America's Game is the NFL Flims collection of the Superbowl winners and what they went through that year. I have owned the Cowboys set for years now and recently decided to rewatch them. Either you never saw the DVD, weren't alive for the real thing or maybe forget. So I have put together some memorable quotes that either somehow relate to the current team, important to franchise history, or are just a classic.
Story lines:
Sometimes coach tried to over think football.
He was a player and a very bright guy who knew an awful lot about football but he was not a psychiatrist, and he wasn't a real strong motivator.
We could tell he really cared about us. I mean he didnt show emotion a lot.
It was like a business. You receive your information. There was no pep talks or anything of that.
Being on the roll that we were, we were now a new team. We were so determined that, just looking back on it, we were gonna beat the vikings in Minnesota.
We still had that tag "Dallas can't win the big game" And the only way to get the monkey off our back was to win it all.
If they scored they were gonna have to crawl over dead bodies. That's how we felt. That may be the ingredient we lacked some of those prior years.
We were just mentally there. We finally had arrived. We were in a real tough mental state.
You know, where you know you know that you know that you know.
It just sent a message And Bob was probably the most frustrated defensive guy the year before we lost.
So he was ready to play that football game. We shut everbody down after that.
I finally got bob because he made a turn my way. It was a huge.. I cannot even begin to tell you. It was a relief. Like Rolaids. It's spelled R-E-L-I-E-F.
I still have that picture of him smiling.
They had to struggle for so long. I mean, 11 years of my life, I struggled with all my teammates. And we finally won it. And it was just like being free.
We finally did it.
Its a sense of accomplishment that can't -- like i haven't anything to replace it yet.
We won.
Every superbowl dallas has won -- every last one -- there's been controversy. The controversy was with Duane Thomas. the controversy was with Thomas Henderson. The controversy was with what? Jimmy Johnson and Jerry Jones. And they won. And Switzer.
But Dallas Has never won without controversy.
I fully expected you(Thomas) to be the next Jim Brown.
In the beginning of the 1977 America's Game about the Cowboys they talk about losing to the Steelers in SBX and the Rams in the playoffs was because of no running game. What if Duane Thomas had stuck around with a good attitude? Would they have won more before beating the Broncos?
Story lines:
My whole thing was I am a runner. I run to daylight. I run to what I see. And it always is not gonna be like you draw it up Xs and Os.
We were running practice. Our defense is playing the mock defesne of the cardnials I broke all the way back across back behind the center. "It will never in 100 years ever break like that stay onside." Im saying I got to run to what I see. "I rolled slant 24 and it broke back just like he said it would never break in 100 years and I go 77 yards for a touchdown."
Yeah I was small but I always used to say, "A thin piece of leather well put together."
You weren't ever just handed a job, you had to earn it.
Tony was a power back. Not many people know that we ran him in third and 1 an awful lot. He was blessed with a chassis that was powerful to pick up short yardage.
He could start from a stop and go ful speed after the second step which is incredible. He had that vision Great vision. And he could also see into the future. on plays that were designed to go to the right, he would bend it all the way back to the other side. He could just see where the hole was gonna be.
You see him for the first time, you're wondering, "What? This little guy?"
Charlie is the smartest football player I ever played with. He had to be because he had to me the damn play.
Coach Landy came to me and ask me to play corner. And I wasn't a very good corner. I didn't have the speed to play corner. Sometimes it just didn't matter how smart you are or how much technique you used. I just couldnt play out there because I didn't have the raw speed to play the cornerback spot. And I was abused. Ive been exposed to a lot of hell at the cornerback spot. I got booed at Texas Stadium. And , you know, that was hard.
And I got beat for touchdown passes in games to where when I'd got to practice the next day, I'd have to sit in the room with the offensive team, and Coach Landry would point out that I lost the game. And he was real blunt about those sort of things. So it taught me how to deal with adversity.
Coach Landry got up in front of the team. Of course this is the game I lost the game for them. and He said to the team, "Look, Charlie had a tough day yesterday." and he said "But if I'd had 45 guys that tried as hard as he did, I wouldnt have lost a game in my whole career of coaching."
He paid his dues at cornerback its amazing that it didnt ruin his psyche.
There's no one player I have more respect for, what he sacrificed for this game in the NFL to play it as long as he played than Charlie Waters.
He was a leader both on and off the field. He not only did it vocally but he showed by example. He did both. You dont have many guys that do that. He was our man.
What he brought to the cowboys was every week he vomited on the field. You know, He thew up. And I would throw up to If i was as skinny as he was. But he'd walk over to Tom Landry on a timeout and just throw up.
You trusted him. You knew he was going to give up his body over the middle. and he was a twig. He weighed 160 pounds 150 maybe. He was a guy you could count on.
Everybody on the defensive side of the ball just loved Drew Pearson because they know how tough he was as far as performing when you had to perform.
If you really wanted to get a picture of Tom Landry, it would be in Thousand Oaks, California, on that two story apparatus with a bullhorn. That's about as close emotionally that you got to him.
Coach Landry ran our team like a corporation. We had goals. We had methods to obtain the goals. We had critical points to obtain the methods that obtained the goals.We had the individial exact details to perform the critical points to perform the methods to perform the goal. And the goal was to win the Superbowl.
After starting 5-0
He was more of a disciplinarian than he ever was and didn't let us get away with anything. His critiques on the games after the games we played. We would win the game 30 points or so. And we'd go in that meeting on monday afternoon and it'd feel like we lost. He'd beat us down. He would never let us feel comfortable. With what we had accomplised.
Other Quotes:
That's what zero means, is nothing. And these guys got no publicity whatsoever. And they prided themselves on never being interviewed, never did any appearances as a Dallas Cowboy never bringing attention to themselves. And rarely would the coaches ever mention them.
They relished being the zero club. and not have people talk about them.
Fight with Manster.
He picked me up. He stuffed me in my locker. Then he had me pinned to the floor. And I said to him while he had me pinned to the floor, "If you let me up Im gonna kick your ass." Which is crazy.
A great trip down memory lane, what will the memorable quotes will the 90's teams have for us? What does this mean for the current team?
My thoughts:
Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.
7 recs | 77 comments
Rec!
Excellent post!
Joe21 - February 20, 2012
fanshot
KJDH2154 - February 20, 2012
Haha.
Joe21 - February 20, 2012
sigh..
thebigham - February 21, 2012
So.... A bunch of pictures, and a bunch of quotes. Add a couple of lines of your thoughts and...
This is a fanshot.
Nickthegrip - February 20, 2012
sigh..
thebigham - February 21, 2012
I think this deserves to be a fanpost..
It is our history and we should take pride in it.
Nick Castillo - February 21, 2012
I don’t agree, it’s plenty long and filled with tons of photos. i liked reading it.
AustonianAggie - February 21, 2012
Then go get the DVD set.
I’m not being contentious with you two, but almost every time bigham “fanshots” someone, his criteria has been an original post that gets shoved down the boards by a post that hasn’t been thought out, or supported with facts. This post is not “original”, as it isn’t his work – it’s someone else who came up with the quotes and pictures.
Practice what you preach.
Nickthegrip - February 22, 2012
You are crazy man.
thebigham - February 22, 2012
He has a point somewhat
But, this post has some special meaning to most of us, plus how the hell would you do a post like this in a fanshot. It wouldn’t look right or work I think.
Nick Castillo - February 22, 2012
You realize that almost nothing on the site is original this time of year.
We don’t get to interview anyone. Most of what we do comes from news reports in “real” media.
Taking something and retelling it to make it interesting – that’s basically what we all do.
Tom Ryle - February 22, 2012
Oh I realize that tese are the "dog days"
I just find it hypocritical that a poster who constantly calls out other posters resorts to a regurgitation of quotes and a DVD for his post.
The trip down memory lane is nice – most of these players are from my “era”. The commentary its engendered below is great stuff.
I’ve always been a person that will make an example of those who point the finger at others. I think its only fair.
Nickthegrip - February 23, 2012
You are way off base.
