The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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ing back as any player on our list. It showed Jimmy just how deep it went." "The next week," Flannelly says, "I'm working at Pizza House, and I see a guy at the elevator who looks really familiar, with a nice woman. I went over there, and realized it was Billy Taylor." Taylor had been an All-American from the Schembechler era, a tail- back who inspired the famous Bob Ufer call against Ohio State in 1971: "Touchdown Billy Taylor! Touch- down Billy Taylor!" He is still known by Michigan fans as "Touchdown Billy Taylor." During the first half of 1972, Tay- lor lost his mother, his uncle mur- dered his aunt and took his own life, and his girlfriend was stabbed to death in Detroit. Taylor lost his way, robbed a bank, got caught, served time, became a drug addict, got clean, and got his Ph.D. He is now Dr. Reverend William Taylor, who runs a rehab clinic, and was the subject of a popular documentary, Perseverance. At the elevator, Flannelly asked him, "Mr. Taylor, can you do me a favor? I'm working with some Michi- gan football alumni guys, and we're really trying to get Harbaugh here." The second Flannelly finished his sentence, he recalls, "Taylor lit up and said, 'Jay, what can I do?'" The next week, Flannelly read in the paper that Dr. Taylor and Coach Harbaugh had exchanged texts and calls, on a three-way feed that in- cluded Anthony Carter. Despite everyone's eagerness to help, and the flood of calls to Har- 1-800-421-7751 • www.TheWolverineOnDemand.com U-M 2016 Vintage Calendars NOTE: Calendars Due In Stock Oct. 2015 Order Early! Supply is Limited #1181 Vintage 11"x14" Wall Calendar $21.95 + $7 S&H #1182 Vintage 7"x7" Desktop Calendar $12.95 + $4 S&H