Texas Longhorns player honors flood victims at SEC Media Days

9 hours ago 1

Texas senior defensive back Michael Taaffe made a fashion statement during his appearance at SEC Media Days Tuesday in Atlanta.

However, it wasn’t for show or to make an impression for the cameras and the various media members in attendance. Taaffe did it to honor the victims of a recent national tragedy close to home.

Taaffe wore a necktie that was emblazoned with the initials of 27 people who passed away during a series of flash floods earlier this month at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp in Hunt, located in the Texas Hill Country.

Texas safety Michael Taaffe is wearing a tie at SEC Media Days with the initials of the campers and counselors from Camp Mystic who died in the recent floods. pic.twitter.com/g5nleDO1bh

— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) July 15, 2025

At the top of the list of initials on Taaffe’s tie was the initials of Dick Eastland, the executive director of Camp Mystic, who passed away in the flood waters while attempting to rescue several of the campers.

Texas’ Michael Taaffe had a tie specially made for the SEC media days with the initials of some of the Camp Mystic victims. He knew one of the counselors that died trying to save others, Katherine Ferruzzo, and got a text from her brother thanking him for the remembrance. pic.twitter.com/XHcpz0ro5d

— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) July 15, 2025

“I want to shed light on what’s going on in Texas to the SEC, to everybody around the country,” Taaffe said in an interview with Austin TV station KXAN. “At the end of the day, football is important and it brings us joy, but this is more than football.

“I wanted to show how important this is to us. We’ve been praying continuously for those families and the community, and I want to help them any way I can.”

Taaffe, a native of Austin who played at Westlake High School, took part last week in a fundraiser at an Austin restaurant where he signed autographs and took photos with fans. He remarked, in another interview with KXAN, that he wanted to do his part to help those in need.

“It’s super cool to see everybody here,” said Taaffe at the time. “It brings tears of joy because it’s so cool to see so many people show up.

“It’s not about me. It’s about the kids who were affected by this. The families.”

Taaffe continued his part to help those affected by the floods with his tie at SEC Media Days as one of the Longhorn players invited to the session.

Texas, coming off back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances, begins what should be another highly anticipated season on Aug. 30 at Ohio State, a rematch of the Buckeyes’ CFP semifinal win against the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl.