team my first year and 00:09:59.650 --> 00:10:01.360 I, you know, my goal was to go D one. 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:04.240 And so that was the worst team you could be on. 00:10:04.570 --> 00:10:07.302 And then my sophomore year I was placed on the JV B team. 00:10:08.275 --> 00:10:11.215 So, not varsity, not JBA, but JVB. 00:10:11.635 --> 00:10:14.455 And I'm sitting here still only thinking about my goals, not 00:10:14.455 --> 00:10:16.015 thinking about what's in front of me. 00:10:16.015 --> 00:10:17.455 I'm, all I'm thinking about is my goals. 00:10:17.455 --> 00:10:21.625 And I'm like, if you wanna go D one football, uh, how are you gonna go play 00:10:21.625 --> 00:10:26.185 D one if you can't even beat out varsity or JBA team guys on your own team? 00:10:26.635 --> 00:10:30.295 Um, and this is such a small community compared to what the nation, you 00:10:30.295 --> 00:10:31.645 know, is, is competing against. 00:10:31.875 --> 00:10:37.275 And so for me it was, it was tough to climb from JVB team to, to varsity, to 00:10:37.275 --> 00:10:42.075 state championship, to now, um, being a, a guy on the University of Texas roster. 00:10:42.345 --> 00:10:46.875 But I think it was, it goes back to my faith and what I believed in and, 00:10:47.205 --> 00:10:50.085 um, how I approached the game of life. 00:10:50.295 --> 00:10:52.635 Um, so it taught me a, a ton. 00:10:52.785 --> 00:10:53.146 It taught me that. 00:10:54.445 --> 00:10:58.015 Nothing that you do in this life is, is worthwhile. 00:10:58.075 --> 00:11:01.105 Everything that you can dream of you can accomplish. 00:11:01.405 --> 00:11:05.215 Um, and anything that I was exposed to in my life is everything 00:11:05.215 --> 00:11:06.685 that I want to accomplish. 00:11:07.075 --> 00:11:12.625 Um, and so all those dreams I think are attainable and that's how I live 00:11:12.625 --> 00:11:14.935 my life because of my adversity. 00:11:15.355 --> 00:11:19.015 Um, on the flip side, uh. 00:11:19.450 --> 00:11:20.110 Life. 00:11:20.380 --> 00:11:23.620 Two of my best friends passed away, uh, in 67 days. 00:11:23.680 --> 00:11:28.990 So Jackson Coker, he's the reason why I wear, uh, number 16 on the football field. 00:11:29.380 --> 00:11:34.450 And then Jake Gallinger was poisoned, uh, of fentanyl and got laced. 00:11:34.450 --> 00:11:34.510 Um. 00:11:35.905 --> 00:11:38.305 When he was just taking a, a pill that he takes every single 00:11:38.305 --> 00:11:39.835 night to, to go to sleep. 00:11:40.315 --> 00:11:44.815 And so for me, uh, to answer your question, to be, to be honest, I don't 00:11:44.815 --> 00:11:47.065 know the good that has come outta that. 00:11:47.395 --> 00:11:49.705 Uh, and that's something that I struggle with every day in 00:11:49.705 --> 00:11:52.105 my faith is like, I don't know. 00:11:52.195 --> 00:11:53.155 I, I still don't know. 00:11:53.155 --> 00:11:56.995 And I try to go back in the word and it gives me comfort and it makes me 00:11:56.995 --> 00:11:58.705 understand that it's not my plan. 00:11:59.065 --> 00:12:00.715 My perfect plan doesn't exist. 00:12:00.715 --> 00:12:01.975 It's God's perfect plan. 00:12:02.395 --> 00:12:04.825 But that's something that, um. 00:12:05.890 --> 00:12:09.130 The good that's come outta that individually for me is knowing that 00:12:09.130 --> 00:12:14.050 when I step on that field, I've got 16 and 48 with me every step of the way. 00:12:14.470 --> 00:12:18.370 And you don't want to touch the line, you wanna go be selfish. 00:12:18.610 --> 00:12:19.990 They're the first ones, not my teammates. 00:12:19.990 --> 00:12:22.210 They're the first ones telling me in my head, Hey dude, 00:12:22.450 --> 00:12:23.890 go back and run full speed. 