Division III Week Student Spotlight – Chip Taylor
This week is NCAA Division III Week and member institutions across the country are celebrating the seventh-year event.
Division III Week, which runs from Monday through Sunday, is intended to recognize the academic and athletic accomplishments as well as the campus leadership and community service efforts of Division III student-athletes.
As part of Huntingdon College's participation in Division III Week, five student-athletes will be featured this week. Huntingdon senior Chip Taylor is today's featured student-athlete.
By Audrianna Hargitt
Sports Information Assistant
Name: Chip Taylor
Year: Senior
Hometown: Greenville, Ala.
Major: Accounting with a minor in History
Career Goals: Plans to become a CPA and work for a firm
Sport: Football
Athletic Accomplishments: A four-year member of the football program, Taylor stepped into the role of starting quarterback as a senior. A second-team All-Conference selection, he passed for 1,847 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 337 yards and six touchdowns. Despite missing two complete games and parts of two others with injuries, Taylor was fourth in the USA South in passing yards and passing touchdowns and led the conference in passing efficiency (174.6) and yards per completion (18.7). In back-to-back games, he broke the Huntingdon record for longest run by a quarterback with a 69-yard touchdown run against Averett before making a 70-yard run against Maryville.
Academic Achievements and Campus Activities: Taylor is a three-time member of the USA South Academic All-Conference team and is a member of the SGA, where he serves as a senator for Accounting/Business. He is also a member of the Accounting Club, Business Club, Student Philanthropy Council, Student Alumni Association, is a Student Recruiter/Host and served as a Huntingdon Ambassador.
What made you feel like Huntingdon was the right place for you? "I felt the home atmosphere while on tour. I went to a small high school, which made Huntingdon feel like home. After I met the coaching staff and faculty, I knew I was not going anywhere else."
What has made your Huntingdon experience unique? "The football program has changed me into a better person. Not only was I able to play four years of collegiate football and win three conference championships, but this program helped change how I viewed myself from my freshman year to now."
How has Huntingdon challenged you academically and athletically? "Huntingdon is known as a strong academic school, so that is a challenge in itself. The football program also challenges you to do well academically so that you stay eligible to play. It challenged me to do better and help with the growth of the program."
What has been your biggest highlight as a Huntingdon student-athlete? "I would say winning the conference championship this past year. I was able to start at quarterback and we were undefeated in conference, which was a sweet feeling. Although it did not end the way I wanted due to my injury, it was still a fun experience."
As a student-athlete, what is your impression of Division III now compared to your first season? "I played with and against athletes who are just as good as those in higher divisions. Athletes should be viewed by the quality of the player and not from which division they play in. Division III is very competitive in many aspects."