Science Hill High School

Bob Taylor

Bob Taylor 1954

Before he became Vanderbilt's leading receiver or caught passes in NFL preseason games from Johnny Unitas, Bob Taylor was a Wigwam Wisemen Honorable Mention All-American and East Tennessee MVP at Science Hill.

He won a state title in the high jump as a junior and in the high hurdles as a senior. Taylor was also a key cog in the Hilltoppers basketball team that went 26-1 in 1953-54.

"We had a star in Bob Taylor," said teammate Bob May.

Taylor led Vanderbilt in receiving in 1956 and blocked a punt that led to a safety in Vanderbilt's 9-6 win at Georgia in '57. He also blocked a punt against Kentucky in '55, a season Vandy concluded with a Gator Bowl victory over Auburn.

"I'm sorry to say I dropped TD pass in that Gator Bowl," Taylor said laughing.

He added that he fumbled around the 20-yard line while running free for a sure TD in a win against Chattanooga his sophomore season.

"We won but that touchdown would've covered a big pointspread," he said. "I just dropped it. If I'm going to tell you about my petunia patch, I think I should mention my dandelions."

Taylor was drafted 69th overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1957 draft. While working with Unitas, he played the same slot as Ray Berry and even had to try and get in Big Daddy Lipscomb's way once. Those days were forever ... and fleeting.

"I basically went up there and tried out with a pulled hamstring from college," Taylor said. "But I'd worked out at home at the Burley Bowl and was doing pretty well. I played in the Chicago Cardinals (preseason) game and the Philadelphia game and caught some passes. Unitas threw an easy ball to catch. But then I tore that damn hamstring."

Taylor didn't like the idea of being inactive a year out of work while trying to heal, especially when money in pro football wasn't a big deal. He didn’t want a 1-A draft status, so he returned to Vanderbilt to finish his degree and coach the freshman team.

"Bob Taylor was a player," Science Hill Hall of Famer Bo Austin said. "He could go haul 'em in."

Taylor reminded Sid Smallwood of Green Bay receiver Carroll Dale: "I think Bob would have played a while (in the pros) if he hadn't gotten hurt," Smallwood said.