This team before winning its first Super Bowl... - Dallas Cowboys Forum

dragon_mikal · 01-23-2013

Forgive my ignorance regarding this topic as by the time I was able to start truly watching and paying attention to this team Campo was on his way out.

I just watched America's Game about the '71 Dallas Cowboys and I was surprised at how much drama surrounded that team. You had the Duane Thomas saga, the rotating quarterback fiasco, a new stadium and a team that many felt couldn't win the big one.

Was it true that the GM underpaid the veteran stars as much as he did?

I thought it was interesting that the players felt that they lacked a true home-field advantage even way back then.

I like how Duane Thomas implied that the Cowboys don't win if there is no controversy surrounding the team.

I wish I could have watched Bob Lilly and Roger Staubach when they played.

Anyway...it just opened my eyes that this franchise has always had some drama going on and the '71 team kind of comes across like the '95 team. A team that, despite all of the drama unfolding around them, ended up putting it together and showing why many considered them the favorites. (Not trying to offend anyone here...I know Tom Landry shouldn't be compared to Barry Switzer.)

Anyway...I tip my hat to those of you who got to see the championships as they happened and don't have to order an on demand program and hope it happens again some day.

I'll just keep chugging along as a fan, though. Believing it can and will happen again. Hoping it will be next year...because what being a fan is about is seeing what you believe may happen actually happen.

TwoDeep3 · 01-23-2013

This team was considered a finesse team and one that was not very physical, as well.

Those two Cleveland games set in motion the can't win the big one, next year's champs thing.

And Tex Schramm was so tight he squeaked.

NickZepp · 01-23-2013

In 1970 and 71 they were much more physical team. Watch Super Bowl 6 sometime and you will see the game plan was very much a physical run game with a heavy dose of Garrison and Thomas. Staubach's passing success was because the run game was so effective. Thomas had some very big playoff games. Shame he didn't have a better career.

NickZepp · 01-23-2013

Quote:

I wish I could have watched Bob Lilly and Roger Staubach when they played.

There's only a few games that exist with Lily and a few more of Staubach's games are out there. But you can see those games if you look for them.

bark · 01-23-2013

the period between the ice bowl and the first championship in super bowl 6 was one heartbreak after another....

DallasDW00ds0n · 01-24-2013

i guess that means were winning the super bowl this year

burmafrd · 01-24-2013

the Boys fans even had a short term for each loss

Ice Bowl= Starr sneak
SB 5- Billie Raye Smith conned the refs (our guy recovered the ball but the refs believed him and called it Colts ball)
and so on

we were indeed next years team- always in the championship or close but always losing that big game.

Meredith I think retired because he just could not put up with it anymore. Frankly he got the same rep as Romo has now.

Then in 1971 we just absolutely blew everyone away late in the season. Still the only team to limit the other team to less than a TD in the SB

Cajuncowboy · 01-24-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoDeep3

And Tex Schramm was so tight he squeaked.

One story I remember was when Tex was negotiating with Charlie Waters when he was a rookie. Waters said how much he liked Tex's Alligator shoes and would love to get a pair some day. Tex said, sign the deal and I will get you a pair.

So he signed the deal and the next day he got a box in the mail with a pair of Alligator shoes. Waters thought this was the greatest thing.

But when he got his first check (I think for the signing bonus) it had a deduction for the cost of the shoes.

Charlie wasn't real happy.

WV Cowboy · 01-24-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragon_mikal

Anyway...I tip my hat to those of you who got to see the championships as they happened

And I tip my hat to fans like you who have seen nothing, and yet are still fans.

I have a young friend who is a Cowboys fan, .. he is 16 or 17.

I always lean over and bow before him before we discuss "all things Cowboys", .. we both laugh, .. because he knows why I do it.

Seriously, I am not sure why kids his age are Cowboys fans. Probably because his Dad I know, .. but the poor kid has always had to watch others around us, particularly hard when it is steeler fans, enjoy their success.

Meanwhile, our team wallows in .500 mediocrity.

Anyway, hats off to you, .. I hope you don't have to wait much longer.

RS12 · 01-24-2013

Quote:

I wish I could have watched Bob Lilly and Roger Staubach when they played.

Add Tom Landry and you have three big reasons why this team and the league are as popular as they are today. Made for great Sunday TV.

dragon_mikal · 01-24-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by WV Cowboy

And I tip my hat to fans like you who have seen nothing, and yet are still fans.

I have a young friend who is a Cowboys fan, .. he is 16 or 17.

I always lean over and bow before him before we discuss "all things Cowboys", .. we both laugh, .. because he knows why I do it.

Seriously, I am not sure why kids his age are Cowboys fans. Probably because his Dad I know, .. but the poor kid has always had to watch others around us, particularly hard when it is steeler fans, enjoy their success.

Meanwhile, our team wallows in .500 mediocrity.

Anyway, hats off to you, .. I hope you don't have to wait much longer.

Well thank you, sir.

I remember my Dad after SBXXX and how he went ballistic when the Cowboys won. I was only 11 at the time so I really didn't watch football much but later in life I asked him about it.

He told me that Super Bowl XXX meant more to him than all of the championships before because of who the Cowboys beat that day. My Dad hates the Steelers with a passion and probably always will.

But it showed me what being a fan of a team could mean. You don't develop passion like that without some history of success...like the feelings I now have for the Redskins. I've always disliked them a great deal because of the history but now, because of the way they kept the Cowboys out of the playoffs this past year, my dislike has grown toward outright hatred.

Anyway, thanks for the kind words and I also hope I don't have to wait much longer.

WV Cowboy · 01-24-2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragon_mikal

Well thank you, sir.

I remember my Dad after SBXXX and how he went ballistic when the Cowboys won. I was only 11 at the time so I really didn't watch football much but later in life I asked him about it.

He told me that Super Bowl XXX meant more to him than all of the championships before because of who the Cowboys beat that day. My Dad hates the Steelers with a passion and probably always will.

Yes, he always will.

Me and your Dad would get along just FINE !!