Tory Taylor Looking Forward to Iowa State

Iowa Punter Played Key Role During Hawkeye Win in Ames Two Years Ago

Photo - Rob Howe/HawkeyeNation.com

One of the loudest cheers in Iowa’s 24-14 win over Utah State at Kinnick Stadium last Saturday was for punter Tory Taylor, because why not?

Taylor heard the ovation when he went out for the first punt of the season … which was then partially blocked, although it did end up traveling 37 yards.

In the post-play breakdown by the special teams unit, there was discussion about what went wrong. When the analysis was complete, Taylor said he brought up the applause.

“I was like, ‘I can’t believe how loud it was coming out there,’” Taylor said. “‘They were seriously cheering for the punting unit to go out there.’ But it’s obviously pretty cool.”

Taylor has become a crowd favorite because of his long punts, and his candid comments whenever he’s interviewed.

Take Tuesday’s media availability, when Taylor was asked what it was like playing at Iowa State heading into Saturday’s in-state rivalry matchup with the Cyclones.

“I remember how humble and modest the fans are out there,” Taylor said with not-so-veiled sarcasm. “It’s a really nice place to play. It’s not like there’s eight-year-olds hanging over the fence, giving you the rude finger, anything like that. I’m excited to go back there and enjoy such a pleasant environment.

“All jokes aside, it’s probably my favorite game of the year.”

The last time Taylor kicked against the Cyclones in Ames, he put on quite the show. He punted eight times for a 51.1-yard average. Five of those punts that day landed inside the Iowa State 20-yard line.

It’s one of the reasons why Taylor called it, “my favorite game I probably ever played.” It was his punting, yes, but also because the No. 10 Hawkeyes handled the ninth-ranked Cyclones 27-17.

There are the memories from that game that Taylor takes with him this weekend, but there is also the motivation for redemption from last week. Taylor averaged 48.7 yards on six punts — the blocked punt counts as a team punt, but doesn’t go against Taylor’s average — and he dropped three punts inside the Utah State 20.

But it was the blocked punt that still bothered him.

“It was really just a mix of everything,” Taylor said, not wanting to go into specifics. “We just didn’t get set up the way we wanted to. Unfortunately we got one blocked. Like I said, that stuff happens.

“I’ve had a couple blocked (in his career). Some of it has been my fault, some of it has been others. You kind of just move on.”

Taylor will also get to play Saturday’s game in front of his mother and younger brother, who have traveled to Iowa from Australia for a long visit.

“It’s good having them here,” he said. “It makes life easier for me. They enjoy it just as much as I do.”

It’s the second consecutive year that Taylor has had family visit. They’re here through the end of the month.

“They had never seen me win until last weekend,” he said.

And they got to see why Taylor is a Kinnick celebrity, hearing the cheers that made their son happy.

“That was actually pretty cool,” he said. “It makes you feel that little more comfortable that people have your back behind you.”