Bill Bates Answers to Your Questions & Comments

[Hostile]

First of all I grew up admiring your tenacity and the heart you played with. Your game embodied what the Dallas Cowboys stand for. I had the pleasure of meeting Coach Landry a couple of times and had the honor of listening to him tell his life story over dinner. Truly an inspiring man. So, I wondered what was your greatest memory playing for coach Landry?

Having my dream come true by putting on my high school uniform with the Cowboys and shaking hands with the greatest coach and man, Tom Landry.

It was as honor to watch you play. You made me proud to be a Cowboy fan. Who were the best 2 players (offense and defense) who you ever played with in the pros? Thank you sir and Seeing you get that first ring was a Moment I'll never forget.

Walter Peyton, Tony Dorsett, Joe Montana, Barry Sanders and many more! There are so many great players in the league!

How is your son doing? I watched him go down in a Bowl game last year.

He is back in camp now. He did not go through spring practice though. He says it is still sore, but he seems to be doing well. Maybe, this year will be the year they can win a bowl game!

What was the best advice you ever received from Tom Landry? Does not have to be about football.

Live each moment like it could be your last...Trust in the Lord.

Who was the player you looked up to the most while playing? Was there a player or two that you took under your wing and saw blossom?

When in high school, I looked up to and wanted to play like Charlie Waters and Cliff Harris. Darren Woodson was the player I wanted to help, because I saw how great he could become and boy was he great!

Would you ever consider being a special teams coach in the NFL? If so, what would be your ideal environment?

I did coach in the league for 6 years, 5 with the Cowboys and 1 with the Jaguars. I then coached my kids at Nease high school. I coached Timmy Tebow for 2 years and my boys for 4 years there. We won state Tim's Sr year and we went back to state the next 2 years in a row and we lost in the state championship game. Great memories!!! I have one left in high school; so, it would most likely have to be back with the Cowboys only!

Before the 1995 superbowl vs the steelers was their any talk among the players of how important it was to not only win the supebowl but for the franchise not too fall to 0-3 vs the steelers in superbowls and get some redemption for the cowboys teams of the 70's.

No, there was not any discussions about this. After losing the NFC championship game the year before, we realized how hard it is to get to the super bowl and we were going to enjoy the moment. Just win baby and we did it!

In your latter years, it seemed as though most had written you off and were always surprised that you made the final cut. Were you surprised yourself to make the roster in any of those years and if so, what player or players were cut in your place? thanks for the great memories. You were and always will be one of my favorite players.

Shoot, I was worried ever day from the minute I made the team to my last play. I worked my butt off all of the time, because I knew they were going to cut my any time. All of the sudden I had played 15 years...Thank you for the years of support!

 

[rkell87]

awesome, just awesome

 

[skinsscalper]

Thanks for arranging that, Hos. Good stuff.

 

[cowboyjoe]

Thanks for arranging that, Hos. Good stuff.

thanks bill and Hos, great stuff

 

[LeonDixson]

Hos, did he decide not to answer the other questions or is there more coming?

Thanks for coordinating this and thanks to Bill for the answers? Very good stuff!

 

[Joe Realist]

This is nice and all, but he didn't answer bbgun's "legendary" question.

 

[CF74]

Awe man I missed the question period...

 

[Hostile]

Hos, did he decide not to answer the other questions or is there more coming?

Thanks for coordinating this and thanks to Bill for the answers? Very good stuff!

He sent me 2 e-mails with these answers, so there may be more coming.

 

[Luther]

Thanks Bill and Hos.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Thanks for the reality check, Mr. Bates. Thank You, Hos, for doing that. I wish we could get him back coaching again. Cool thing he mentioned his kids on the same level as his other jobs. Great player, seemingly great character too. Much appreciated.

Come back to the boys!

 

[Longboysfan]

He sent me 2 e-mails with these answers, so there may be more coming.

Thank you for getting this back.