Dallas Cowboys 101...1988 - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Hostile · 07-06-2007

Row 1

4 Mike Saxon, P
9 Roger Ruzek, K
10 Scott Secules, QB
11 Danny White, QB
16 Steve Pelluer, QB
19 Kevin Sweeney, QB
21 Mark Higgs, RB
22 Victor Scott, DB
23 Robert Williams, CB
24 Everson Walls, CB
26 Michael Downs, S

Row 2

30 Timmy Newsome, RB
31 Billy Owens, DB
34 Herschel Walker, RB, Pro Bowl *
36 Vince Albritton, S/LB
38 Ron Francis, CB
40 Bill Bates, S
42 Darryl Clack, RB
45 Manny Hendrix, CB
46 Todd Fowler, FB
51 Ken Norton, LB
52 Sean Scott, LB

Row 3

53 Garth Jax, LB
54 Randy White, DT
55 Steve DeOssie, LB
56 Eugene Lockhart, LB
57 Ron Burton, LB
58 Mike Hegman, LB
59 Garry Cobb, LB
61 Nate Newton, OL
63 Glen Titensor, G
64 Tom Rafferty, G
65 Bob White, OL

Row 4

66 Kevin Gogan, T
68 Crawford Ker, G
71 Mark Tuinei, OT/DL
72 Ed Jones, DE
73 Danny Noonan, DL
76 Jeff Zimmerman, G
77 Jim Jeffcoat, DE
78 Dave Widell, T
79 Daryle Smith, T
80 Everett Gay, WR
81 Kelvin Edwards, WR

Row 5

Jerry Fowler, Equipment Assistant
82 Rod Barksdale, WR
83 Kelvin Martin, WR
84 Doug Cosbie, TE
85 Steve Folsom, TE
87 Ray Alexander, WR
88 Michael Irvin, WR
89 Thornton Chandler, TE
95 Mark Walen, DT
99 Kevin Brooks, DT
Otis Jackson, Equipment Assistant
Buck Buchanan, Equipment Manager

Row 6

Don Cochren, Trainer
Ben Agajanian, Coach
Alan Lowry, Coach
Paul Hackett, Coach
Al Lavan, Coach
Jim Erkenbeck, Coach
Tom Landry, Head Coach, 250-162-6, 20-16 Post Season
Neill Armstrong, Coach
Mike Solari, Coach
Jerry Tubbs, Coach
Dick Nolan, Coach
Ernie Stautner, Coach
Bob Ward, Coach
Ken Locker, Assistant Trainer

* = Starter

1988 Cowboys Draft

1…Michael Irvin, WR, Miami (FL)

Hall of Fame...8/4/07
Ring of Honor...9/19/05
5 time Pro Bowl...1991-95
1 time All Pro...1991
2…Ken Norton Jr., LB, UCLA
1 time Pro Bowl...1993
3…Mark Hutson, G, Oklahoma
4…Dave Widell, T, Boston College
6…Scott Secules, QB, Virginia
7…Owen Howen, T, Oregon State
8…Mark Higgs, RB, Kentucky
9…Brain Bedford, WR, California
10…Billy Owens, DB, Pittsburgh
11…Chad Hennings, DT, Air Force
12…Ben Hummell, LB, UCLA

1988 Cowboys Schedule
3-13

9/4/88…Lost @ Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-24
9/12/88…Won @ Phoenix Cardinals, 17-14
9/18/88…Lost vs. New York Giants, 10-12
9/25/88…Won vs. Atlanta Falcons, 26-20
10/3/88…Lost @ New Orleans Saints, 17-20
10/9/88…Lost vs. Washington Redskins, 17-35
10/16/88…Lost @ Chicago Bears, 7-17
10/23/88…Lost @ Philadelphia Eagles, 23-24
10/30/88…Lost vs. Phoenix Cardinals, 10-16
11/6/88…Lost @ New York Giants, 21-29
11/13/88…Lost vs. Minnesota Vikings, 3-43
11/20/88…Lost vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 24-38
11/24/88…Lost vs. Houston Oilers, 17-25
12/4/88…Lost @ Cleveland Browns, 21-24
12/11/88…Won @ Washington Redskins, 24-17
12/18/88…Lost vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 7-23

1-7 @ Dallas
2-6 on the road

Points scored...265, 16.6 ppg
Points allowed...381, 23.8 ppg

1988 Cowboys Stats

All time franchise record...250-162-6
All time Post Season Record...20-16

lurkercowboy · 07-06-2007

1988 was a bad year for the Dallas Cowboys. There were several close games that Dallas managed to lose for one reason or another, a costly turnover perhaps, or penalties. The bottom line, however, was that the Cowboys were not very good.

Some bright spots included Walker, who led the NFC in rushing. The first round draft pick looked good, a flashy WR named Michael Irvin. The second rounder, LB Ken Norton Jr. had some potential as well as did some of the linemen, Nate Newton, Kevin Gogan, and Mark Tuinei.

Dallas had a 2-12 record coming into the next-to-last game of the season versus the Redskins. Those two wins had both been close affairs. Dallas had lost ten games in a row. The Cowboys majority owner and a minority owner had both talked about firing Landry. That would have been a popular move among the fans according to polls taken by newspapers.

Dallas took the field against the playoff-hopeful Redskins as heavy underdogs, but scrapped and fought all afternoon, as they had for most of the season. This time, it paid off. Landry called the play that produced the winning points, matching Irvin against a backup Redskins cornerback to catch a perfect pass from Pelluer. Irvin scored three touchdowns against the Redskins that day and Landry, who knew the team was in the running for the first pick in the 1989 draft, hoped to snag QB Troy Aikman with that pick. With Irvin’s big day, perhaps as Landry hugged his players after the win he thought ahead to the prospect of Aikman throwing the ball to Irvin and the future victories that would certainly come.

That December 1988 Redskins game would be the last win for Landry in his storied coaching career. In the locker room at RFK Stadium, the team presented Landry with the game ball and expressed their love and respect for their coach. Randy White perhaps said it best. "He deserves a game ball each week. If you're on the inside, you know this is one of the best coaching jobs he's ever done here. We've lost 12 games but nobody's quit. That comes from the top. He's still out there coaching every position. If they leave Tom Landry alone, he'll turn this team around. This guy's one of the greatest coaches who ever coached anything. And he still is.”

bbgun · 07-06-2007

Hmm. I don't see Ken Norton in that team picture, and someone else is wearing #51. I remember that 43-3 shellacking at the hands of the Vikes was a Sunday Night game. Keith Millard just destroyed the interior of our line. When you lose ten games in a row, that usually means you've lost your QB. Um, nope. We were just plain bad.

Hostile · 07-06-2007

For me 1988 was about one thing and one thing only. Somehow, some way, get Troy Aikman in the 1989 draft. I can't even begin to tell you how much I detested Steve Pelleur. We made it easier by being the worst team in the NFL, making Aikman a sure thing.

I was that high on Aikman. The only player I have been that high on since him was Peyton Manning. Those who know how stubborn I am about players I want can multiply what they've seen from me times 2 and you get an idea how badly I wanted Aikman. The last conversation I ever had with my Grandma was about the Cowboys drafting him.

I wasn't prepared to say goodbye to Tom Landry, Tex Schramm, and Gil Brandt. I think if I had known Bum Bright would sell the team and they'd be gone I might have appreciated this season more than I did because it was their last.

I openly admit that I had been watching Jimmy Johnson at Miami and hoped he would one day be the guy to replace Tom Landry, but I wasn't prepared for it to come so soon even though in the back of my mind I was wondering if the game was passing Tom by. It hurts me to admit I wondered that, but I did.

I spent the entire 1988 season loving Herschell Walker and wishing the rest of the team had half his talent.

bbgun · 07-06-2007

The game in Philly was when Landry supposedly forgot the "down and distance" during a critical moment in the game, which fueled speculaton that he was "losing it."

Hostile · 07-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbgun

Hmm. I don't see Ken Norton in that team picture, and someone else is wearing #51.

Nice catch. #51 is Ken Norton. Jeff Hurd wore #52 and #58 and was not on the team in 1988.

LeonDixson · 07-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

For me 1988 was about one thing and one thing only. Somehow, some way, get Troy Aikman in the 1989 draft. I can't even begin to tell you how much I detested Steve Pelleur. We made it easier by being the worst team in the NFL, making Aikman a sure thing.

I was that high on Aikman. The only player I have been that high on since him was Peyton Manning. Those who know how stubborn I am about players I want can multiply what they've seen from me times 2 and you get an idea how badly I wanted Aikman. The last conversation I ever had with my Grandma was about the Cowboys drafting him.

I wasn't prepared to say goodbye to Tom Landry, Tex Schramm, and Gil Brandt. I think if I had known Bum Bright would sell the team and they'd be gone I might have appreciated this season more than I did because it was their last.

[View Full Quote]

I felt the same about Pelleur. I called him Pelleur the sewer (juvenile, I know, but i couldn't help it). Unlike you though, I was ready for Landry to go.

I took pride in the fact that he had been our only coach and that he had been such a great one, but I thought he was done.

I love this series of threads. What memories; both good and bad.

Hostile · 07-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonDixson

I felt the same about Pelleur. I called him Pelleur the sewer (juvenile, I know, but i couldn't help it). Unlike you though, I was ready for Landry to go.

I took pride in the fact that he had been our only coach and that he had been such a great one, but I thought he was done.

I love this series of threads. What memories; both good and bad.

I appreciate you saying so. So few have surfed them that I've wondered.

LeonDixson · 07-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

I appreciate you saying so. So few have surfed them that I've wondered.

You're welcome. Please keep them coming if you have the time and the inclination.

bbgun · 07-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

So few have surfed them that I've wondered.

Too many young punks.

LeonDixson · 07-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbgun

Too many young punks.

CBZ probably chased them all out of his yard.

THUMPER · 07-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

For me 1988 was about one thing and one thing only. Somehow, some way, get Troy Aikman in the 1989 draft. I can't even begin to tell you how much I detested Steve Pelleur. We made it easier by being the worst team in the NFL, making Aikman a sure thing.

I was that high on Aikman. The only player I have been that high on since him was Peyton Manning. Those who know how stubborn I am about players I want can multiply what they've seen from me times 2 and you get an idea how badly I wanted Aikman. The last conversation I ever had with my Grandma was about the Cowboys drafting him.

Being a lifelong UCLA fan I was really hoping we would take Aikman and knew that Landry would. When Jimmy was named as the HC I was worried that he would go with one of "his boys" and was sick about the thought until draft day came around and we selected Troy with the 1st pick.

I was both elated and dejected because I wasn't sure I wanted to root for Jerry & Jimmy (I have always hated "Da U"). I was hurt and angry about the way in which Landry was fired as well as the gutting of the team, seeing guys like Randy and Danny White leave along with Doug Cosbie, Herschel traded (who knew at the time what would come from that?), and didn't want to be a fan of these new Cowboys. But old loyalties die hard and by the time the season began I was getting excited about seeing Troy in a Dallas uniform and the rest is history.

Once the story came out about how Landry was fired I stopped blaming Jerry and hated Bum "Not Too" Bright even more than before. That farging stinking bastidge should rot in hell for what he did.

t-rock · 07-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

I appreciate you saying so. So few have surfed them that I've wondered.

I've been looking forward to these threads/walks down memory lane every day. Thanks a ton for thinking up the idea and posting them.

Hostile · 07-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeonDixson

You're welcome. Please keep them coming if you have the time and the inclination.

I am doing it all the way to 2006, although I don't have a team picture for that one yet. Then when the thread is posted in the History Zone it will also have 2007.

Hostile · 07-06-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by t-rock

I've been looking forward to these threads/walks down memory lane every day. Thanks a ton for thinking up the idea and posting them.

You're welcome. After I post them I can't wait to read what lurkercowboy, Thumper and bbgun will come up with.

Thumper, AdamJT13, and Juke99 have done a lot to help me with these. You wouldn't believe how much they did.