00:12:23.890 --> 00:12:24.250 You didn't. 00:12:24.250 --> 00:12:25.690 You BS that rep. 00:12:25.690 --> 00:12:28.630 And that's really cool to know that I got angels looking down on me. 00:12:29.575 --> 00:12:29.695 Sam Acho: Hmm. 00:12:30.065 --> 00:12:30.285 Clif Marshall: Wow. 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:35.765 Sam Acho: Michael, you, we recently saw each other at at 00:12:35.890 --> 00:12:40.540 SEC Media Day and two things. 00:12:40.540 --> 00:12:43.060 Number one, you had a clean looking suit on. 00:12:44.020 --> 00:12:50.260 You also had this burnt orange tie with initials on the tie. 00:12:51.790 --> 00:12:55.690 My first question is, what was the meaning behind that tie? 00:12:57.280 --> 00:12:57.790 Michael Taaffe: Yeah. 00:12:57.880 --> 00:13:01.420 Um, everybody knows what happened in the, the Texas flooding. 00:13:01.660 --> 00:13:06.790 Um, so one of those camps was Camp Mystic an all girl faith-based camp. 00:13:06.790 --> 00:13:06.850 Um. 00:13:08.335 --> 00:13:11.875 In 27, uh, 27 people died. 00:13:11.875 --> 00:13:16.765 26 girls one Um, camp director, he was a, a Texas fan. 00:13:16.765 --> 00:13:21.235 He had season tickets on the 50 yard line, uh, for all, all, all home games. 00:13:21.295 --> 00:13:22.495 Um, and he was the camp director. 00:13:22.495 --> 00:13:24.325 His name was Dick Eastland, but. 00:13:24.890 --> 00:13:28.160 You know, there was two counselors that should be recognized as 00:13:28.160 --> 00:13:29.840 heroes that, that passed away. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:33.500 Two girls that were actually going to attend the University of Texas next year. 00:13:33.800 --> 00:13:34.850 Um, so they were getting ready. 00:13:34.850 --> 00:13:38.090 They were, I already had their, their dorm picked out. 00:13:38.090 --> 00:13:39.230 They were going through Rush. 00:13:39.530 --> 00:13:43.190 Um, and for them, all they wanted to do was go serve. 00:13:43.370 --> 00:13:46.550 Go serve Christ and be a, a leader in this. 00:13:46.550 --> 00:13:47.750 Can't miss a community. 00:13:48.050 --> 00:13:48.410 Um. 00:13:49.465 --> 00:13:52.615 And they woke up and they turned from having to be counselors to 00:13:52.615 --> 00:13:55.135 having to be heroes and saviors. 00:13:55.465 --> 00:13:57.415 Um, and so I wanted to remember them. 00:13:57.835 --> 00:14:03.055 Now, the other, uh, let's see, 24, 25, uh, initials on that, on 00:14:03.055 --> 00:14:04.855 that tie, were 8-year-old girls. 00:14:05.155 --> 00:14:05.395 Um. 00:14:06.025 --> 00:14:06.245 Sam Acho: Mm 00:14:06.505 --> 00:14:11.065 Michael Taaffe: That man, they thought the worst thing that would happen to them 00:14:11.065 --> 00:14:16.495 in the, at this camp, uh, was maybe I, you know, hit my knee, uh, on the ground 00:14:16.495 --> 00:14:20.635 and I, I scraped my knee and I gotta go see the nurse to get a bandaid, but 00:14:20.635 --> 00:14:22.855 they woke up at 4:00 AM eight years old. 00:14:23.215 --> 00:14:26.665 Um, I don't know what I was doing at eight, but not, not thinking 00:14:26.665 --> 00:14:29.125 about having to, to save my life. 00:14:29.395 --> 00:14:32.635 And they had to go try to fight for their life and. 00:14:33.430 --> 00:14:39.190 That is so much more important than football, than SEC than anything 00:14:39.190 --> 00:14:41.230 that we do on our platform. 00:14:41.260 --> 00:14:44.770 And I wanted to show the country, um, that those girls 00:14:44.770 --> 00:14:46.090 should be remembered as heroes, 00:14:46.585 --> 00:14:47.035 Sam Acho: Hmm. 00:14:47.245 --> 00:14:48.265 Well thank you for sharing. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:52.330 Another question you mentioned earlier about Jake Inger, 00:14:53.020 --> 00:14:55.690 um, and not understanding why 00:14:56.440 --> 00:14:56.740 Michael Taaffe: right? 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:04.720 Sam Acho: recently you were, uh, nominated for the Allstate A FCA War Full Trophy 00:15:04.930 --> 00:15:07.090 and the Allstate a FCA Good Works team. