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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Standout defensive player Michael Taaffe has made |
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significant contributions to the recent success and the proud |
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winning tradition of The University of Texas at Austin football |
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team; and |
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WHEREAS, A fifth-generation Longhorn, Mr. Taaffe became a |
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walk-on defensive back as a redshirt freshman in 2022, playing 13 |
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games for UT and distinguishing himself as a member of the Academic |
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All-Big 12 Conference Second Team; after receiving his scholarship |
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in a team meeting prior to the Alamo Bowl, he earned All-Big 12 |
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Honorable Mention recognition as a sophomore, recording 48 tackles |
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and 3 interceptions in 14 outings during the 2023 campaign; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Taaffe enjoyed a breakout junior year in 2024, |
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starting all 16 contests and helping the Longhorns reach the |
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Southeastern Conference championship game and the 12-team College |
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Football Playoff; he recorded 10 tackles and 2 pass breakups in a |
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win over Arizona State University in the CFP quarterfinals, and in |
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the semifinal against eventual national champion Ohio State, he |
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notched five tackles in another stellar showing; during the year, |
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he collected SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week and Burlsworth |
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Trophy National Player of the Week honors, and he was a semifinalist |
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for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to a player who has excelled on the |
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field since starting his career as a walk-on; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Peter and Diane Taaffe, Mr. Taaffe first |
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gained acclaim at Westlake High School; a two-way player, he led the |
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Chaparrals to a pair of 6A state championships and was the Defensive |
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Most Valuable Player selection in each title game; as a senior, he |
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was a Texas Sports Writers Association Second-Team All-State pick, |
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and he totaled 60 tackles, 5 interceptions, and nearly 300 |
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receiving yards with 3 touchdown catches on the year; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his skill, determination, and unwavering |
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commitment to excellence, Michael Taaffe has become a source of |
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great pride to Longhorn football fans and his many supporters in the |
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Austin community, and he is indeed deserving of recognition at this |
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time; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Michael Taaffe for his |
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achievements as a member of The University of Texas at Austin |
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football team and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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success in the coming season; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Taaffe as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |