CFZ When “the good old days” aren’t so good

[ESisback]

Hey I’m 64 and remember the “good old days”. NFL Football and football in general was a lot more physical “back in the day”. Sometimes “the good old days” aren’t so good.

With all we’ve learned about brain injuries, the importance of hydration during practices and the importance of getting better rest in maximizing performance, the “good old days” are not so good when it comes to football.

In my brief days as a football player as a schoolboy, we practiced two a days in extreme heat with no water, were issued salt tablets to “replace the salt you sweated out”, and had full on padded practices almost all week before games. Coaches called players wimps (or worse) for needing water.

We know now from research that is a very foolish and dangerous way to prepare football players.

This time of year, we see lots of fans calling for the Cowboys to play our starters in some pre-season game action to “get the reps” and to “work on timing”. I disagree. In fact, I see that as some of the “old school” thinking we need to get away from. Modern players don’t need the same preparation rituals we used in the 60s through the early 2000s.

The calls for Dak and other key performers to play this ps is not smart IMO. Last year Dak did not take a single snap in a ps game and came out on opening night and threw for 400 yards and 3 TDs. We should have won the game if we had had a kicker who could make XPs.

I say let’s remember the “good ol days” fondly. But also move on into the modern era.

Another good one, Hazey! I concur! But for some of us the “good old days” means more…
1)Nowdays, the tiniest details are overanalyzed, 24/7, 365. Overreaction is commonplace, and dumpster fire drama is comfort food for the masses.
2)Journalists have been replaced by Ex-players chumming for clicks.
3)Every year, the money gets more ridiculous, and every week we stress about whether or not “so-and-so” is gonna play. Injuries are rampant, there’s lawsuits, suspensions—never a shortage of drama.
4)Rule changes, bad officiating, longer games, more games, all sorts of complications—back in the day, it was just a game, and we had fun. Now, it’s complicated, and too many people are miserable.

 

[BourbonBalz]

We really don’t want to go back to the “ good old days” as they represent many negative aspects as well. I can assure you the majority of the players don’t want to go back either.

Of course they don’t. They had to work harder and longer back then. But they were in better “football shape” when the season rolled around.

 

[Blackrain]

Hey I’m 64 and remember the “good old days”. NFL Football and football in general was a lot more physical “back in the day”. Sometimes “the good old days” aren’t so good.

With all we’ve learned about brain injuries, the importance of hydration during practices and the importance of getting better rest in maximizing performance, the “good old days” are not so good when it comes to football.

In my brief days as a football player as a schoolboy, we practiced two a days in extreme heat with no water, were issued salt tablets to “replace the salt you sweated out”, and had full on padded practices almost all week before games. Coaches called players wimps (or worse) for needing water.

We know now from research that is a very foolish and dangerous way to prepare football players.

This time of year, we see lots of fans calling for the Cowboys to play our starters in some pre-season game action to “get the reps” and to “work on timing”. I disagree. In fact, I see that as some of the “old school” thinking we need to get away from. Modern players don’t need the same preparation rituals we used in the 60s through the early 2000s.

The calls for Dak and other key performers to play this ps is not smart IMO. Last year Dak did not take a single snap in a ps game and came out on opening night and threw for 400 yards and 3 TDs. We should have won the game if we had had a kicker who could make XPs.

I say let’s remember the “good ol days” fondly. But also move on into the modern era.

This is a great topic I am all for all the modern helmet technology and New age tackling principles to protect players from injury and brain trauma.

That said The pendulum has definitely swung a little too far with some of the rules concerning the quarterback it's just ridiculous and takes away from the game.

Hydration in my mind is a no-brainer That should start the night before with every athlete to prepare for the following days exercise in the heat.
We always had water you had to be hydrated properly to practice and condition properly.

As far as starting players playing some preseason football again I think the pendulum has swung too far I see no reason why the starting team can't play at least a half of a football game to make sure everybody's on the same page.

If the players have been properly conditioned this should not be a problem at all and in my opinion would build confidence before going into the season.

 

[Flamma]

Hey I’m 64 and remember the “good old days”. NFL Football and football in general was a lot more physical “back in the day”. Sometimes “the good old days” aren’t so good.

With all we’ve learned about brain injuries, the importance of hydration during practices and the importance of getting better rest in maximizing performance, the “good old days” are not so good when it comes to football.

In my brief days as a football player as a schoolboy, we practiced two a days in extreme heat with no water, were issued salt tablets to “replace the salt you sweated out”, and had full on padded practices almost all week before games. Coaches called players wimps (or worse) for needing water.

