Recounting the day of Jason Taylor’s HOF enshrinement
By Brian Miller
While most players came by busses, others came by chauffeured black vans. Fans lined the roadway barricade for a look, an autograph, a shaken hand. This is where Jason Taylor arrived but just as my misfortune paved the way for me to miss the likes of Franco Harris and Larry Csonka I missed Jason Taylor as well. He went right instead of left.
I positioned myself at the top of the stairs leading up to the Hall’s main entrance. At this point I hoped to get some 4K 360 degree virtual reality video of the VIP guests arriving. I did and will have those up within the week. It’s where I ran almost entirely by mistake, into Eric Dickerson.
The former running back great practically ran into me amid shouts of “Eric, can I have your autograph”. He stopped and looked around and said, “Only for the kids” repeating it several times. Right in front of me. He looked at me and I said, “Good for you sir.” He winked, smiled at a kid holding up a pen, scribbled his name on a ball, and after about 10 or so signatures left the throng of people and entered the Hall.
While Dickerson was signing autographs, another HOF player was trying to make his way in without his gold-jacket. He didn’t get much further than Dickerson. There was no denying the intense look, even while smiling, of Lawrence Taylor. Taylor gave his jacket to someone else in the hopes of getting through the crowd. It didn’t work. He laughed with fans, signed a couple of items and then disappeared into the Hall with Dickerson.
From the son and family of Jerry Jones to Falcons head coach Dan Quinn, the VIP’s made their way through the people. Some on foot, some like Andre Reed on a golf cart. When Earl Campbell stepped off his cart my brother called him the greatest he had ever seen in person. Campbell thanked him for remembering and they gave each other a fist bump.
The crowds began to dwindle when the clock inched closer to 7:00 pm.