If you want to PM feel free, @gmail
thebigham - February 23, 2012
Rec'd this post bigham,
i have these " Americas game " recorded and i love watching them .
good work bud.
scotscowboyfan - February 24, 2012
http://sturminator.blogspot.com/2012/02/cowboys-e-mails-21712.html
NFL FRANCHISE RANKS, SINCE 1996 – Bottom 10
Rank Team Points
23. Arizona 7
24. Dallas 7
25. Miami 6
26. Kansas City 4
27. Detroit 3
28. Washington 3
29. Cincinnati 3
30. Buffalo 3
31. Houston 1
32. Cleveland 1
Jerry keeps this up long enough and they won’t be America’s Team any more.
Fan in Thick and Thin - February 20, 2012
False
Dallas will always be America’s Team. Nothing can change that. Every once in a while stupid announcers try to coin the Packers or Steelers or Pats or whoever is flavor of the week as AT but it never sticks. Biggest fan base by far and all this losing and disappointment still hasn’t changed that.
Plinkostar - February 20, 2012
How long do you think Dallas can perform like the Detroit Lions before they start to lose their luster? America hates losers.
Fan in Thick and Thin - February 21, 2012
This is a no win argument
I agree with you completely, that as generation grows up knowing nothing about the Cowboys except that they are are, at best, a mediocre team, and sooner or later the star is going to be tarnished badly. Winning will remove that tarnish, but it has to happen soon.
Unfortunately, too many people here think America’s Team is a permanent condition. I’d point out to them that in my lifetime Muhammad Ali was the biggest sports star in the world, and for one year there was no bigger sports story than Secretariat winning the Triple Crown, and now I could not tell you who the heavyweight champ is, and the only time I am even vaguely aware of horse racing is when I am knocking back a mint julep, but the blank stare and mouth breathing as they called me a ‘commie soccer fan’ would be too much.
And let’s not even discuss the long term possibility that football will fall from it’s perch as the biggest sport in the country as more and more evidence surfaces about the long term brain trauma that is caused by the game. I’d probably be accused of liking Women’s soccer at that point.
Seanrude - February 21, 2012
I’d say Miami is a good example.
I think there used to be the sense that Miami was a great team. they had won Super Bowls, gone undefeated, etc etc. Now .. they just seem hopeless.
Fan in Thick and Thin - February 21, 2012
If we can win a superbowl in the next 7 years that will be enough to "recharge" it.
Every other decade bring in a Superbowl will work. Right?
thebigham - February 21, 2012
Probably, although if it is clearly a one off (like Tampa Bay a few years back) it might not.
although I’d like to have Dallas win one and see how if it works.
Seanrude - February 21, 2012
Miami is an excellent example
They used to have a national fanbase, and still do if you are over a certain age. Now, not so much.
The Raiders are another example of a team that had a national following which is starting to recede.
The Cowboys, having had two distinct periods of greatness, have a larger national following than either ofthose teams had, but the idea that is a permanent condition is ‘beyond delusional’.
Seanrude - February 21, 2012
really the amazing thing is that Dallas still has good brand.
in spite of actually being pretty terrible, the perception is that Dallas is consistently a Super Bowl contender … which is incongruent with the evidence.
Fan in Thick and Thin - February 21, 2012
Incongruent? Is that a fancy word for 'nucking futs'?
Seanrude - February 21, 2012
I aprreciate
you and thick’s responses but Dallas isn’t America’s team just because of winning alone. There are so many reasons, cheerleaders, name, colors, Roger & Tom, Jimmy & Troy, and (hopefully) Tony & Jason, spending money to try and make it the best in everything (our stadium is amazing, our coaches are almost always high paid, etc. this gives me a fanpost idea so thanks fellas.
Plinkostar - February 21, 2012 via Android app
just find a way to get Javadon Clowney and all our problems will be solved
Jonathan Stern - February 24, 2012
Good Idea
I don’t know the history as well as some on here do. I’m only 27 so pretty hard to know much about it. I do know about Golden Richards but mostly just because he went to high school with my parents and my dad was on a lot of teams with him (bball, football, track, etc).
Plinkostar - February 20, 2012
I rushed it because I wanted it up before the slam of the combine.