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:10.810 Part of the reason, I believe is because of some of the work you're 00:15:10.810 --> 00:15:12.640 doing with Fentanyl awareness. 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:17.440 What have you done in response to the tragedy? 00:15:18.235 --> 00:15:18.895 With Jake. 00:15:20.065 --> 00:15:22.735 Michael Taaffe: Yeah, ever since it's happened, everything that I've 00:15:22.735 --> 00:15:24.925 done has tried to be action oriented. 00:15:25.375 --> 00:15:30.505 Um, I've tried to do everything that I can to spread the awareness because 00:15:30.925 --> 00:15:32.335 it's a, it's an interesting, um. 00:15:33.685 --> 00:15:38.515 Thing that's going on in, in our lives where people are, are taking these pills 00:15:38.515 --> 00:15:42.265 that they think are safe or are doing these drugs that, you know, they're just 00:15:42.265 --> 00:15:47.575 trying to have fun and, and no, I don't, I don't condone drugs, but I know that 00:15:47.575 --> 00:15:49.975 people are human beings and they mess up. 00:15:50.305 --> 00:15:56.155 And the worst thing that they think is, oh man, maybe this, you know, will, will 00:15:56.155 --> 00:15:57.685 make me not feel good in the morning. 00:15:57.985 --> 00:16:00.355 Um, but they, they end up not waking up. 00:16:00.910 --> 00:16:04.300 Um, and it's because people poison the drugs. 00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:11.500 And so it's so relevant in my day-to-day life with all my buddies, 00:16:11.740 --> 00:16:13.570 you know, that are in that atmosphere. 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:17.800 And so everything that I want to do is try to spread awareness so that 00:16:18.010 --> 00:16:22.840 nobody else has to answer a phone call and say, Hey, your son, your 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:24.610 brother, your friend didn't wake up. 00:16:28.615 --> 00:16:32.275 Clif Marshall: Michael, I wanted to ask you, um, Sam and I, we talk 00:16:32.275 --> 00:16:36.865 often about Proverbs 27 17 and that says, as iron sharpens iron. 00:16:37.225 --> 00:16:43.525 So one man sharpens another who is in your inner circle, um, at Texas. 00:16:43.555 --> 00:16:45.535 How do you grow in your faith every day? 00:16:45.565 --> 00:16:50.965 Is it a, a, a teammate or is it a group of teammates that lead a Bible study together 00:16:50.965 --> 00:16:52.645 or a church service that you go to? 00:16:52.645 --> 00:16:55.765 How do you grow in your faith amongst your teammates at Texas? 00:16:56.545 --> 00:16:57.745 Michael Taaffe: Yeah, that's a great question. 00:16:57.955 --> 00:17:04.105 Um, so we just recently started a player led Bible study, um, and me and Trevor 00:17:04.105 --> 00:17:06.865 Goby, he's a o lineman, left tackle. 00:17:07.195 --> 00:17:07.255 Um. 00:17:07.955 --> 00:17:11.075 We've really jumped on it and tried to start it ourselves. 00:17:11.075 --> 00:17:15.665 And it's been so cool the turnout that all of our players and our teammates 00:17:15.905 --> 00:17:20.015 have wanted to join, have asked to join, um, have just showed up and listened. 00:17:20.345 --> 00:17:26.645 Um, and we, we start it every single day as, Hey, we're not perfect. 00:17:26.885 --> 00:17:28.535 Um, we're gonna fail. 00:17:28.745 --> 00:17:30.365 And that's all right. 00:17:30.365 --> 00:17:31.565 We're, we're in this together. 00:17:31.985 --> 00:17:34.955 We're trying to figure out how to, how to get. 00:17:35.335 --> 00:17:36.625 To where we're all going. 