STANFORD UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL MEDIA CONFERENCE

October 28, 2023

Troy Taylor

Postgame Media Conference

Washington 42, Stanford 33

Q. How long are you going to think about that fourth quarter pass?

TROY TAYLOR: Oh, you know, it's the play probably a lot of people will remember, but many more plays in that game and opportunities, not just one play.

You know, Tiger Bachmeier, you know, it was really Casey Filkins that typically runs that play for us. We practice it. Casey wasn't up and Tiger has practiced it a couple times and he was ready to roll. Jayson Raines was trying to catch the ball and make something happen.

You know, I told him in the huddle, you're going to be open. Catch it and do something with it. Those guys are just trying to make a play. Came up a little bit short, but super proud of those guys and everybody on our team, everybody on the roster.

Q. Just kind of what's your message to the team overall after this one? What will it be?

TROY TAYLOR: Yeah, talked to them briefly. Told them how proud I was. Talked about coming out fast and competing, and, you know, obviously we're not satisfied with coming close. I am proud of how they played and how they competed.

You know, sometimes in life you don't get the tangible reward for great effort, preparation, and making plays. But the resiliency of these guys and their ready and willingness to play and give everything they got against a really, really good team, super proud.

We'll learn from it and move on to next week against another really good team, Washington State Cougars.

Q. Did you say anything to Jayson or Tiger after that fourth down?

TROY TAYLOR: You mean after the play?

Q. Yeah.

TROY TAYLOR: I did. Hey, good effort. I know you were trying to run with it. Those guys you know, it happens fast. I just said that they did a great job. I know they were trying to make a play.

Q. On that onside kick, what's the thought process there?

TROY TAYLOR: Yeah, could be one of those things we could certainly try and pin them back, and we've done that before. They're really good on offense, and I thought we're going to have to -- give us an opportunity, we get a good bounce, which we did. Josh made a great kick. The ball popped up and came loose.

So just kind of playing the odds that we might get an opportunity. There is an argument to be made to kick it deep; that's what we did.

Q. What does this say about Ashton that he was able to match Michael Penix touchdown for touchdown, yard for yard?

TROY TAYLOR: Ashton played a great game. He's really tough. He made some great runs, timely runs. Made great decisions in the pass game and checks that you wouldn't necessarily know about. Made a lot of great throws.

He's just -- his disposition is always the same. He's really competitive, but his demeanor is always the same. So really proud of him, how he played.

Q. I know Maikkula and also Baklenko were in an offensive line today. Some new guys. Talk about how you felt the offensive line did today.

TROY TAYLOR: Baklenko, a true freshman, started and played the whole game at left tackle. Then Jake Maikkula, young guy that hasn't played at all played right guard. I got to watch the tape. I'm not watching them the entire time.

But we moved the ball pretty well up and down the field, so I think they did a pretty good job. We'll look at the tape. That's a pretty big task to be a young freshman, come in and play against a team like that with that quality of player and play well.

Really, really proud of those guys. Got some good young players that are really tough.

Q. Jackson Harris made that big catch down the field. I think first one of his career. What have you seen from him leading to this to give you faith in him?

TROY TAYLOR: Really talented. Got great speed. You know, he's a guy that when Elic went down, we wanted to give him a shot. He did a great job.

Got a lot of the young guys like that that are talented and just need an opportunity, need a little bit more experience, but he's going to be a great player.

Q. You mentioned Elic going down. Any early word on him?

TROY TAYLOR: No, no word at all. Hopefully we'll get more of that tomorrow and Monday to see where he is at.

Q. Then the defense hasn't caused many turnovers this year. How big was it to get those two in the fourth?

TROY TAYLOR: Massive. Unbelievable play by Tristan Sinclair, and Mitch got it and Zahran. That was great. Gave us an opportunity. Yeah, so those were both huge.

Q. Aidan Flintoft, talk about what you saw from him and the job he did coming in.

TROY TAYLOR: Yeah, so those guys have both been kind of battle, and Connor and he, and talented guys. Could have been a little bit better on special teams. Kind of hurt us on our field position tonight.

But we'll bounce back and we'll improve.

Q. You've had a couple games like last week that the score got out of hand at the end. Is it harder to get over a game like this where you were so close?

TROY TAYLOR: Yeah, good question. I don't know. If you're competitor, and everybody that coaches or plays, they all kind of hurt, you know. But my job is I got to be resilient, learn from move on to the next game. They're painful. I'm really proud of how they played though.

There is a fight to these guys and a consistency in their demeanor and how they approach the game. When I look at this game afterwards I'm really proud of that. Now, we want to win the game and make a couple more plays. We didn't do that. But I do feel like we're improving and showing incredible resiliency.