The Dallas Cowboys - My NFL Team Since 1981 - DND

THE DALLAS COWBOYS

MY TEAM SINCE 1981 - THE TRIPLETS - SEASON REVIEW 2003.....

I've been a fan of the Cowboys and the NFL since 1981, just a few years before the NFL got popular for a short time here back in the early to mid eighties. Being an NFL fan in England is a pretty rare thing these days and those that are tend to follow it very closely and know most of the rules etc...

IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CARDINALS

My ma had been to Texas in 1981 and come back with a picture of Texas Stadium and also a small statue of one of the players at the time - Tony Hill #80 who was a wide-receiver. She has informed me that she also visited Arizona on the same trip - I am forever thankful she didn't bring back anything from there - fancy being a Cardinals fan for 20 years - it'd be like supporting Torquay United!

(I've scored 2 field goals on THIS pitch!)

Dallas had THE most legendary coach by the name of Tom Landry. His vision turned the Cowboys into a franchise to be feared as Dallas more often than not visited play-offs, Conference Championship games and Superbowls. When Jerry Jones took over one of the first things he did was to fire Landry and replace him with Jimmy Johnson - a move that was as controversial as anything could get.

It was when Johnson got fired a few years later that the Cowboys started to slip from the top over the past few years - it was plain to see that despite JJ's success, he couldn't work with Jerry Jones. Jones replaced Johnson with Barry Switzer and despite a 27-17 Superbowl win over Pittsburgh, Switzer never commanded the level of respect needed at that level.

The first season that I started to follow everything closely, the Cowboys finished 1-15 and the fans had paper bags over their heads! Despite the poor record though, things were soon to improve in Dallas.

THE TRIPLETS

Great players were nurtured through that season and the next - Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Micheal Irvin ALL went on to smash records and claim places in the history of the Dallas Cowboys. The three became known as "The Triplets" and gained 3 Superbowl victories over Buffalo (twice) and Pittsburgh in the mid nineties. I'm fortunate enough to have seen all 3 players play - even if it was just the once against the Redskins.

Texas Stadium is such an awesome place. I'm lucky enough to have been there three times - the first was a game in 1997 when the Cowboys beat the Washington Redskins 17-14 with a field goal just 4 seconds from the end. It was the most incredible atmosphere in what Cowboys fans call their biggest "grudge" game of the year. Richie Cunningham hit the winner after Dallas turned the game right round with a Troy Aikman inspired 97 yard drive that had looked so impossible that some of the crowd had already gone!

BILL PARCELLS ARRIVES

In the 2002 season with Dave Campo at the helm, the Cowboys finished bottom of their division and led to an inevitable parting of the ways for Campo and Jerry Jones. The Cowboys had finished 5-11 for the third season running and despite everyone liking Campo, a new coach had to be installed. Problems in picking a starting quarter-back between Chad Hutchinson and Quincy Carter were one of many for the Cowboys during 2002.

Today, in 2003 with Bill Parcells (the old Giants / Jets head coach) in charge, the Cowboys are in a state of rebuilding after three 5-11 seasons on the bounce. The stars are mainly gone now but Parcells has a good record for turning clubs around.

I love the NFL - it is THE most brutal and yet stunningly tactical game ever. I'm happy to watch any match on a Sunday night (we're lucky that SKY have shown live NFL games for many years now) - the majority of people in this country are missing out - their pre-conceived ideas are well off the mark.

THE 2003 SEASON:

In week 1 the Cowboys got dumped 27-13 by the Atlanta Falcons - a really bad start at Texas Stadium but not totally unexpected. Week 2 saw an amazing 35-32 win at Bill Parcells former club, the New York Giants. The match swang both ways until Dallas levelled late on and won with an over-time field goal.

Week 4 was a 17-6 win over the Jets and the first sightings of a great Dallas defence in action. In week 5 Dallas jumped on Arizona 24-7 and knocked former Dallas legend Emmitt Smith out of the game. Week 6 was a close faught 23-21 win for the Cowboys over the Philly Eagles and Bill Parcells was turning round a franchise quicker than anyone expected.

Week 7 was a rampant 38-7 win over Detriot with Quincy Carter and Terry Glenn hooking up for a hat-trick of touchdowns. However in week 8 the offense production stopped against the Champion Buccanneers and Dallas went down 16-0 in Florida.

