I had hoped for a lot more input on this topic. As I said it is a particular favorite of mine. Pedigree in the strict sense of the term is bloodline. But sometimes a pedigree can be something else as it pertains to football.
In horse racing we've all heard of the great horse Secretariat. I am a huge horse racing fan and I happen to believe Williams Nack's Sports Illustrated article about the death of Secretariat is the finest sport article ever written. If anyone is curious let me know and I will sned you a link. Warning...it is incredibly long. But well worth the read. It is actually that article that inspired the movie about this great horse.
Secretariat's sire was a horse named Bold Ruler. He was perhaps the greatest stud horse of the times. But Bold Ruler's offspring did not win Triple Crown Races. His direct heirs only won three Triple Crown Races. All three by Secretariat in 1973.
The other race horses all had the same pedigree as Secretariat. Yet he was the only Champion sired by this great stud horse.
Why? Because all pedigree is in reality is an opportunity. Jason Garrett is looking for his "Right Kind of Guys" for this football team. I will argue with you that in a lot of ways, he is looking for pedigree. It can be accomplished in so many ways.
1. Son of a coach, scout, or former player. If Dad or Uncle or someone was involved in some way, chances are the kid has had a football environment around him giving him a pedigree. Is anyone going to tell me that Peyton Manning doesn't have a pedigree? Of course not. We all know about Archie. I noticed that Matt Johnson and Caleb McSurdy have some pedigree too. I consider this an opportunity. Just like Secretariat's siblings got to race, these kids have a shot. To win, they have to have more than pedigree.
2. Product of a system. You would have a hard time convincing me that Norm Chow doesn't give his QBs pedigree. Look at the products of his system from BYU, USC, and NC State. You think I won't be watching his QBs at Hawaii? I guarantee you I will. Sean Lee and Dan Connor have pedigree as Penn State LBs. Bill Nagy has pedigree as a Wisconsin O-Lineman. Being a product of a system doesn't guarantee you success either. It does open a door. Does anyone here honestly think NFL Scouts don't go to Boston College to look at OL? Of course they do. Wisconsin may have moved ahead of BC, but BC is still among the best places to scout for pieces to an OL puzzle. I will be watching Pittsburgh soon because Wisconsin's OC, Paul Chryst, took the HC job at Pittsburgh. That is pedigree.
3. Product of a dream. I would argue with you that Tony Romo has NFL pedigree for a couple of reasons. One is that Mike Shanahan and Sean Payton were both QBs at Romo's Alma Mater. He has pedigree from that, but he has it because it is a dream. I want to make this distinction. Not his fantasy. Dreams are something you doggedly pursue. Fantasies are something you hope for. Tony Romo is living his dream because he gives it all he has. Some kids can have all the talent in the world and do you know what they want to do with that talent? Get Paid. So they get paid, get laid, live the high life, and their careers never get off the ground. They might be a product of a highly successful program, but if it is not something driving them, if money is the only thing driving them, then their pedigree got them their shot and some money, but that's it. These players are usually the ones who are bankrupt despite earning millions in their careers. When money is your dream, there is no other drive.
That is what pedigree is to me, an inside look that opens a door. Pedigree without drive is Bold Lad. He was an heir of Bold Ruler and even a champion as a 2 year old colt. But he never was anything with the big boys. Pedigree with drive, is the Right Kind of Guy.
One last thing, I believe Tyrone Crawford is a Right Kind of Guy. He has some pedigree. It isn't because his Dad was a football star. It isn't because Boise State produces DEs that tear up the NFL. It isn't even about Boise State at all. He has pedigree because he saw how hard his Mom worked to give him his opportunities and it drives him to succeed. It opened his door. Opened it right up to the Dallas Cowboys, America's Team. How perfect is it that Chad Henning introduced his name with that nickname and in his interview he repeated that nickname and branded it? I'll tell you how perfect it is. He knows the opportunity in front of him and the price it will take. He knows it because this isn't his fantasy. it's his dream. It is what drives him.
That's pedigree.
To answer the question the thread raises. How important is pedigree? Not worth a damn if you aren't driven. priceless if you are and for the right reasons.
