2021 season countdown thread

[Bobhaze]

16 more days!! Former players who wore #16 are Steve Pelluer and Vinny Testaverde ...who played for us in his twilight years. I think he was 41 years old!! LOL Current player wearing #16 is Stephen Guidry.

I remember in the mid 80s when Danny White began to fade, Steve Pelluer temporarily became my choice (and Tom Landry’s) to become the starter. Pelluer was mobile but his arm and his accuracy were average at best. I think he ended up being the starter of the last game Tom Landry ever coached in 1988 in an otherwise forgettable year.

 

[maryquality]

I remember in the mid 80s when Danny White began to fade, Steve Pelluer temporarily became my choice (and Tom Landry’s) to become the starter. Pelluer was mobile but his arm and his accuracy were average at best. I think he ended up being the starter of the last game Tom Landry ever coached in 1988 in an otherwise forgettable year.

Yeah, I liked Pelluer too!! But, as you said, he wasn't the best QB and the team was going downhill fast!!

 

[Hagman]

 

[Motorola]

Dandy Don- the first great QB of the Cowboys. There is no doubt he was the toughest guy to ever play QB for the Cowboys. Played with a broken nose and broken ribs. If he had played in this era he could played another 5-7 years. One of the best storytellers of the early days of Cowboys football.

And IMO Dandy Don blazed a trail in broadcasting for commentators like John Madden. His singing rendition of “Turn out the Lights, the Party’s over” on Monday Night Football remains a seminal moment in football broadcasting. RIP Dandy!

Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award: bestowed annually by the Pro Football Hall Of Fame "for longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football".
2007 Award Recipient - Don Merideth.

 

[Jake]

Here's a #17 a lot of people forget about:

I confess. I forgot he ever played for the Cowboys.

 

[Jake]

16 days to Tampa Bay

Not a lot of history with #16 but Jesse Holley remains the only Cowboy to be invited to training camp by winning a reality show - Michael Irvin's 4th and Long in 2009.

A longshot to make the roster, Holley eventually did in 2011 after a couple of seasons on and off the practice squad. He had his moment in the sun in overtime at San Francisco, catching a 77 yard pass play to set up a game-winning field goal.

 

[Thomas82]

I confess. I forgot he ever played for the Cowboys.

Yep.....2 games in 1984, only caught 1 pass for 7 yards against the Colts.

 

[Thomas82]

I remember in the mid 80s when Danny White began to fade, Steve Pelluer temporarily became my choice (and Tom Landry’s) to become the starter. Pelluer was mobile but his arm and his accuracy were average at best. I think he ended up being the starter of the last game Tom Landry ever coached in 1988 in an otherwise forgettable year.

He also threw the pass for Michael Irvin's first touchdown catch.

 

[maryquality]

15 more days!!! Former player who wore #15 is Toni Fritsch. Current player wearing #15 is T.J. Vasher.

 

[Bobhaze]

15 more days!!! Former player who wore #15 is Toni Fritsch. Current player wearing #15 is T.J. Vasher.

Ah yes…the great Toni Fritsch. First “soccer style” K in Cowboys history. Btw I think he wore #16 in Dallas, #15 with the Hou Oilers. (I could be wrong)

My favorite Fritsch story happened when he was first signed by Gil Brandt in 1971 or 72. He barely knew any English and a few days before training camp flew from his hometown of Vienna, Austria to Los Angeles. He rented a car at the airport and planned to drive himself to TC in Thousand Oaks.

On the way to Thousand Oaks, Fritsch apparently was driving his rented sports car like a maniac and was clocked going nearly 100 mph by a California Highway Patrolman who pulled him over. The officer asked for his driver’s license and proof of insurance. Fritsch clearly didn’t understand the request and just kept saying in broken English, “I play for Dallas Cowboys”.

You can only imagine what the officer thought looking at the short, bald and chubby Fritsch, refusing to produce a license and then claiming in a thick Austrian accent that he played for the Cowboys, lol! Apparently, an argument ensued and Fritsch was arrested and taken into custody. Gil Brandt had to drive to LA to bail him out of jail.

 

[maryquality]

Ah yes…the great Toni Fritsch. First “soccer style” K in Cowboys history. Btw I think he wore #16 in Dallas, #15 with the Hou Oilers. (I could be wrong)

My favorite Fritsch story happened when he was first signed by Gil Brandt in 1971 or 72. He barely knew any English and a few days before training camp flew from his hometown of Vienna, Austria to Los Angeles. He rented a car at the airport and planned to drive himself to TC in Thousand Oaks.

On the way to Thousand Oaks, Fritsch apparently was driving his rented sports car like a maniac and was clocked going nearly 100 mph by a California Highway Patrolman who pulled him over. The officer asked for his driver’s license and proof of insurance. Fritsch clearly didn’t understand the request and just kept saying in broken English, “I play for Dallas Cowboys”.

