THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, March 21, 1995 TAG: 9503210279
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
With the passing of D.A. Taylor on Monday, Harvard may have lost its next great scholar. Or Princeton may have lost its next great lacrosse player.
Or perhaps the University of Virginia just lost its next great running back.
Taylor, it seems, had that much potential.
Taylor, a junior at Norfolk Academy, lost a monthlong battle with meningococcal disease, casting a pall over the private school while bringing to an end a young life bursting with possibilities.
``It's shocking,'' said Norfolk Academy senior Luke Constantinides, wearing shades to hide reddened, puffy eyes. ``It's a really emotional time for all of us.''
Constantinides visited Taylor at Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters on Sunday. There, he struggled to reconcile his image of the rugged, athletic Taylor with the sight of his friend prone in an intensive-care unit, his feet having been amputated and tubes protruding from his neck to keep him alive.
``I couldn't believe it was the same D.A.,'' Constantinides said. ``I tried to be strong in front of the family. But later I was telling a couple of friends about it, I just broke down. And when I heard the news this morning, I haven't been able to stop crying.''
Taylor, 16, is the second student to die from the meningococcal bacteria that health officials think was spread at a track meet in Alexandria Feb. 11. The other infected student, a girl, was from Northern Virginia.
A third student infected by the same strain, Norfolk Academy senior Hannon Wright, is home from the hospital and likely won't suffer any long-term damage, his family reports.
Grover Wright, Hannon's father, expressed sorrow for the Taylor family. ``My heart goes out to them; it always has,'' he said.
Taylor, one of the most popular athletes at Norfolk Academy, was also one of the Bulldogs' best. He excelled as a linebacker and running back in football, and was one of the defensive keys to Norfolk Academy's state championship lacrosse team.
``He commanded the middle of the field,'' Norfolk Academy lacrosse coach Tom Duquette said of the 5-10, 210-pound Taylor. ``If I told him not to let anyone come through the middle of the field, no one came through the middle of the field. And if anyone tried coming through the middle of the field, D.A. relieved them of the ball.''
Taylor's physical presence was just as evident in football, where he earned a reputation for bone-jarring tackles and powerful between-the-tackles running. Taylor split time in the Bulldogs' backfield with brother Damien, a senior. The combination of Damien's 4.4 speed in the 40 and D.A.'s punishing style gave Norfolk Academy one of the most versatile backfields in the area.
Damien Taylor got the majority of the carries; D.A. was also an effective blocker. But two years ago, when Damien went down with a broken collarbone, D.A. picked up the slack and finished with more than 1,400 yards rushing.
``Just a super athlete,'' said Constantinides, an offensive lineman who blocked for the Taylors the past three years.
Ask Bulldogs' coach Tom York about D.A. Taylor the football player and he'll first speak at length about D.A. Taylor the student.
``He was in my algebra class in eighth grade,'' said York, standing in front of the school's courtyard, where the flags flew at half-staff. ``I remember whenever I'd introduce a new concept, D.A.'s eyes would open wide and they'd be right with me every step of the way. Then, all of a sudden, he'd relax. That's when I knew he had it. His ability to focus in class was amazing, and he brought that same focus to the football field.''
Toward the end of that year, York told Taylor that a freshman had never started for the varsity.
``Then I asked him, `You think you're ready?' '' York said. ``D.A. just looked at me and said, `Yep.' D.A. usually didn't say much.''
But he wasn't cocky, just confident. The next year, he started at linebacker on an 8-1 team.''
According to York, Taylor dreamed of one day playing in the National Football League, and was taking all the necessary steps to make this dream come true.
``He was extremely disciplined and goal-oriented,'' the coach said. ``He treated his body like a temple, and he'd already bulked up to 210 pounds. He would have been a load to handle.''
But Taylor was also beginning to attract collegiate interest as a lacrosse player. And his grades were strong enough to where he was considering attending Ivy League schools.
But because of meningococcal disease, the colleges and perhaps even the NFL have lost a potential star, while the students and faculty at Norfolk Academy have simply lost a friend.
``You talk to anyone on this campus, they'll tell you D.A. was their best friend,'' York said. ``How can one guy be everyone's best friend? That's just the way people felt about D.A.'' MEMO: Staff writer Marie Joyce contributed to this story. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
D.A. Taylor, 16, is the second student to die from the meningococcal
bacteria that health officials think was spread at a track meet in
Alexandria on Feb. 11.
by CNB