00:17:36.805 --> 00:17:41.515 Um, how to, how to live a life, how to walk in the light of the Lord. 00:17:41.935 --> 00:17:43.795 Um, and so we started like that. 00:17:43.795 --> 00:17:45.740 And we also started with no matter who you are. 00:17:46.405 --> 00:17:50.905 What you've done, who you say you are, or, um, what people say about you. 00:17:51.145 --> 00:17:56.065 I hope this is a place where you can just come rest, rest in God's word, rest in 00:17:56.065 --> 00:18:00.535 God's love and his mercy, um, because that's who he is as a father for us. 00:18:00.565 --> 00:18:03.115 And then we talk about everything that's on our mind. 00:18:03.445 --> 00:18:07.675 Um, why did I miss this tackle to, to lose the game? 00:18:07.675 --> 00:18:09.205 Why did I throw this interception? 00:18:09.385 --> 00:18:10.795 Why did I drop this pass? 00:18:11.065 --> 00:18:13.435 Why is everything good going in my life? 00:18:13.705 --> 00:18:15.415 Why does it feel like, you know, we're. 00:18:16.255 --> 00:18:18.715 We're ranked number one when we haven't earned it yet. 00:18:18.925 --> 00:18:21.685 Everything that, you know, football players have to 00:18:21.685 --> 00:18:23.485 go through time management. 00:18:23.515 --> 00:18:25.045 We, we talk about it and we hit on it. 00:18:26.560 --> 00:18:27.760 Sam Acho: Talk about the Bible study. 00:18:27.850 --> 00:18:29.620 What is your life verse? 00:18:30.805 --> 00:18:31.255 Michael Taaffe: Yeah. 00:18:31.405 --> 00:18:32.845 Um, that's a great question. 00:18:32.845 --> 00:18:36.505 I want, I want to hear from y'all, um, after I, I answer, 00:18:36.505 --> 00:18:38.755 but mine's collation 3 23. 00:18:39.085 --> 00:18:43.405 Um, and it goes something like work hardily. 00:18:44.095 --> 00:18:47.875 For God and not for man because God gives you the inheritance. 00:18:48.205 --> 00:18:52.765 Um, and actually Jake's mom was the first person to share that to me. 00:18:53.065 --> 00:18:53.305 Yeah. 00:18:53.305 --> 00:18:55.195 So we're going to our first. 00:18:56.155 --> 00:18:57.235 Yeah, first fall camp. 00:18:57.535 --> 00:19:01.165 And she sent it to me and she said, Hey, Mookie, uh, that's my nickname. 00:19:02.125 --> 00:19:06.235 Um, she said, Hey, Mookie, if, if you live your life like this verse, I 00:19:06.235 --> 00:19:08.425 guarantee you good's gonna come out of it. 00:19:08.785 --> 00:19:12.295 Um, and she always says, I love you, like, like my own son. 00:19:12.295 --> 00:19:13.705 And, um, go get 'em. 00:19:13.705 --> 00:19:15.505 So it's, it's an awesome verse. 00:19:15.505 --> 00:19:16.555 I try to live by every day. 00:19:17.230 --> 00:19:17.800 Sam Acho: That's so good. 00:19:17.800 --> 00:19:19.420 We gotta share ours before we share ours. 00:19:19.420 --> 00:19:20.530 How'd you get the nickname, Mookie? 00:19:20.530 --> 00:19:21.675 How'd you, where did Mookie come? 00:19:23.800 --> 00:19:24.610 Michael Taaffe: Yeah, it's pretty funny. 00:19:24.610 --> 00:19:27.760 So, uh, another coach that totally impacted my life was Coach 00:19:27.760 --> 00:19:29.500 Dodge, my head coach at Westlake. 00:19:29.740 --> 00:19:33.400 He was a famous Texas, uh, Texas high, high school coach. 00:19:33.400 --> 00:19:37.060 But so Mookie was always my nickname growing up. 00:19:37.370 --> 00:19:41.690 Um, my dad came up with it and so the Ehlingers were uh, like 00:19:41.690 --> 00:19:45.740 our best family friends and Coach Dodge hadn't known it yet. 00:19:45.800 --> 00:19:50.480 Um, but we were sitting at the Sugar Bowl watching Sam play 00:19:50.540 --> 00:19:53.750 Sam Ehlinger um, play Georgia. 00:19:53.990 --> 00:19:56.540 I think that was 2019 Sugar Bowl. 00:19:57.625 --> 00:20:00.625 And it was our family, the Ehlingers and Coach Dodge. 00:20:01.105 --> 00:20:05.275 And we were just eating at a place before the game, and Miss Ellinger was like, Hey, 00:20:05.275 --> 00:20:08.995 Mookie, can you pass me the, the ketchup or the salt and pepper or something? 00:20:09.355 --> 00:20:11.335 And Coach Dodge was like, Mookie. 