Dallas went 6-2 with a error littered 21-14 victory over arch rivals Washington and followed up with a close faught 10-6 win over the Buffalo Bills. In both these games the Dallas defence were awesome and literally won both games for the Cowboys. Parcells didn't mind that his team was winning "ugly". 7-2 was all that mattered to the coach at the time.

In week 11 the offensive failings struck again and Dallas were shut-out in a 12-0 loss to the Patriots. However, in week 12 Quincy Carter got Dallas going again with a pair of TD's in the 24-20 win over the dangerous Carolina Panthers who themselves were 8-2 coming into the game. This was a huge win for Parcells and his Cowboys.

Week 13(ish) was a 40-21 Thanksgiving thrashing by the Miami Dolphins and signalled the beginning of a poor run of form which included a 36-10 beating by the Eagles the next week. Week 15 saw the Cowboys beat Washington 27-0 on their own patch and in week 16 Dallas beat the Giants 19-3 to secure their first play-off place for quite a few years.

Despite the two wins over poor opposition, the form was still poor and was shown up with the week 17 loss against the New Orleans Saints (13-7). The play-offs followed but Dallas were trounced 29-10 by Carolina and were bombed straight out.

Bill Parcells has done a grand job - stage 2 begins now....

GAMES ATTENDED AT TEXAS STADIUM;

Washington Redskins 1997 - W 17-14

Troy Aikman to Micheal Irvin for touchdown after 97-yrd drive. 2 point conversion to Emmitt Smith saves the game and Richie Cunningham scores field goal with 4 seconds left to win it.

Washington Redskins 2003 - W 21-14

Two rushing touchdowns from Troy Hambrick and one passing TD as Quincy Carter found Terry Glenn. Cowboys defense was awesome.

Buffalo Bills 2003 - W 10-6

Quincy Carter finds Dan Campbell for the only TD of the game. Field goal from Billy Cundiff is enough to seal the victory. Cowboys defense is awesome again.

Darren Woodson Retires

A sad day has arrived at Valley Ranch, with Darren Woodson announcing his retirement from the Cowboys on Wednesday, ending a glorious 13-year career. Woodson, the club's all-time leading tackler and a five-time Pro Bowler, has not played in 2004 after undergoing back surgery in late July to repair a herniated disk.

When Michael Irvin retired after the 1999 season, the Cowboys knew they needed to get another star wide receiver.

When Troy Aikman retired after the 2000 season, of course they had to get another quarterback. After signing Tony Banks, drafting Quincy Carter, taking flyers on Chad Hutchinson and Drew Henson and even signing veteran Vinny Testaverde, the Cowboys are indeed still looking for a quarterback.

Now the safety position. Woodson retiring from football, as much as he has meant to this team and as much as he will be missed, shouldn't change the huge need the Cowboys have to find another safety for next year.

Regardless if Woodson tried to come back next season or not, he was certainly not getting any younger, but still he would be returning for a 14th season at the ripe age of 36. So with or without Woodson next year the Cowboys were going to need a safety.

However, the Cowboys don't have a safety that can take the pressure off Roy Williams the way Woodson could. Next year, look for the Cowboys to not only add a safety who can play right away, most likely meaning signing a veteran in free agency, but possibly a true "free safety" which will allow Williams to move to the strong side where he can cover less and roam the field and attack the backfield more often.

Dallas need someone, that's for sure. Because whoever it is, they certainly won't be replacing just anyone.

Emmitt Smith Retires

Remember the number - 18,355, the most career rushing yards in the history of the National Football League. That's it, it will not budge ever again, and in all likelihood, will stand for at least a generation to come. Emmitt Smith has retired, hot on the heels of Darren Woodson - all the Cowboys I grew up following are calling it quits. I must be getting old....

For Emmitt Smith, the 20-year-old kid from Pensacola, Florida, who in 1990 humbly began his NFL career with a one-yard run, called it quits on the national Super Bowl stage late Thursday afternoon as a 35-year-old man 4,408 carries and 18,354 yards later.

What a 15-year ride it was, Smith spending the first 13 with the Dallas Cowboys, and then fading into the sunset these past two with the Arizona Cardinals. Along the historic way, he collected three Super Bowl rings, three NFL rushing titles, nine Pro Bowl selections, a Super Bowl MVP and an NFL MVP.

Retiring as a Dallas Cowboy will come at a later date. Technically, Smith does not become a free agent until March 2, and it won't be at least until then that the Cowboys can sign him to the perfunctory one-day contract and then file his retirement papers. However, no one will ever mistake, who Emmitt Smith played for during his career.

