29 Years Ago Today...Tony Dorsett's 99-yd TD run - Dallas Cowboys Forum

Hostile · 01-03-2012

It was the 4th quarter of Monday Night Football. For the first time ever, the Dallas Cowboys had a regular season game played in January. The season was shortened to 9 games because of the first NFL Players strike. Divisions were done away with for the year.

Dallas trailed the Vikings, 13 to 24 after John Turner returned a Danny White pass the other way for a score. Minnesota pinned the Cowboys inside the 1 yard line and things looked hopeless.

My Mom was watching the game with me and said, "Well, what are your Cowboys going to do now?" At the time the longest rushing TD in the NFL had been a 97 yard score by Andy Uram of the Chicago Bears in 1939.

I confidently replied, "No problem, Tony Dorsett is going to break the NFL record right here."

Tony Dorsett was the single setback, because the FB forgot to enter the game. Dallas had only 10 men on the field. It must have helped that Tony didn't have to avoid his lead blocker. I still remember Frank Gifford's call, "huge opening for Tony Dorsett, look out he's got great speed." In the background Don Meredith was saying it by the time Tony hit the 30 yard line, "99 yards and a half."

Then you could hear Howard Cosell, "99 yards. i think it's the longest run in the History of the league."

I had a big bowl of popcorn in my lap, I jumped up and it went flying. I also raised by arms and hit a huge potted fern that my Mom loved and it went flying. I had huge chunks of fern draped over my head and popcorn and fern were all over the floor. I destroyed that fern. Did I mention my Mom loved it? It was really quite beautiful.

I heard something and slowly turned my head to the right and saw my mother lying across the couch laughing her *** off. She was snorting and holding her ribs lying on her side. Tears running down her face. I was trying to apologize for destroying the plant, and she didn't care one bit. Sad it was the funniest thing she had ever seen.

I told that story at her funeral in May and everyone was laughing.

It is perhaps my favorite moment ever in a Cowboys loss. I am proud of the record Tony holds, but it also has the significance of that story for me which is a precious memory of a better time in my life. I was home from college for the Christmas break.

I can still remember how cold the wet fern was on my head, and trying to see the carnage and the end of the touchdown through the shoots draped over my face and eyes. Still smell and taste the hot buttered popcorn that mom made in a pan on the stove the old fashioned way. Can still hear Frank, Don, and Howard praising Tony. I remember Drew Pearson was the first guy to congratulate him.

I still remember the belief we were going to come back and win that game too. You see, Tony Dorsett rushing for 100 yards was a good omen for the Cowboys. Up to that point, only one time in his career had he hit 100+ yards and the Cowboys lost.

That TD made it 20-24. Ron Springs later scored too for a 27-24 Cowboys lead, but the Vikings scored on a late TD pass, I think Tommy Kramer threw it. The Vikings won 27-31.

43 times in his Cowboys career Tony Dorsett eclipsed the 100 yard mark in a football game. 39 times when that happened we won. Only 4 times did he reach that mark and the Cowboys fail to capitalize.

It was 29 yars ago today, and it doesn't feel that long ago at all.

1fisher · 01-03-2012

Great story, Hos.....

How quickly time goes by. I remember that game quite well. My dad worked second shift and I was the only one watching MNF that night. I was jumping around like a kid at Christmas.

I wish I felt as good about the Cowboys now as I did back then.

DWhite Fan · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hostile

It was the 4th quarter of Monday Night Football. For the first time ever, the Dallas Cowboys had a regular season game played in January. The season was shortened to 9 games because of the first NFL Players strike. Divisions were done away with for the year.

Dallas trailed the Vikings, 13 to 24 after Rick Danmeier returned a Danny White pass the other way for a score. Minnesota pinned the Cowboys inside the 1 yard line and things looked hopeless.

My Mom was watching the game with me and said, "Well, what are your Cowboys going to do now?" At the time the longest rushing TD in the NFL had been a 97 yard score by Andy Uram of the Chicago Bears in 1939.

I confidently replied, "No problem, Tony Dorsett is going to break the NFL record right here."

[View Full Quote]Tony Dorsett was the single setback, because the FB forgot to enter the game. Dallas had only 10 men on the field. It must have helped that Tony didn't have to avoid his lead blocker. I still remember Frank Gifford's call, "huge opening for Tony Dorsett, look out he's got great speed." In the background Don Meredith was saying it by the time Tony hit the 30 yard line, "99 yards and a half."

Then you could hear Howard Cosell, "99 yards. i think it's the longest run in the History of the league."

I had a big bowl of popcorn in my lap, I jumped up and it went flying. I also raised by arms and hit a huge potted fern that my Mom loved and it went flying. I had huge chunks of fern draped over my head and popcorn and fern were all over the floor. I destroyed that fern. Did I mention my Mom loved it? It was really quite beautiful.

I heard something and slowly turned my head to the right and saw my mother lying across the couch laughing her *** off. She was snorting and holding her ribs lying on her side. Tears running down her face. I was trying to apologize for destroying the plant, and she didn't care one bit. Sad it was the funniest thing she had ever seen.

I told that story at her funeral in May and everyone was laughing.

