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Gerry Fraley / Reporter
Zeke Pike, a highly recruited junior quarterback at Edgewood, Ky., Dixie Heights High School, committed to Auburn this week. Pike's reasoning is worth noting.
Pike said he chose Auburn despite rumors of possible NCAA penalties over the recruiting of quarterback Cam Newton, the Heisman Trophy winner last year. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Pike said he believed those rumors are unfounded because of the stability on the coaching staff.
"If they thought they were going to (have) any NCAA allegations I think a lot of the coaches would have left," Pike said. "Coach (Gus) Malzahn turned down $15 million (from Vanderbilt) to stay there. Coach Trooper (Taylor) turned down his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, to stay there.''
Taylor is an assistant head coach with Auburn and also handles wide receivers. He is from Cuero, Texas, and played at Baylor.
Taylor was co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Oklahoma State in 2008. In that season, he worked with Dez Bryant, the Cowboys' first-round pick in last year's draft. As a rookie, Bryant pleased the Cowboys with his skills and infuriated them with his inability to be on time and grasp the playbook.
Did the Cowboys want Taylor to help bring along Bryant?
Possibly, but head coach Jason Garrett was set on bringing in Jimmy Robinson from Super Bowl champion as wide receivers coach. They had a decade-long friendship dating back to their time together with the New York Giants, and Robinson wanted to work with Garrett if he ever became a head coach.
Did Taylor say something that Pike could have misunderstood?
Possibly. Many things are said during recruiting that never come to pass. Remember that Brian Baker, the Cowboys' new defensive-line coach, was on Butch Davis' staff at North Carolina last winter long enough to recruit defensive lineman Delvon Simmons of McKeesport, Pa. When Davis joined the Cowboys, Simmons asked for and received a release from his commitment to UNC. He later signed with Texas Tech.
Zeke Pike, a highly recruited junior quarterback at Edgewood, Ky., Dixie Heights High School, committed to Auburn this week. Pike's reasoning is worth noting.
Pike said he chose Auburn despite rumors of possible NCAA penalties over the recruiting of quarterback Cam Newton, the Heisman Trophy winner last year. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Pike said he believed those rumors are unfounded because of the stability on the coaching staff.
"If they thought they were going to (have) any NCAA allegations I think a lot of the coaches would have left," Pike said. "Coach (Gus) Malzahn turned down $15 million (from Vanderbilt) to stay there. Coach Trooper (Taylor) turned down his favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys, to stay there.''
Taylor is an assistant head coach with Auburn and also handles wide receivers. He is from Cuero, Texas, and played at Baylor.
Taylor was co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Oklahoma State in 2008. In that season, he worked with Dez Bryant, the Cowboys' first-round pick in last year's draft. As a rookie, Bryant pleased the Cowboys with his skills and infuriated them with his inability to be on time and grasp the playbook.
Did the Cowboys want Taylor to help bring along Bryant?
Possibly, but head coach Jason Garrett was set on bringing in Jimmy Robinson from Super Bowl champion as wide receivers coach. They had a decade-long friendship dating back to their time together with the New York Giants, and Robinson wanted to work with Garrett if he ever became a head coach.
Did Taylor say something that Pike could have misunderstood?
Possibly. Many things are said during recruiting that never come to pass. Remember that Brian Baker, the Cowboys' new defensive-line coach, was on Butch Davis' staff at North Carolina last winter long enough to recruit defensive lineman Delvon Simmons of McKeesport, Pa. When Davis joined the Cowboys, Simmons asked for and received a release from his commitment to UNC. He later signed with Texas Tech.