I am curious to hear what people think of the Duane Thomas issue.
thebigham - February 21, 2012
I thought it was ridiculous.
Thomas was talented. He was the total package! Maybe he had some sort of bi-polar disorder that went undiagnosed. They probably didn’t know much about it back then. But, if he stayed with the Cowboys, they would have won a few more Super Bowls. But, they probably wouldn’t have gotten Dorsett.
TheCowboyFan - February 21, 2012
didnt bob lily confirm what thomas said? it just makes me dislike tex schramm
DavidLaFleur - February 23, 2012
so stupid what we did to Thomas.
ok the guy had issues but he could play football at a very high level, tragedy that we lost him due to penny piching management in those days.
scotscowboyfan - February 24, 2012
But looking.. he only had two more mediocre seasons
The whole thing is strange and had me very intrigued after Lillys comments.
thebigham - February 24, 2012
he lost heart imo,
no heart for the game and you are done.
scotscowboyfan - February 24, 2012
Wow(wipes tear from eye)
As a commenter posted last season – this was my team Jerry, a long time before it was yours.
tdships - February 21, 2012
Two Things
1. I have said that, many many times. That is what pisses me off so much when someone says “why don’t you go root for Team X if you don’t like JJ…” It was my team before Jerry bought it. It is still my team.
2. Your signature line is absolutely brilliant. That just needs to be said
Seanrude - February 21, 2012
Over the last few months I've come to see more and more that JJ's the problem.
70 years old? Pass the torch, stop getting plastic surgery and get out of the limelight.
Won’t happen though.
Realist Larry - February 21, 2012
BOW
football mensa - February 21, 2012
huh?
Seanrude - February 21, 2012
This Seanrude.
It was my team before Jerry bought it. It is still my team.football mensa - February 21, 2012
And it always be my team,
that’s why we all are Cowboys fans.
scotscowboyfan - February 24, 2012
"He was a leader both on and off the field. He not only did it vocally but he showed by example. "
Ooops, that former player must be completely wrong, like Hatcher.
After all, so many non-NFL playing experts here have pointed out that there is no such thing as leadership!
Realist Larry - February 21, 2012
Those are great DVD's. All available on Netflix by the way.
I’m surprised you chose not to include Roger in a section. Dude was amazing.
The heart and soul of those teams. A true Leader on offense.
Oh, sorry, there’s no such thing. Umm, a real talented QB who executed under pressure but had no positive effect on his surrounding teammates!
Memories. Young guys don’t get how much the Cowboys were percieved as losers for so many years, always second fiddle to Cleveland, GB, blowing the close SB against the Colts. They were the ‘choke’ team. It was amazing when they won.
Realist Larry - February 21, 2012
I just went by what they talked about in the dvds.
In 71 it was about the 2 qb controversy and in 77 he was already established i guess so they didn’t talk about him a lot.
I am a young guy and I wish I had the emotion attached to these dvds. Though 71 and 92 are my favorite because it was the “first” . I hope this core can have one of them.
Because afterall they are kind of..
thebigham - February 21, 2012
yeah, would love to see a 3rd breakthrough
But, with the other teams there was a solid progression. the first time (And I was too young in the 60’s so have only heard of those games, but knew the players from later) it took forever.
On the other hand, it was an expansion team.
In the 90’s the progression was so steady and easy to see from year to year. The year they finished 7-9 they were still so young and could have been better if Aikman didn’t get hurt. Then the loss to Detroit in the 2nd round, then jackpot.
The problem now is I don’t see anything like a steady upward progression.
Also, Jimmy’s management skills, both on the field and off in the locker room, were clear to see. I had complete faith in him.
Garrett? Not so sure……
Realist Larry - February 21, 2012
And Pearson was the Man. So many big catches at clutch times when other teams were focused on him.
He’s really the other Captain Comeback. Should be in the Hall.
On Youtube someone’s posted the entire SB’s against Pittsburgh, watch the hits the guy takes. he went over the Middle, everything.
Amazing.
Realist Larry - February 21, 2012
Yeah and hes no bigger than Desean Jackson of today right?
