The Panther

Issue date: 9/8/05 Section: Sports

My whole city behind me: A former captain of his high school football team in New Orleans, wide receiver Tony Taylor, 5-10, is ready for this season.

Freshman wide receiver Tony Taylor is the only football player from New Orleans, La. A graduate of McDonough 35 High School in lower Ninth Ward, Taylor has never played for a team with a losing record.

"I decided to come to Prairie View because I was offered a scholarship," said Taylor.

"Before I got here I researched Prairie View's past seasons and decided that it would be a good fit for me. Because of the fresh coaching staff and players, this program is about to make a turnaround and I wanted to be a part of that."

Being from New Orleans Taylor's life changed without him even being there. "When I first heard about Hurricane Katrina, I called my family two days before it hit and they informed me that they made it out okay, and they were now in Baton Rouge with other family."

The industrial canal levee broke just one block away from Taylor's home, in the heart of Ninth Ward.

"Both of my parents are deceased, so my grandparents raised me. I had only a couple of pictures of my parents, but I left them back home, so now they are gone."

Luckily none of his family or friends was hurt during the storm. "All of my closest family and friends made it out safely." Taylor said he would love to return to New Orleans to check on the condition of his home, but as of now no one is allowed into the city.

If time permits, Taylor would like to contribute his time to volunteer and help the victims of the city he once called home.

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