Texas safety Michael Taaffe honors Jake Ehlinger, 'feels sorry' for fan who made sign mocking death

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas senior defensive back Michael Taaffe had three tackles, a pass breakup and an interception in the Longhorns' 17-7 Lone Star Showdown win over Texas A&M on Saturday at Kyle Field, and then defended a fallen friend after the game from an egregious sign shown on television earlier in the day.

Taaffe had strong, passionate comments regarding a sign held up by a fan in the crowd for ESPN's College Gameday, broadcasting from the Texas A&M campus the morning before the big game. The sign mocked and made fun of the death of Jake Ehlinger, a former Longhorns linebacker who died in May 2021 after taking the anti-anxiety drug Xanax that was laced with fentanyl. The sign also included a jab at Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian and his public battles with alcoholism and a phone number for a substance abuse treatment facility in Los Angeles.

"I feel sorry for the person who posted that sign. I feel sorry for him because I don't know what he's going through. How much he's dealing with in life to think that was a good idea, to think that was OK or appropriate for anything, no matter what rivalry," Taaffe said. "I just wanted to make that clear. The second thing is, I want everyone to know that Jake Ehlinger didn't die because he overdosed. He got drugged. He got poisoned. I want everybody to know that he was poisoned. He loved this team so much and I wish he could be a part of this."

Taaffe found out about the sign before the game and said, "I'd be lying to say that it didn't let it get to me."

"It took a lot out of me to not do anything out of emotion," he said. "I preach to myself to not do anything based on emotions. That's when you make bad decisions. It just made the game a little more personal to me."

Taaffe wore a pocket square with "No. 48" (Ehlinger's jersey number) stitched on while walking into Kyle Field before the game to honor him. Since their days at Westlake High School, Taaffe said he looked up to Ehlinger, the younger brother of former Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger who is now with the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL.

"I always praise and honor Jake Ehlinger when I step on the field," Taaffe said. "For what he taught me and how he led me, I'm so thankful."

College GameDay has become widely known for fans and their clever signs playfully poking fun at teams and coaches. On the show's website, rules specifically prohibit "vulgar" signs from being in the crowd and that "all signs brought to Saturday's taping will be inspected before entry and must abide by College GameDay's sign policies or will be removed."