Just insane.. he went over the middle back then and now guys his size wouldn’t even think about it today even with the new rules.
thebigham - February 22, 2012
Landry was stubborn vs the Colts. He wouldn't let Staubach play.
If Roger plays that game the Cowboys win. Period.
football mensa - February 22, 2012
I agree FM, Landry should’ve put Staubach in the second half of that fiasco. Morton was a sitting duck, much like he was for Denver in SB XII.
RDouble - February 22, 2012
Landry was just stubborn.
Although I think he was the greatest. I recently read that during the 1972 season, Herb Adderley made a read where he came off of his player and intercepted a pass and ran it back for a TD. Landry was angry at Adderley for not sticking to his defensive scheme and free lancing and benched him. Landry feared that since the CB depth, which consisted of non-athletic players like Charlie Waters, would try to match Adderley’s athleticism (which Landry knew they couldn’t) and try to play outside of the scheme too. Later during the championship game against the Redskins, with Adderley still benced, the starting CB got injured. So, Adderley put his helmet on to go in and Landry called him back and put in some other CB who got lit up by Charley Taylor. The Redskins ended up winning big 26-3. If Adderley had gone in to the game the Cowboys might have been playing the undefeated Dolphins in the Super Bowl. That was one thing about Landry…you never tried to undermine his coaching or scheme in any way. He was very unforgiving. Adderley got traded to the Rams the next year. He didn’t report and ended up retiring.
TheCowboyFan - February 22, 2012
What was the deal with Duane Thomas
Would they had won more if he stuck around?
And I like to hear stuff about Landry it is really similar to Garrett.. Landry had 6 years before a winning team.. though this day and age is different I think Garrett given time can perform similar results.
thebigham - February 21, 2012
I think they would have...
He was SOLID all the way thorough…so smooth. Would you have wanted Thomas or Preston Pearson? I loved Pearson but he wasn’t a lead back.
TheCowboyFan - February 21, 2012
I wasn't born yet.. idk
Just hearing about it seemed so weird. And Rozelle resolved the trade made things weirder.
thebigham - February 21, 2012
Just from what I've seen and heard...it just seems like he had emotional problems...
like he just needed someone to listen to him. Or maybe he just need some meds to balance things out. Disorders like that were not handled back then like they are today. He was an exciting RB for sure. There was one run he had in a playoff game against the 49ers that was as smooth as silk. He could block with the best of them too.
TheCowboyFan - February 21, 2012
Duane Thomas just marched to a different drummer. He was asked aboutthe Super Bowl, and the reporter referred to it as the "ultimate game"
Thomas just smiled and said (paraphrasing here) “if this is the ‘ultimate’ game, I guess they won’t bother to play next season”
There was just dead silence after that.
I think he was a remarkably smart guy who saw through a lot of the BS around the game. Unlike most, he did not just play along. It iead to friction with the press, teammates, coaches, fans. On the other hand, if you watch films of the guy playing, he was as smooth a running back as I have ever seen.
I think he lives in New Mexico now and is a sculptor and painter
Seanrude - February 21, 2012
Bob Lilly said he thought he was going to be the next Jim Brown.
Coming from Lilly…those are high grades!
TheCowboyFan - February 21, 2012
You could see his talent
and it was exceptional. However, he was mad at the world – like so many young men become as part of growing up and it affected his relationships with Landry, Schramm(especially)and his team mates. Too bad for what could have been. He had a great line calling Landry a ‘plastic man, no man at all’ and Schramm a liar, a drunk and a thief – Tex response was to the effect he got 2 out of 3 of those accusations correct.
Reading his Wikipedia entry gave me some additional insight – his agent stole form him and Landry unfairly singled him out as the reason for a loss in which Morton threw 3 Q4 picks. BTW, anyone who bitches about Tony Romo must sit through Craig Morton’s game tapes for eternity as punishment
tdships - February 21, 2012
My second fav autograph is Bob Lilly.
Tony D is my fav, I have his on a Dallas mini helmet. I have some sweet autographs. I only need 3 more divisions and I will have collected all 32 teams mini helmets.
football mensa - February 21, 2012
So what your saying is when Bob Lilly comes to my local mall in april I should gladly pay the 30$ for his autograph?
