Football Life: Tom Landry

[Doomsday101]

As much as I respected Landry I was one of those who wanted him fired. Most fans wanted a change they just didn't like the way Landry's firing was handled.

I didn't, I wanted Landry to stay but I also knew that if this new owner was going to fork over the money he did then he should be able to pick his own man. I do agree it could have been done better and others besides Jerry should have stepped up like Bum Bright and like Tex Shramm. Tex was not dumb about what was going down the weeks before the final deal was done nor was Bum Bright and they should have said look this new guy has a coach he is going to bring in and it would be in your best interest to resign ahead of time.

 

[NorthDalal]

I have to add my recollections of the time(1985-1989) to the discussion.As an avid cowboy fan from 1971(when I arrived in TX) on I loved having Tom Landry as our coach.I loved the way he explained things innovated and I was a big fan of Tex as well. But....Everyone should know that by 1986 the Cowboy era of dominance was waning and it was obvious to us all.There was a rumor that Tex was pressuring Tom to create a "3 year plan" for the Cowboys or else! This was rumored in 1986.The "Hogs" were ushering in a new wave of offense,built around beefy lineman and big backs in the NFL Tom was reluctant to change things up and OL coach Jim Myers was a close personal friend,Tom was favoring a lot of players who had the right religious orientation,disguised as "character issues" (the next time Bob Breunig blasts a back charging through an interior hole,will be the first!)...at the same time Clint Murchison was financially forced to sell the team to Aggie board member and Pro-football newcomer Bum Bright who developed financial difficulties of his own,as the financial and banking crisis of the mid eighties struck Texas hard.Bum wasn't spending a dime to make the cowboys better and Tom was missing a QB who could play after Danny White(Hogeboom,Pelluer!!!)in 1986 the Cowboys 20 yr streak of winning season came to an end,in 87 they were 7-8 then in 1988 3-13 disaster.The Cowboys were in decline with no end in sight.!in 1988 they drew 37K and 42K to home games.Sales rumors were in the air.Then Gil Brandt shows up at the Super Bowl...sitting next to NC winner Jimmy Johnson.Very curious....two weeks later Jerry Jones was in town and photographed at Mia's Mexican restaurant with the hottest coach in college football, Jimmie Johnson.It was scooped on talk radio and headlined in the Morning News.Sloppy,sloppy sloppy.But Tom knew! he went to Austin and made himself scarce on the golf course and forced JJ to fly down there,he acted like it was a surprise and shocked...it was not. I was sad but was real tired of the Commanders and Giants kicking our butt.It was time.

 

[tyke1doe]

I ssssooo agree. Do a rivalry week. Show classic games of the Cowboys-Commanders rivalries from the 70s.

Show older games to let fans who've never seen some of the greats play a chance to become familiar with a previous generation.

The quality might not be great, but I still think there'd be an audience - assuming the entire NFL games broadcast collection has been disposed of, which would be a major tragedy.

I meant to say "hasn't been disposed of".

 

[tyke1doe]

As much as I respected Landry I was one of those who wanted him fired. Most fans wanted a change they just didn't like the way Landry's firing was handled.

I think what made fans mad the most was Jerry and Jimmy were spotted dining in Landry's favorite restaurant - which both said, at the time, they didn't know it was Landry's favorite. The picture of them celebrating was plastered on the front page of the Dallas Morning News or the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (can't remember which one).

 

[percyhoward]

I put this list together in 2012, and nothing has changed since then.

History of Professional Football (1920-present)
Consecutive seasons with both offense and defense ranked in the Top 10 in both scoring and total yards.
11 Landry, Cowboys (NFL, 1968-78)
4 Belichick, Patriots (NFL, 2006-09)
3 Brown, Browns (AAFC, 1946-48)
3 Grant, Vikings (NFL, 1974-76)
3 Halas, Bears (NFL, 1926-28)
3 Holmgren, Packers (NFL, 1996-98)
3 Noll, Steelers (NFL, 1974-76)
3 Seifert, 49ers (NFL, 1989-91 and 1994-96)
3 Shanahan, Broncos (NFL, 1996-98)
3 Shula, Dolphins (NFL, 1971-73)
3 Walsh, 49ers (NFL, 1986-88)