We know now from research that is a very foolish and dangerous way to prepare football players.

This time of year, we see lots of fans calling for the Cowboys to play our starters in some pre-season game action to “get the reps” and to “work on timing”. I disagree. In fact, I see that as some of the “old school” thinking we need to get away from. Modern players don’t need the same preparation rituals we used in the 60s through the early 2000s.

The calls for Dak and other key performers to play this ps is not smart IMO. Last year Dak did not take a single snap in a ps game and came out on opening night and threw for 400 yards and 3 TDs. We should have won the game if we had had a kicker who could make XPs.

I say let’s remember the “good ol days” fondly. But also move on into the modern era.

A lot of what you say is true. Much of the good old days wasn't very good. We had 2 a day on Saturday. It was ridiculous. 15 and 16 year old kids back then didn't need workouts. They were already in top physical condition. What we needed was to practice our gameplan. Which we only did on Thursday for the game on Friday. We should have been doing that most of the week!!

Even contracts back then were all over the place. Remember when John Jefferson and Fred Dean held out for more money on the Chargers back in 1980? The owner traded Jefferson to the Packers, and Dean to the 49ers!!!! Him along with rookie Ronnie Lott transformed their D. The D we had to meet in the NFC Championship game. I still want to strangle that owner.

 

[Jake]

In my brief days as a football player as a schoolboy, we practiced two a days in extreme heat with no water, were issued salt tablets to “replace the salt you sweated out”, and had full on padded practices almost all week before games. Coaches called players wimps (or worse) for needing water.

That sounds very familiar. The only thing I'll add is the team piling into the back of the coaches' pick up trucks to travel for a scrimmage. Seems crazy now.

 

[Haimerej]

That sounds very familiar. The only thing I'll add is the team piling into the back of the coaches' pick up trucks to travel for a scrimmage. Seems crazy now.

My coach was also our DARE officer. He loaded us up in his truck one evening because we had to pick up some equipment. He got pulled over doing 90 with us in the back. Stuck his head out and yelled at the cop as he was walking to the truck, "What do you want?" Cop says, "Oh, ______? Didn't know that was you. Sorry."

 

[Flamma]

I know they want to take subjectivity out of the rules but "automatic" penalites for a graze as if it were a hit are completely out of whack.

I'm ok with a lot of the rule changes to protect players .... but we need to find a balance in places they have gone overboard.

I agree. Especially when the call is wrong. I'd rather have more penalties not get called over more wrong penalties called.

Here's a blast from the good old days.

I think it was Bobby Kilmer. QB for the skins. He drops back to pass. Randy White has a fistful of his Jersey and is about to slam him to the ground. But before he does, Kilmer throws the ball at the feet of one of his WRs about 5-10 yards away as he's being dragged down. The ref throws an intentional grounding penalty. Kilmer was furious. Today that would never be a penalty. But back then the ref made a judgement call that he was throwing it away. Which he was.

 

[ESisback]

That sounds very familiar. The only thing I'll add is the team piling into the back of the coaches' pick up trucks to travel for a scrimmage. Seems crazy now.

Back then, it was tough “young men” piling into the coaches pickup, having fun, and doing the school/town proud. Nowdays, it’s the “irresponsible, macho misogynist, endangering children with backward rituals”…

 

[CouchCoach]

I remember the old "aw, he just got his bell rung" comments from the booth as some of these guys had to have help to even find their own sideline. I guess the NFL back then didn't see any problem with the camera kept on them as they sniffed ammonia caps and shook their heads trying to get back to this world and I remember seeing Aikman like that more than once.

I didn't think anything about it back then what some of these guys would do to get in the game like Lilly with his back and EJ Holub with his knees, needles were the only way. Holub and QB Bill Nelson had 13 knee operations to play a game that they had to have a second job to take care of their families.

It all came home when the stories of Mike Webster, Dave Duerson and Junior Seau became public but then got real personal when I watched my Cowboys favorite RB Tony Dorset try to complete sentences. It is pretty amazing that Roger and Troy don't have the same problem. I can't remember a game without Roger taking a helmet hit.

I see some fans say "hey, they knew the risks". No, they did not and many were lied to by the team docs about playing not causing further damage to get them to play. Just get shot up and feel no pain, until that wore off.

 

[Motorola]

I’m as old as the dirt where Texas Stayjum once stood, lol.