I think I’d want him to sigh my 71 America’s Game Dvd case.. I love my movies more than anything..
thebigham - February 22, 2012
Big all of my autographs with the exception of Earl Campbell were free.
The Campbell helmet was a gift. I have been very fortunate to meet a lot of former greats. I have a Romo football too as well as Charley Taylor. I have 38 autographs of current or former players.
I love football more than life it self.
football mensa - February 22, 2012
You just randomly run into them or have connections?
I have a fanshot up about it, I would love your thoughts over there. This would be my first chance to get an autograph.
thebigham - February 22, 2012
I have been very very fortunate in regards to having connections.
Those connections are currently coaching in the nfl. Both for the same team and one is a head coach.
football mensa - February 22, 2012
Tell me about Charlie Waters guys...
Were you just tired of him getting burned over and over that you hoped he’d never play another down or did everyone know he was a safety?
thebigham - February 21, 2012
I was young, but I remember getting mad at him a lot one season. I assume he was playing CB.
His move to safety was helped immeasurably by playing next to Cliff Harris (who should be in the Hall of Fame; Everyone says Drew Pearson not being in the HOF proves anti-cowboy bias; To me, the bigger injustices are Cliff Harris and Chuck Howley not being in there, although Pearson should be in the HOF too). Both were brainy players, although Harris was a much bigger hitter than Waters was, and I think a little faster as well. Harris was fast enough to return punts for a short stretch.
Seanrude - February 21, 2012
Waters was as bad a CB
as he was good a S. Frankly, I was surprised he became such a good S – no doubt the pairing with Harris was good for them both. He was tough – played hurt a lot, with a lot of pretty big injuries.
tdships - February 21, 2012
Harris and Waters were just great.
Loved them in their prime.
Tom Ryle - February 22, 2012
Comment
50yrcowboy - February 22, 2012
hit the wrong key
Bud Wilkinson in hjs first season as coach of the St Louis Cardinals talked about the choreography of Waters and Harris’ play. I don’t think I ever remember a better matched pair of safeties. Waters was once considered an elite DC at Denver.
50yrcowboy - February 22, 2012
13-3.
football mensa - February 21, 2012
Can anyone name the zero club?
I think I remember Blaine Nye, John Niland, and Dave Manders? Ralph Neely was also there but I don’ think he qualified for the Zero club (Neely was the reason we started playing Houston on a regular basis — he was drafted by both teams). And I think Rayfield Wright was the 5th member.
50yrcowboy - February 23, 2012
Tony Liscio was the 5th member.
50yrcowboy - February 23, 2012
never seen a list
and wasnt just offensive lineman…pat toomay and larry cole were part of it too someone like brad sham would prlly have a nice big list of members…heres a link to an article in SI by a writer that went to college with Nye.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1136195/index.htm
RKO - February 25, 2012
Great article! Thanks.
People talk about Landry’s lack of emotion on the sideline, but what he valued was hard work and intelligence. Which Nye and his zero club cohorts had in abundance. The other thing that is not mentioned much around here is team chemistry. Those 70’s teams had it and so did the championship teams of the 90’s. Athletes talk about that as what makes those teams special. No scout, general manager, owner, and few coaches can produce that. It comes from the heart but they all must beat as one.
50yrcowboy - February 25, 2012
All of the americas games are available on hulu
http://www.hulu.com/nfl/americas-game
DavidLaFleur - February 23, 2012
and youtube.. which is surprising.
But any Cowboy fan should own these.
thebigham - February 24, 2012
Nice work, Ham
My favorite quote is Lilly’s about the change in defenses toughness.one day or d will wake up…
BlueNSilverBlood - February 23, 2012 via Android app
AMERICAS' TEAM VIDEO
Dallas Cowboys highlight film stories from 1975 to 1979 . One of the best productions from NFL films. (If you go to the NFL films web site you can get it from them. )
Must watching for any Cowboys fan.
Jonathan Stern - February 24, 2012
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