It is perhaps my favorite moment ever in a Cowboys loss. I am proud of the record Tony holds, but it also has the significance of that story for me which is a precious memory of a better time in my life. I was home from college for the Christmas break.

I can still remember how cold the wet fern was on my head, and trying to see the carnage and the end of the touchdown through the shoots draped over my face and eyes. Still smell and taste the hot buttered popcorn that mom made in a pan on the stove the old fashioned way. Can still hear Frank, Don, and Howard praising Tony. I remember Drew Pearson was the first guy to congratulate him.

I still remember the belief we were going to come back and win that game too. You see, Tony Dorsett rushing for 100 yards was a good omen for the Cowboys. Up to that point, only one time in his career had he hit 100+ yards and the Cowboys lost.

That TD made it 20-24. Ron Springs later scored too for a 27-24 Cowboys lead, but the Vikings scored on a late TD pass, I think Tommy Kramer threw it. The Vikings won 27-31.

43 times in his Cowboys career Tony Dorsett eclipsed the 100 yard mark in a football game. 39 times when that happened we won. Only 4 times did he reach that mark and the Cowboys fail to capitalize.

It was 29 yars ago today, and it doesn't feel that long ago at all.

Did Tony ever get that football back? I remember he tossed it away at the end of his run.

ChopBlock · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWhite Fan

Did Tony ever get that football back? I remember he tossed it away at the end of his run.

Good question DWhite. I'm not sure but I do remember watching that game that night. It was at the very end of the season and the first year the Vikings played in what was then the brand new MetroDome.

I remember having mixed feelings about the game because while I wanted us to win like always, winning also would mean we'd have to play the Vikings again the following week in the wildcard. But if we lost we would still host the wildcard but it'd be against Tampa Bay.

But when Dorsett broke off that 99 yard run I didn't care if it meant a rematch with the Vikings, I just wanted us to win that game and in my excitement I jumped up and accidentally knocked over the ficus tree in our living room. Thankfully it didn't knock any limbs off, but boy was I redfaced.

Star4Ever · 01-03-2012

I remember that play very well, being 49 years old. I thought he was going to end up going out of bounds at some point, but he stayed in bounds the whole way. I guess one of my most memorable Cowboy plays was the Hail Mary in the playoffs against, you guessed it, the Vikings.

zrinkill · 01-03-2012

I was 10

DWhite Fan · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by zrinkill

I was 10

LOL! You make me feel old. I was 15

Dave_in-NC · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by zrinkill

I was 10

You yunggins.

I used to remember that game

SkinsandTerps · 01-03-2012

Thanks for making me feel old Hos. Way to go.

I remember that game as well. With similar emotions. The Cowboys are going to pull this one out. Except I was hoping they would lose.

EDIT: One thing about that OP stuck out to me that you should just send me a PM about.

windward · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by DWhite Fan

LOL! You make me feel old. I was 15

I was born 2 months later.

CaptainAmerica · 01-03-2012

Great story. I have a similar story about that play.

My Dad liked the Cowboys but wasn't anywhere near as die hard as me. For some reason he was always very hard on Tony Dorsett and would really blast him for making mistakes. As we know, Tony was apt to put the ball on the ground.

Well Dallas was struggling in that game so when we were backed up my Dad looked at me and in a derisive voice said, "Well I guess ole Dorsett is going to fumble it again!" I had enough of his criticism of Dorsett so I shot back, "Oh yeah? No I tell you what he's gonna do! He's about to take it 99 yards for a TD!"

Well when Dorsett broke through that line and tip toed down the sidelines for the TD I just about burst an artery in my head I was screaming so loud! My Dad just sat there and laughed and laughed! I have never been more shocked in my life than I was at that moment. We still laugh about that moment even today. Great memory.

Thanks Hos for sharing your story.

DWhite Fan · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by windward

I was born 2 months later.

15 yard unsportsmanlike-like penalty on you for piling on! I am old

Hostile · 01-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainAmerica

Great story. I have a similar story about that play.

My Dad liked the Cowboys but wasn't anywhere near as die hard as me. For some reason he was always very hard on Tony Dorsett and would really blast him for making mistakes. As we know, Tony was apt to put the ball on the ground.

Well Dallas was struggling in that game so when we were backed up my Dad looked at me and in a derisive voice said, "Well I guess ole Dorsett is going to fumble it again!" I had enough of his criticism of Dorsett so I shot back, "Oh yeah? No I tell you what he's gonna do! He's about to take it 99 yards for a TD!"

Well when Dorsett broke through that line and tip toed down the sidelines for the TD I just about burst an artery in my head I was screaming so loud! My Dad just sat there and laughed and laughed! I have never been more shocked in my life than I was at that moment. We still laugh about that moment even today. Great memory.

[View Full Quote]

That story is awesome. Thank you.

jesusdlg · 01-03-2012

I was 13 and I enjoyed that run like no other at that time.

What a great memory and it was great to see it live (at least on TV) when it happened!!!

Thick 'N Hearty · 01-03-2012

I was 9 at the time and wasn't into football then. It was all about parachute pants and the Thriller album. I'm glad I grew out of that.