00:20:12.295 --> 00:20:13.525 Like, what's that? 00:20:13.945 --> 00:20:16.015 And we explained it to him and he loved it. 00:20:16.015 --> 00:20:20.845 And so ever since, uh, that, like, he would go on radio, um, shows, he 00:20:20.845 --> 00:20:24.655 would go, every little news article, he would say, Mookie, Mookie, Mookie. 00:20:24.865 --> 00:20:25.885 And he wouldn't call me Michael. 00:20:25.885 --> 00:20:26.815 He would just call me Mookie. 00:20:26.815 --> 00:20:31.135 And, uh, coach Dodge is such a family oriented guy that, um, it 00:20:31.135 --> 00:20:35.455 got to Texas and Coach Sark got a hold of it and Coach Gideon and the 00:20:35.455 --> 00:20:37.465 radio, uh, host got a hold of it. 00:20:37.465 --> 00:20:39.565 And so it's just gone from there. 00:20:40.030 --> 00:20:40.510 Sam Acho: Hmm. 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:41.470 That's so good. 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:45.250 Uh, well, I'm gonna share my life, life verse and then Cliff's gonna 00:20:45.250 --> 00:20:48.520 share his, and, uh, we have a segment we call the CliffNotes. 00:20:48.520 --> 00:20:51.850 And so usually when we end the show, we love to share some CliffNotes 00:20:51.850 --> 00:20:53.050 that we heard and learned from you. 00:20:53.050 --> 00:20:55.360 And so I'll start with my life verse, my life verse. 00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:56.200 You said yours was. 00:20:56.575 --> 00:21:01.105 I think Colossians 3 23 minus Romans four 20 to 22. 00:21:01.105 --> 00:21:06.025 And it says, um, for he did not waver at the promise of God through 00:21:06.025 --> 00:21:08.575 unbelief, but he strengthened his faith. 00:21:08.935 --> 00:21:13.915 He gave glory to God and he was fully convinced that what God had promised he 00:21:13.915 --> 00:21:18.175 was also able to perform and therefore it was accounted to him as righteousness. 00:21:19.540 --> 00:21:22.600 verse is talking about Abraham not wavering at at God's promise. 00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:25.030 And so for me, that verse has meant everything to me. 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:28.510 Whether I was in high school, I went to a small high school in Dallas, I 00:21:28.510 --> 00:21:31.840 had 80 or 90 people in my graduating class from going from there to Texas 00:21:31.840 --> 00:21:34.450 and not knowing if I'd make it or not, and then all of a sudden getting to 00:21:34.450 --> 00:21:35.890 Texas and getting a chance to play. 00:21:35.890 --> 00:21:40.060 And then the dreams of the NFL and the dreams of being a husband and a father. 00:21:40.300 --> 00:21:43.810 It's like there's so many times of doubt, but it's like, nah, he didn't waver. 00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:47.410 And so for me, Romans four 20 to 22 is my life verse. 00:21:47.410 --> 00:21:48.460 Cliff, what is your. 00:21:51.045 --> 00:21:52.305 Clif Marshall: Great question, Sam. 00:21:52.305 --> 00:21:57.075 I was in the NFL Michael when I was 23 years old as a 00:21:57.075 --> 00:21:58.575 strength and conditioning coach. 00:21:59.115 --> 00:22:01.650 Probably the youngest coach in the NFL, but I was also a. 00:22:01.935 --> 00:22:07.155 Very young believer, and I'll never forget one of the Bengals players that I 00:22:07.155 --> 00:22:10.935 was training in the weight room one day said, cliff, what is your life verse? 00:22:11.955 --> 00:22:13.065 And I didn't have one. 00:22:13.335 --> 00:22:16.695 I knew a few verses, but I didn't necessarily have a life verse. 00:22:17.235 --> 00:22:21.345 So I began searching for that and I came up on Proverbs three, five 00:22:21.345 --> 00:22:26.085 and six, and it says, trust in the Lord with all your heart and do 00:22:26.085 --> 00:22:27.645 not lean on your own understanding. 00:22:28.525 --> 00:22:32.515 Acknowledge God in all you do, and he will make your path straight. 