You can only imagine what the officer thought looking at the short, bald and chubby Fritsch, refusing to produce a license and then claiming in a thick Austrian accent that he played for the Cowboys, lol! Apparently, an argument ensued and Fritsch was arrested and taken into custody. Gil Brandt had to drive to LA to bail him out of jail.

Cool story!!
I found this pic of Fritsch. He's wearing #15

 

[Hagman]

 

[Jake]

On the way to Thousand Oaks, Fritsch apparently was driving his rented sports car like a maniac and was clocked going nearly 100 mph by a California Highway Patrolman who pulled him over. The officer asked for his driver’s license and proof of insurance. Fritsch clearly didn’t understand the request and just kept saying in broken English, “I play for Dallas Cowboys”.

You can only imagine what the officer thought looking at the short, bald and chubby Fritsch, refusing to produce a license and then claiming in a thick Austrian accent that he played for the Cowboys, lol! Apparently, an argument ensued and Fritsch was arrested and taken into custody. Gil Brandt had to drive to LA to bail him out of jail.

In countries that use the metric system, 100 kilometers/hour is a common speed limit. It's possible the Austrian saw 100 on the speedometer and hit the gas.

 

[Jake]

15 days to Tampa Bay!

Dak and Zeke both wore #15 at Mississippi State and Ohio State, respectively, but neither do for Dallas. Not even loosening the number rules this year changed that.

Toni Fritsch seems to be the only #15 with a story, and I'm not going to try to top @Bobhaze's recollection of his arrival to the NFL.

 

[Bobhaze]

#14 Craig Morton days to Tampa!

Morton was the successor to DandyDon Meredith and the first Cowboys QB to start a SB. He was part of that great 1964 draft that included 3 HOFers- Renfro, Staubach and Hayes. Morton was solid if not spectacular.

Still hard to believe that Tom Landry struggled so hard in 1971 to pick a QB starter, he actually used both Morton and Staubach to alternate plays in a game against Chicago. After the game, when both QBs were frustrated, Landry finally picked Roger, and the team went on to win the Cowboys first SB. Morton was traded to the giants and later again to the Broncos, where he led them to SB XII against the Cowboys, losing 27-10.

 

[maryquality]

14 more days!! Craig Morton is the only former player I could remember who wore #14. So glad Landry decided to go with Roger!!
Current player wearing #14 is Osirus Mitchell

 

[Hagman]

 

[Jake]

14 days to Tampa Bay!

Thinking of Craig Morton QBing the Cowboys gives me hives, so let's look at another #14 who tugged at Coach Landry's emotions - Gary Hogeboom.

Hogeboom was a 5th round pick out of Central Michigan - aka, Cooper Rush's alma mater - in 1980. He rode the bench until being thrust into action at Washington in the 1982 NFC title game after Danny White was knocked out with a concussion. Trailing 17-3 to start the second half, Hogeboom surprisingly led Dallas on consecutive scoring drives to tie the game at 17. The Commanders turned up the heat and Hogeboom then threw two picks, one of which was returned for a TD by Darryl Grant. Dallas would lose 31-17, their third consecutive NFCCG defeat (all on the road).

Going into 1983, not only did some fans want Hogeboom to take over at QB but some players did as well. White's support of ownership during the 1982 strike ruffled some feathers among his teammates and Hogeboom was well-liked by his peers. Landry stuck with White, who had a brilliant season through 14 weeks. Dallas was 12-2 and hosting the Commanders in a pivotal game at Texas Stadium. Those of us old enough to remember can still see Landry saying "No, Danny! No!" in the 3rd quarter as White decided to snap the ball on 4th and 1 (Dallas trailed 14-10 at the time) despite the plan being just to try to draw Washington offside. The ploy backfired on White and the Cowboys, the Skins would score and go on to win 31-10. Washington would go on to the SB while Dallas didn't win another game - skunked by the Niners the following week then losing to the Rams in a wild card game. That opened the door for Hogeboom.

Hogeboom would start opening day 1984 against those same Rams and light them up for 33 completions and 343 yards in a Cowboys victory on MNF. It didn't take long for Hogeboom to settle back to earth and Landry started playing musical chairs with his QBs, shades of 1971. The 1984 season would not end as happily as that one, however. The Cowboys hit rock bottom in week 12 losing at winless Buffalo, 14-3. Hogeboom would only start two more games for Dallas - both in 1985 - before being dealt to the Colts in 1986. Hogeboom finished his playing days by starting 13 games for the Cardinals in 1989. Washington signed him in 1990 but he never played a snap.

 

[maryquality]

13 more days!! Former player who wore #13 was Lucky Whitehead. Current player wearing #13 is Michael Gallup.

 

[Hagman]