By the way

Another good one, Hazey! I concur! But for some of us the “good old days” means more…
1)Nowdays, the tiniest details are overanalyzed, 24/7, 365. Overreaction is commonplace, and dumpster fire drama is comfort food for the masses.
2)Journalists have been replaced by Ex-players chumming for clicks.
3)Every year, the money gets more ridiculous, and every week we stress about whether or not “so-and-so” is gonna play. Injuries are rampant, there’s lawsuits, suspensions—never a shortage of drama.
4)Rule changes, bad officiating, longer games, more games, all sorts of complications—back in the day, it was just a game, and we had fun. Now, it’s complicated, and too many people are miserable.

But - come every September - CORRECTION - every and all year long - we continue to make watching/following the Cowboys and the NFL a part of our lives.

 

[Diehardblues]

I remember the old "aw, he just got his bell rung" comments from the booth as some of these guys had to have help to even find their own sideline. I guess the NFL back then didn't see any problem with the camera kept on them as they sniffed ammonia caps and shook their heads trying to get back to this world and I remember seeing Aikman like that more than once.

I didn't think anything about it back then what some of these guys would do to get in the game like Lilly with his back and EJ Holub with his knees, needles were the only way. Holub and QB Bill Nelson had 13 knee operations to play a game that they had to have a second jobs to take care of their families.

It all came home when the stories of Mike Webster, Dave Duerson and Junior Seau became public but then got real personal when I watched my Cowboys favorite RB Tony Dorset try to complete sentences. It is pretty amazing that Roger and Troy don't have the same problem. I can't remember a game without Roger taking a helmet hit.

I see some fans say "hey, they knew the risks". No, they did not and many were lied to by the team docs about playing not causing further damage to get them to play. Just get shot up and feel no pain, until that wore off.

Right . It was a barbaric time in the NFL. No concern at all for the players health.

I remember my Dad and Uncle talking about what it was like at the college level in the 50’s.

It wasn’t better days. Just like they said it wasn’t better days growing up in the depression or the 40’s and 50’s working their butts off on the farm. They played football to get out of working some on the farm. It was hell, hard work and tough times . Most of us couldn’t handle it.

 

[SteveTheCowboy]

I disagree on all points. Players get paid to play, and fans pay to see them. Preseason fans pay premium money and should see the premium thing.

The players can decide to play or not.

Let's see...flip burgers? Dry n buff cars coming off the car wash machine? Work the deli at publix or kroger?

All generally safer endeavors. Oh my a regular working stiff job? THE HORROR!

Nope....you love to play football and hope for the star power and payday of NFL Sundays. Maybe you don't even hope for that it' s just what you want to do!

Not sure why we should feel such sorrow and trepidation? What is Bob Haze's point?: Virtue signaling? Very unbecoming. You CHOOSE it. You never got you lights bashed out before? didn't know it was a brutal contact sport...ever? It's what you wanted. It's not like you thought it was so safe and soft.

Either participate or don't. YOUR CHOICE!

 

[Diehardblues]

I disagree on all points. Players get paid to play, and fans pay to see them. Preseason fans pay premium money and should see the premium thing.

Fans paying premium price for preseason games are fools .

I’d recommend going to Training Camp instead so you can watch the stars. And it’s free.

When I had season tickets I gave my preseason tickets away to anyone who’d take them.

 

[ESisback]

Right . It was a barbaric time in the NFL. No concern at all for the players health.

I remember my Dad and Uncle talking about what it was like at the college level in the 50’s.

It wasn’t better days. Just like they said it wasn’t better days growing up in the depression or the 40’s and 50’s working their butts off on the farm. They played football to get out of working some on the farm. It was hell, hard work and tough times . Most of us couldn’t handle it.

It was kinda good that we didn’t know every detail.

 

[Diehardblues]

Of course they don’t. They had to work harder and longer back then. But they were in better “football shape” when the season rolled around.

Back then players usually were only in staid for football season . That’s why they had Training Camp.

Players this era stay in shape year round and don’t even need a regular job in offseason.

Todays athlete in much better shape. I don’t think they even smoke cigs in the locker room anymore . Lol

 

[Motorola]

Fans paying premium price for preseason games are fools .

I’d recommend going to Training Camp instead so you can watch the stars. And it’s free.

When I had season tickets I gave my preseason tickets away to anyone who’d take them.

These preseason games should have never ever been part of a regular season home ticket package.
They are exhibitions...games whose purpose are to help evaluate prospects' play to see if they can make a team's roster or practice squad.
Starters and valued rotational players whose roles are secure have not played in most of these games every summer since the turn of the century.

Attendance should be free. Have a portion of the tickets allocated through a lottery system, and have the remaining amounf donated to local charities and organizations to distribute among fans who don't have the means to attend a regular season \ playoff game.