00:22:33.085 --> 00:22:36.235 And I've leaned on that verse throughout, throughout the, um, throughout my 00:22:36.235 --> 00:22:38.215 life in good times and also in bad. 00:22:38.215 --> 00:22:41.755 And it's really brought me, um, great perspective and fulfillment. 00:22:42.520 --> 00:22:43.120 Michael Taaffe: Oh man. 00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:43.870 I love that. 00:22:43.870 --> 00:22:46.180 That was, uh, me and Jada's verse last year. 00:22:46.450 --> 00:22:47.440 Uh, JDA Baron. 00:22:47.710 --> 00:22:48.370 That's awesome. 00:22:48.370 --> 00:22:48.701 I love it. 00:22:48.706 --> 00:22:48.855 Every time. 00:22:49.150 --> 00:22:53.200 Time that we would, um, you know, either make a great play or make a 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:58.060 bad play, we would grab each other's helmets and just say Proverbs. 00:22:58.330 --> 00:23:00.040 Um, and that's, wow. 00:23:00.040 --> 00:23:02.650 That's, that's awesome that, that verse is so impactful. 00:23:02.650 --> 00:23:03.790 So I appreciate y'all sharing that. 00:23:05.215 --> 00:23:06.145 Sam Acho: That's so good. 00:23:06.445 --> 00:23:10.045 Well, before we let you go, Michael Cliff, I gotta hear from you. 00:23:10.315 --> 00:23:11.695 What are the cliff notes? 00:23:11.935 --> 00:23:13.015 The lessons learned from? 00:23:13.165 --> 00:23:14.545 Our time with Michael Taf. 00:23:15.370 --> 00:23:18.730 Clif Marshall: Well, the Clif note that I wrote down is, is a great 00:23:18.730 --> 00:23:22.240 one for all of us, and, but it's specific to Michael's journey. 00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:27.310 Uh, specific to Michael's story, it's, uh, the Clif note is God 00:23:27.310 --> 00:23:28.810 doesn't call the qualified. 00:23:29.530 --> 00:23:34.300 He qualifies the called And the reason that I share that with you, Michael, 00:23:34.300 --> 00:23:42.160 is because as you shared with us today, being on the JVB team becoming 00:23:42.160 --> 00:23:45.580 a college football, All-American right? 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:49.960 As you look back on that, how do you explain that story? 00:23:50.410 --> 00:23:56.680 It's your hard work, it's your dedication, it's your faith, but more importantly, 00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:58.830 it's a story of God choosing you. 00:23:58.863 --> 00:24:02.665 be because God doesn't call the qualified. 00:24:03.445 --> 00:24:04.885 He qualifies the called. 00:24:04.915 --> 00:24:09.115 And he's qualified you to play at the highest level at one of the 00:24:09.115 --> 00:24:10.825 greatest schools in the country. 00:24:11.155 --> 00:24:14.815 And I pray this year you have great success for the Texas Longhorns 00:24:15.085 --> 00:24:18.415 because I know that you'll give God all the glory, honor and praise. 00:24:19.585 --> 00:24:20.035 Michael Taaffe: Man. 00:24:20.575 --> 00:24:20.815 Wow. 00:24:20.815 --> 00:24:22.945 That was, say, say that line again. 00:24:23.905 --> 00:24:24.475 God doesn't, 00:24:25.345 --> 00:24:29.335 Clif Marshall: The Clif note is God doesn't call the qualified. 00:24:30.235 --> 00:24:32.215 He qualifies the called 00:24:32.665 --> 00:24:32.995 Michael Taaffe: hmm. 00:24:33.295 --> 00:24:35.605 Clif Marshall: because many people looked at you when you were a 00:24:36.055 --> 00:24:40.165 sophomore in high school on the JVB team and said, you're not qualified. 00:24:40.165 --> 00:24:42.955 You're not big enough, you're not fast enough, you're not athletic 00:24:42.955 --> 00:24:48.535 enough, and if you fast forward to the 2024 season, you're named a college 00:24:48.535 --> 00:24:52.220 football All-American So that is the Clif note I have for you today. 