Recounting the day of Jason Taylor’s HOF enshrinement
By Brian Miller
We took our seats on the added metal framed bleachers that were to the left of the stage off the main floor pit. In front of us sat two Dolphins fans who had made the trek from Toronto to watch the induction.
Around us were a mix of fans but it was also a little disheartening. The stadium was practically empty. A far cry from the Dan Marino induction that filled every crack and corner. The upper seats were dotted with people and most of them were for other teams. Taylor had the largest fan base in attendance but nothing like we had expected for a player from Pennsylvania and who played college 20 miles north in Akron. We expected more.
As Kenny Easley continued his speech another brother of mine ran into Dave Wannstedt outside the bathrooms. My other brother got an idea. He stuck out his chest and mingled with the throngs of fans entering the lower floor and walked right through without being checked. He watched Taylor’s induction speech from the pit. 30 rows or so back from the stage. While the other two of us scowled in jealousy.
Taylor took the stage and his voice boomed clearly while highlights of his career played behind him. We listened and cheered along with our other Dolphins fan brethren. The gold-jacket looked good on him. It was deserving. It was great to see another Dolphins player don the gold in Canton.
Former players lined the floor’s gate that separated the VIP personal guests from the average players. It sounds funny honestly but there is a hierarchy of players at the Hall of Fame. Directly in front of the stage is a fenced in gated seating where personal guests of the Hall of Fame inductees sit. In that group for Taylor were players like Troy Drayton, Sam Madison, and Patrick Surtain. Outside that gate were other players that didn’t have the “invitation” to sit up front. I won’t name names.
Taylor’s speech was brilliant and even the non-Dolphins fans around me complimented him on the story and message that he was sending. When he mentioned former agent Gary Witchard, the entire stadium fell silent as if every person, Dolphins fans and others, cried inside along with him.
His emotional speech brough standing ovations, shouts and cheers, and when it was all said and done Jason Taylor was in the Hall of Fame.