A Conversation With: Taylor Kavanaugh (2 of 2)

Our interview with #84 continues with some more questions about football, and some off-the-field activities as well.

In case you missed it, part one of the interview can be found here.

Jake, Building the Dam: You had some big shoes to fill last season at punt returner with the absence of Sammie Stroughter. Did you feel any pressure because of who you were filling in for?

Taylor Kavanaugh: I don't know if pressure is the right word, I'd call it excitement. I felt privileged that the coaches had enough trust in me to put me out there and get the job done. I took it really seriously and put my best effort into it... focused on the ball going into my hands every time and I was most definitely excited. It's a high anxiety position to be on punt returns, but I was glad to have a challenge and step up to take whatever was coming at me. [pun(t) intended, we're sure.--ed.]So I definitely had fun with it.

Did Sammie give you any advice?

TK: Oh yeah. Sammie is definitely a team player. He was doing all he could to help out and offer some of his knowledge to the younger players and me. He definitely helped me out and gave me tips... it was very helpful.

Having held for Alexis Serna over the last couple years, can you comment on the progress of Justin Kahut?

TK: Justin is going to be a really good kicker, I can assure you of that. Him and I are pretty close friends and we're working to build our relationship up over the summer, because a kicker/holder relationship is all about trust. Justin needs to be able to trust that I'll (place) the ball on time, doing the right things for him to get a good, clean kick off.  And I need to trust him that he'll trust me. We've been working to build that trust. I have full faith in Justin that through our hard work and dedication he'll become a good Pac-10 kicker and I can't wait to see how he does.

In 2007, Taylor helped Alexis Serna hit 18 field goals and 38 PAT's. (via OLive)

I see that you co-piloted a flight with a buddy recently. Is flying airplanes a hobby of yours, or were you just along for the ride?

TK: I'd say it's a newly acquired hobby. One of my buddies from high school is in the Air Force ROTC trying to become a fighter pilot ... he took me up in a Cesna 152. It was just an interest I had and I jumped on the opportunity to fly and experience something new. I was just along for the ride... maybe someday I'll get my pilot's license, we'll see what happens.

Taylor excels between the lines, in the classroom, and on the runway....

Looking back at last season, what play that you were involved with was your favorite? Does the third quarter punt return at the Emerald Bowl take the cake?

TK: The Emerald Bowl punt return was one of the most exciting plays because it was my longest [punt return] of the year and it was the last game of the season and I felt like as a team and personally we went out with a bang, getting the bowl win. Some of the field goals I was on the field for were pretty exciting also. I guess one of the most exciting plays, kind of in a bad way, was the kick in the Civil War which could have pretty much closed the game but ended up getting blocked. We had to chase the guy from Oregon down who blocked it and tackle him. That was pretty exciting, but disappointing too. Luckily, we went on to win the game.

What are we going to see from Taylor Kavanaugh this year? What will your role be?

Taylor, (far left) with his family. 

Thanks, Taylor!