OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -Former Nebraska star Aaron Taylor is being forced to auction his championship rings and the 1997 Outland Trophy he won because he is bankrupt.
The Oct. 31 auction was forced by the failure of the Husker-themed Scarlet and Cream Letter Club restaurant Taylor started in Omaha with other former players and his resulting bankruptcy. Proceeds from the auction will help pay some of Taylor’s debts.
Taylor is one of seven Nebraska players to have won the Outland Trophy awarded to the best interior lineman, and is the only Husker to be awarded All-American honors at two different positions, center and guard.
During his career, Taylor helped the Huskers to a 49-2 record and four straight bowl game wins, including undefeated seasons and national titles in 1994, 1995 and 1997.
Taylor, who is a conductor for Union Pacific Railroad, did not immediately respond to phone and e-mail messages Tuesday.
ings and trophy to be excluded from Taylor’s assets under Chapter 7 bankruptcy rules.
“Aaron did not like the idea of having those assets go up for sale, but we just didn’t have any other choice,” Nisley said.
Nisley said Taylor did try to buy his rings back, but could not agree on a price.
“It’s kind of a sad deal, but the certainty we have in life is death and taxes,” Nisley said.
The auction has upset Nebraska fans, and some of them have started donating money to help Taylor try to purchase some of his trophies at the auction.
In his initial bankruptcy filing last summer, Taylor said he owed at least $109,543 and had assets worth $5,300. The filing excluded the value of his rings and Outland Trophy.
Taylor’s biggest debts are the taxes the restaurant failed to pay the state and federal government, including $69,000 owed to the IRS. Because he was an officer in the restaurant corporation, he is being held liable for its taxes.
The bankruptcy trustee in Taylor’s case, Philip Kelly, said he has received a number of e-mails and calls about this auction, including some from people who want Taylor to somehow keep his hardware.
“Selling property by auction is a routine thing that bankruptcy trustees like myself do. The only thing unusual about this auction (are) the items themselves,” Kelly said.
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On the Net:
nussauction.com/auctions/taylor/taylor.htm
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