00:24:53.320 --> 00:24:54.310 Michael Taaffe: Man, I love that. 00:24:54.490 --> 00:24:56.140 Um, really appreciate that. 00:24:56.140 --> 00:25:02.080 And, um, you know, both of y'all pouring into my life and Sam especially, um. 00:25:03.025 --> 00:25:07.105 What you've done for me and, um, what you've taught me as a man, being on 00:25:07.405 --> 00:25:11.185 Bible study calls with me when I was in high school to, to speaking to 00:25:11.185 --> 00:25:13.825 our football team last year, and, um. 00:25:14.350 --> 00:25:16.120 You know, you taught us gratitude. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:19.540 Everything that I learned from your, your speech was gratitude. 00:25:19.810 --> 00:25:23.410 And we play such a great game that if you're not grateful, 00:25:23.410 --> 00:25:25.180 then dude, you don't belong here. 00:25:25.450 --> 00:25:29.170 Um, and then everything that y'all have taught me today, and it's been 00:25:29.170 --> 00:25:33.190 so fun to, to hear from y'all and, um, get to share my testimony, my 00:25:33.190 --> 00:25:37.570 story a little bit, and, um, just know that this is all because of God and. 00:25:37.825 --> 00:25:39.295 And everything that he is done in our lives. 00:25:39.295 --> 00:25:43.675 So really appreciate y'all, and it's been super motivating to hear everything 00:25:43.675 --> 00:25:47.065 that y'all have, uh, offered and to know y'all as, as human beings. 00:25:47.240 --> 00:25:47.590 Thank. 00:25:47.995 --> 00:25:49.870 Sam Acho: No, it's been great for us as well, Michael. 00:25:50.090 --> 00:25:53.035 Um, I don't have much else to say. 00:25:53.035 --> 00:25:54.505 I feel like Cliff said it all at the end. 00:25:54.505 --> 00:25:57.745 Usually I try to send our guests off with this encouragement, but hearing what Cliff 00:25:57.745 --> 00:25:59.275 said, I was like, man, cliff, you got it. 00:25:59.275 --> 00:25:59.606 So Cliff, you. 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:02.680 You, you just give, give, give us that line one more time. 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:05.800 Um, and then, and then we'll, we'll then, we'll then we'll close. 00:26:06.280 --> 00:26:08.620 Clif Marshall: God doesn't call the qualified. 00:26:08.980 --> 00:26:10.600 He qualifies the called. 00:26:11.800 --> 00:26:13.990 Sam Acho: Michael Taf, you are called. 00:26:14.710 --> 00:26:19.990 Uh, thank you, Michael for joining the Sam Macho Podcast featuring Cliff Marshall. 00:26:19.990 --> 00:26:20.980 Thank you for your faith. 00:26:21.550 --> 00:26:22.750 Thank you for your courage. 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:26.170 Thank you for the type of man that you are and the man that you are leading. 00:26:26.470 --> 00:26:29.980 Thank you for your, uh, clarity that even though there's a lot of like, kind of 00:26:29.980 --> 00:26:33.400 like, I don't know what's happening, you have clarity in who's making it happen. 00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:37.630 And so thank you for, um, picking up the call when God called you. 00:26:38.140 --> 00:26:39.250 Um, we appreciate you. 00:26:39.250 --> 00:26:40.000 I appreciate you. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.110 I'll be rooting you on this season. 00:26:41.110 --> 00:26:42.610 Clip's gonna be rooting you on as well. 00:26:42.940 --> 00:26:44.890 Um, and we can't wait to see you soon. 00:26:46.105 --> 00:26:47.215 Michael Taaffe: Thank you guys so much. 00:26:47.515 --> 00:26:48.955 Hook 'em and God bless. 00:26:49.090 --> 00:26:51.940 Sam Acho: God bless and thank y'all so much for joining the Sam Acho 00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:53.710 podcast, featuring Cliff Marshall. 00:26:54.130 --> 00:26:57.970 Check us out at at the Sam Macho on social media, but even 00:26:57.970 --> 00:27:00.250 more so go to sam macho.com 00:27:00.340 --> 00:27:02.200 to listen to this episode and so much more. 00:27:02.560 --> 00:27:03.130 We'll see y'all soon.