Take 10 with Zac Taylor

Nebraska football fans spent the 2005 season getting to know Zac Taylor on the field as the tough-as-nails quarterback who led the team to a record-setting season and an Alamo Bowl win. Off the gridiron, Taylor remains a leader, volunteering and speaking at fundraisers for organizations such as the Special Olympics and ARC of Lincoln that benefit the developmentally disabled. Before his latest speaking engagement, Taylor was able to Take 10 with Huskers.com.

Why did you choose to volunteer with ARC and the Special Olympics?
Zac Taylor: I chose to do volunteer work because I have a 21-year-old sister, Kathryn, who has Down Syndrome. She has always been a part of the Special Olympics, and my dad has been on the S.O. Board in Oklahoma for a few years now, so we've always helped out when we could.

What kind of work have you done for those organizations besides speaking at the philanthropy?
ZT: For as long as I can remember, my brother and I have reffed volleyball and basketball games at the State Special Olympics games. I also did a PSA last fall for Special Olympics as well with Cortney Grixby.

What's been the best part of volunteering?
ZT: The best part about volunteering is just watching these kids compete. It's so stress free for them, they just do it for the enjoyment and fun that the sports provide, and all too often college athletes lose sight of that.

What's the most valuable thing you've learned from helping those organizations?
ZT: It builds character and keeps you humble, because you realize that not everyone gets the same opportunities as we do. We need to realize how lucky we are to have the opportunity to play for Nebraska.

What do you hope to accomplish by volunteering? Why is it important to you?
ZT: I do it because these kids love what they are doing and they love being around us, so it's just a great time anytime I get a chance to interact with the Special Olympians.

The philanthropy was on a Friday, so what's the most fun/interesting/random thing you've done on a weekend in Lincoln?
ZT: Wow, I don't lead the most exciting life, so I can't really think of any interesting weekend stories. I guess I need to work on that.

What's the last movie you saw in theaters?
ZT: The last movie I saw was The Chronicles of Narnia a loooong time ago.

Fill in the blank: the entertainer I wish would be my best friend is ___________.
ZT: Jim Gaffigan, comedian. I can almost recite all his shows word by word, which is scary, but he cracks me up every time. He's the bald guy in the Sierra Mist commercials now, and he was also in a scene in Super Troopers.

What one thing do you want to do before you graduate?
ZT: I wish I could go abroad while I was still in school, because a lot of my friends back home have done it and loved it, but I don't think I'm going to get that opportunity before I'm done here.

What's the biggest thing you would want people to know about you as a person rather than as a quarterback?
ZT: That I'm not someone who just throws a football around all the time, but I'm actually just a normal person who goes through the same stuff everyone else does. I'm also a big baseball fan, so I go to a lot of the games and hopefully will get to go to Omaha this year and watch us win the whole thing.