La Quinta native Taylor Pope relishing opportunity in Monday’s college football title game

Taylor Pope, left, converses with Washington Huskies quarterback Dylan Morris ahead of Monday’s national title football game between Washington and Michigan in at NRG Stadium in Houston.

While Taylor Pope was starring on the football field for La Quinta High School, his aim was to one day become a high school football coach and maybe an athletics director. The idea that he could one day coach in the college football national championship game wasn’t even a passing thought.

But as second-ranked Washington prepares to take on top-ranked Michigan for college football supremacy on Monday evening, Pope will be at NRG Stadium in Houston with the Huskies.

The 29-year-old is the offensive quality control coach for Washington, which means he’s an analyst to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ryan Grubb. Pope plays a leading role in breaking down the opposing team’s defense and how the offense might best attack given myriad situations within the game. Pope has had at least a role in the success of star quarterback Michael Penix, Jr.

Pope is in an entry-level position in college football coaching, but he’s there, on one of the biggest stages one can imagine as a football coach.

“In general,” Pope said, “I think this is as big a game as anyone could want to be a part of, outside of the Super Bowl.”

Pope was a three-sport star at La Quinta, playing football, basketball and running track. He lettered four times in track and three times in basketball, but football was his sport. He was a two-time first team selection in the Desert Valley League and was the league’s special teams MVP as a junior.

Pope played all over the field for the Blackhawks, from defensive back to receiver and kick returner to quarterback as a senior. He was recruited by multiple Division I college programs before accepting a scholarship…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/la-quinta-native-taylor-pope-203139769.html

Author : The Desert Sun

Publish date : 2024-01-07 20:31:39

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.