 

[Diehardblues]

It was kinda good that we didn’t know every detail.

Yea, I guess it made it better not knowing until later.

I think what I miss most about old days is my location being totally unaccountable. Now I can’t go anywhere without someone being able to contact me.

I used to be able to go to golf course , a ball game or honky tonk and nobody could call me or knew where I was. Even if they knew where I was they couldn’t contact me . I was just out until I got home.

 

[Bobhaze]

I remember the old "aw, he just got his bell rung" comments from the booth as some of these guys had to have help to even find their own sideline. I guess the NFL back then didn't see any problem with the camera kept on them as they sniffed ammonia caps and shook their heads trying to get back to this world and I remember seeing Aikman like that more than once.

I didn't think anything about it back then what some of these guys would do to get in the game like Lilly with his back and EJ Holub with his knees, needles were the only way. Holub and QB Bill Nelson had 13 knee operations to play a game that they had to have a second job to take care of their families.

It all came home when the stories of Mike Webster, Dave Duerson and Junior Seau became public but then got real personal when I watched my Cowboys favorite RB Tony Dorset try to complete sentences. It is pretty amazing that Roger and Troy don't have the same problem. I can't remember a game without Roger taking a helmet hit.

I see some fans say "hey, they knew the risks". No, they did not and many were lied to by the team docs about playing not causing further damage to get them to play. Just get shot up and feel no pain, until that wore off.

There was a book written back in the early 70s called “Meat on the Hoof” by a backup offensive lineman for the University of Texas named Gary Shaw. I never read The whole book but it was one of the first to peel back the curtain on big time college football and how players were often treated like “meat”. The book was popular and controversial.

Some of the early biographical books about famous NFL players like Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, and Joe Namath talked about how players took shots, pills and other substances long ago outlawed just so they could play through injury. Namath said he took drugs then that have been outlawed today just to be able to walk and play QB. Roger Staubach had concussions so bad he couldn’t even remember being at the game. Troy’s concussion against SF in the ‘93 NFC championship was dangerous. He spent couple days in the hospital.

The toughness those guys showed was real but it was also laced with stupidity. The changes in the game- while I don’t agree with all- have been necessary. Without those changes, football was headed to the dumpster bin of history. Too many moms would have said their sons wouldn’t be allowed to play that anymore. The changes we’ve seen may have saved the game.

 

[Diehardblues]

These preseason games should have never ever been part of a regular season home ticket package.
They are exhibitions...games whose purpose are to help evaluate prospects' play to see if they can make a team's roster or practice squad.
Starters and valued rotational players whose roles are secure have not played in most of these games every summer since the turn of the century.

Attendance should be free. Have a portion of the tickets allocated through a lottery system, and have the remaining amounf donated to local charities and organizations to distribute among fans who don't have the means to attend a regular season \ playoff game.

I never looked at it like we were paying for them. They were just part of the package.

But yea, I agree. If these idiots would stop paying to attend these meaningless exhibitions they would end. There’s really no reason to play them except to generate revenue.

Teams can make all of their roster decisions from practices and inter squad scrimmages like we had with Denver and LA.

 

[Motorola]

There was a book written back in the early 70s called “Meat on the Hoof” by a backup offensive lineman for the University of Texas named Gary Shaw. I never read The whole book but it was one of the first to peel back the curtain on big time college football and how players were often treated like “meat”. The book was popular and controversial.

Some of the early biographical books about famous NFL players like Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers, and Joe Namath talked about how players took shots, pills and other substances long ago outlawed just so they could play through injury. Namath said he took drugs then that have been outlawed today just to be able to walk and play QB. Roger Staubach had concussions so bad he couldn’t even remember being at the game. Troy’s concussion against SF in the ‘93 NFC championship was dangerous. He spent couple days in the hospital.

The toughness those guys showed was real but it was also laced with stupidity. The changes in the game- while I don’t agree with all- have been necessary. Without those changes, football was headed to the dumpster bin of history. Too many moms would have said their sons wouldn’t be allowed to play that anymore. The changes we’ve seen may have saved the game.

I too remember that book, Bobhaze. It was the college expose` equivalent to Peter Gent's 'North Dallas Forty'... supposedly a "fictional account" of an American professional football franchise... and how the players were treated - and coped with - survival/succeeding.

Callous and harsh treatment in sports has existed for a very long time.
On all levels - and across the world.

Take time to read accounts \ view documentaries about the Eastern European and Russian athletes back during the 1970-80s of their Olympic and World Championship competition - particularly the young girls and women.
Just as uncaring and brutal.