No way could Smith leave the Cowboys before breaking Walter Payton's all-time rushing record of 16,726 yards, and he did so Oct 27th 2002, against Seattle, finishing out the season and then mutually deciding with Jerry Jones it was time for him to move on as the Cowboys began rebuilding with Bill Parcells as the new head coach.

As usual with these NFL players saying such public goodbyes, no tears were spared. In the midst of rifling through his long list of thank you's, Smith broke down first after thanking Troy Aikman and he could only get out "Jason Garrett" next before he broke down momentarily, the finality of it all finally hitting.

Then, after reeling off all the quarterbacks, going back to Steve Beuerlein, and not forgetting the likes of Rodney Peete nor Randall Cunningham, it was time to thank the man who probably sacrificed his neck blocking for him, Daryl Johnston.

Emmitt Smith has gained his final yard.

Triplets To Enter Ring Of Honor

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones announced the move at a press conference at Texas Stadium that Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin will be inducted on the Texas Stadium Ring Of Honor with all three former greats seated beside him.

The trio not only becomes the 15th, 16th and 17th members of the Ring of Honor, but will be the first players sent into this exclusive group having been identified with the Jones Era that began in 1989.

"It's a humbling experience for me," said Aikman. "When I look at all the people who have made this organization what it is, it's such an honor to think that my name will be up there in the Ring of Honor and will allow players and fans to reflect back on some of the accomplishments that we had in our run. It was a special time for us, and being inducted will certainly be a special moment for all of us."

While this induction is the first from this era, Jones said it does not close the door on adding players from the 70's or 80's. Remember, after the Cowboys inducted both Randy White and Tony Dorsett in 1994, they still added players such as Bob Hayes, Cliff Harris and Rayfield Wright, all of whom retired long before Dorsett and White ended their careers.

Speaking of what's right, all three players were in agreement that going into the Ring of Honor together only sweetens the deal. Joining the Cowboys in three consecutive years as first-round draft choices (1988-90), "The Triplets" helped the Cowboys become the Team of the 90's, winning three Super Bowls in a four-year span (1992-95) and six NFC East titles in seven years.

Not only were the Triplets leading the way in the mid-90's for the Cowboys, but they are regarded as three of the greatest players in franchise history - not to mention three of the greatest to ever play in the NFL.

Start with Smith, who finished his 15-year career as the NFL's all-time leading rusher with 18,355 career rushing yards. Smith broke Walter Payton's rushing record in 2002, which turned out to be his final season with the Cowboys.

"It never mattered what uniform I was wearing because I've always been a Cowboy and will always be a Cowboy," Smith said.

As the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman withstood a beating in his rookie season when the Cowboys finished a woeful 1-15. But the prized quarterback didn't suffer too much, eventually becoming one of the league's most accurate passers. The MVP of Super Bowl XXVII, Aikman was nearly flawless dismantling the Buffalo defense, throwing for four touchdowns in what turned out to be the first of his three Super Bowl wins.

When he finally retired after the 2000 season, Aikman held Cowboys records for most completions (2,898), passing yards (32,942) and passing touchdowns (165). At the end of this 2005 season, Aikman will have served his mandatory five-year waiting period and becomes eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, all but certain to be a first-ballot selection.

While Aikman and Smith often shared the spotlight, Irvin arrived first on the scene (1988) and was often considered the "heart and soul" of the Cowboys during his 12-year career. And he wasn't too bad a player himself. Irvin rewrote the Cowboys record books, too, retiring after the 1999 season as the club's all-time leading receiver with 750 receptions for 11,904 yards.

A five-time Pro Bowl selection, Irvin did though create far too many off-field headlines, including serving a five-game suspension to start the 1996 season after pleading no-contest to a felony drug possession charge. But the flashy wide receiver overcame his problems to extend his career into the 1999 season.

Throughout the decade of the 1990's, the Cowboys played only one game without all three players. That occurred in November of 1999. Irvin was out with the neck injury. Aikman sat after having suffered yet another concussion. Smith was idle nursing a broken hand. Still, the Cowboys somehow managed to continue their home dominance over Green Bay, beating the Packers, 27-13.

Smith, Aikman and Irvin were inducted into the hallowed Ring of Honor at Texas Stadium during half time of the 2005 home opener Sept 19 against the Redskins on Monday Night Football for all the nation to see.

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