It took only his introductory news conference to see new Stanford football coach Troy Taylor will have a stark difference in his rebuild than another Pac-12 contemporary.
Taylor, a former Cal quarterback who replaces David Shaw to lead the Cardinal, heads to Stanford after a four-year stint with FCS team Sacramento State. When asked how he would build up his new program, Taylor said remaining players on Shaw's team have a "sincere invitation" to remain on the team.
Here's his full answer as to building up the Cardinal's roster:
Troy Taylor’s @StanfordFball program is going to be built on love. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TmJGye4TSk
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) December 12, 2022
MORE: Why did Stanford's David Shaw resign? Cardinal coach explains decision to step away
"How we're going to build this program, it's really simple: It's built with love. We lead with love," Taylor said. "And a fervent belief, a passionate belief in what we're doing. A love of Stanford, a love of each other, a love of our coaches, a love of competition, a love of football.
"These student-athletes here, they love football as much as they love going to school. They want to excel and be great at all of those things. And our job is to lead with love. Love is the most powerful force in the world. There's fear, that's pretty pretty powerful. Then there's love, that's more powerful."
Taylor, it seems, is taking the opposite approach to new Colorado coach Deion Sanders. The Jackson State transplant was seen addressing his players in a meeting, encouraging them to enter the transfer portal to make room for players transferring in from the Tigers' program.
Deion Sanders first team meeting at Colorado is must watch.
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) December 4, 2022
Favorite quote: “We got a few positions already taken care of because I’m bringing my luggage with me… And it’s Louis”
pic.twitter.com/rpsR9tG6O3
MORE: Deion Sanders to Colorado? Why Buffaloes reportedly offered head coach job to Jackson State coach
Said Sanders to his new team (or what will remain of it):
“We’ve got a few positions already taken care of because I’m bringing my luggage with me,” Sanders told the players. “And it’s Louis (Vuitton). I’m coming. It ain’t going to be no more of this mess that these wonderful fans, this student body, and some of your parents have put up with for probably two decades now. I’m coming. And when I get here, there’s going to be change.
“So I want y’all to get ready to go ahead and jump in that portal. Do whatever you’re going to get. Because the more of you who jump in, the more room you make. Because we’re bringing kids that are smart, tough, fast, disciplined, with character.”
It's clear both Taylor and Sanders will bring vastly different philosophical approaches to building their respective programs. Another interesting wrinkle in any and all future comparisons is the fact they both come from the FCS.
Taylor has led the Hornets to a 30-8 record, including 23-1 record in the Big Sky. His team has made the FCS playoffs in each of the three years it was held, making it to the second round in 2019 and 2021 and the quarterfinal in 2022.
Conversely, Sanders led the Tigers to a 27-5 record, including 19-2 in the SWAC. His team made the Celebration Bowl in 2021 and will play in it again on Saturday for the de facto Black national championship.
There is another difference worth noting in the coaches' approaches: Taylor takes over at Stanford after Shaw willingly left the program as its all-time winningest head coach, while Sanders takes over for a team whose previous head coach, Karl Dorrell, was fired after five games of the 2022 campaign.
All told, Taylor and Sanders likely will be compared in their respective stints not only for their introductions, but also because they both jumped into the Pac-12 after several years coaching in the FCS.
That, and the fact their teams will play in 2023.
