NFL Network: 1971 Cowboys tonight at 8:00 Central

[ZeroClub]

On America's Game. Just noticed that it starts in about 10 minutes.

I know it is a rerun, but I thought I'd mention it.

 

[lane]

it was a great show except for duane thomas and his racist assanine comments.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Duane Thomas "Dallas has never won a SB without controversy... The one thing I can say is 'We Won'"

I really enjoyed this show. Learned alot about Duane Thomas that I never knew. Can't wait until it comes on again, so I can see the whole thing.

 

[ZeroClub]

It comes on again a couple more times later in the night. Tonight was the first time that I've seen it.

Like many people here, I was a big fan of the Cowboys back then too. A few random observations:

It was great to see Staubach scrambling again.

I really liked that the show covered that goal line fumble by Duane Thomas in Super Bowl V and the erroneous recovery call that probably cost the Cowboys that game.

Boy, Tex came out looking pretty bad. Rotten bad.

When Carl Garrett was in Dallas for that couple of days in the preseason (from the Patriots, in exchange for Duane Thomas - before the trade was reversed), Garrett was quite excited. He was quoted in the papers as saying how much better his new team was than the Patriots. I believe he specifically mentioned how much better the new OL was. Poor guy. Not sure how he explained that to his Patriot teammates upon his return.

The Duane Thomas controversy was a constant in 1971. It makes sense that he got so much coverage in the show. But it is also ashame, because there were so many other wonderful guys and stories on that team.

How nice to see Lilly again, too.

 

[THUMPER]

If anyone can record it and share it, it would be very much appreciated by those of us whose cable company (Time Friggin Warner) doesn't carry the NFL Network. Thanks in advance.

That 1971 team was my favorite because we finally shook off the tag of "Next Year's Champs". After coming so close for so many years, to finally win it all, and in convincing fashion to boot, was incredibly sweet.

 

[Zaxor]

If anyone can record it and share it, it would be very much appreciated by those of us whose cable company (Time Friggin Warner) doesn't carry the NFL Network. Thanks in advance.

That 1971 team was my favorite because we finally shook off the tag of "Next Year's Champs". After coming so close for so many years, to finally win it all, and in convincing fashion to boot, was incredibly sweet.

I second the request

 

[peplaw06]

Yeah I never knew all that about Duane Thomas. TO seems like a saint compared to that guy, at least TO from last year does. I think they said he was out of the league at 27. What a shame. Lilly said he could have been the second coming of Jim Brown.

And if Dallas wins a SB in the next 2 years, there will be controversy again... assuming TO plays out his contract. Well, there may not be real controversy, but ESPN will make it seem like there is.

My favorite quote... Bob Lilly: "If the other team was going to get into the end zone, they were going to have to crawl over some dead bodies to do it."

 

[big dog cowboy]

Yeah I never knew all that about Duane Thomas.

The king of drama. It would fit in a little better in todays game. But in the early 70's, he stuck out like a sore thumb. For those who don't know the story, do some reading about him when you get a chance. He was a unique guy.

 

[J-DOG]

Yeah I never knew all that about Duane Thomas. TO seems like a saint compared to that guy, at least TO from last year does. I think they said he was out of the league at 27. What a shame. Lilly said he could have been the second coming of Jim Brown.

And if Dallas wins a SB in the next 2 years, there will be controversy again... assuming TO plays out his contract. Well, there may not be real controversy, but ESPN will make it seem like there is.

My favorite quote... Bob Lilly: "If the other team was going to get into the end zone, they were going to have to crawl over some dead bodies to do it."

That Super Bowl team holds at least one Super Bowl record that still stands to this day.
Least amount of pts given up in a game-3pts.
And I still think that Lilly and Cole hold the record for the sack with most amount of yards lost on one play-23yds.
Agree about your commenst about ESPN.
When you are the world wide leader in sports with no competition your standards must go down, because that network is tabloid driven now.
Having TO on the team last year showed me just how bad ESPN has gotten.

 

[ZeroClub]

He was an interesting guy. IMO, one can't begin to understand his behavior without understandering what the late 60's and early 70's were like for a bright, very proud and intense young black man who was not only angry, but righteously indignant. He was thrust into the spotlight of what was a decidedly strange world.

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My father took me and a brother to the last regular season game of the 1971 season. Texas Stadium wasn't but a month or two old. The Cowboys beat the Cardinals and Duane Thomas scored 4 touchdowns. link

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Here's a good story about Superbowl VI: link

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SI cover: Super Bowl VI

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Super Bowl VI Program cover:

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Ever see an editorial cartoon featuring Landry and Nixon?

 

[2much2soon]

Glad to see I am not the only one who wanted to comment on this.
Bob Lilly's commentary was absolutely hilarious. He delivers homespun humor as well as anyone. Had me laughing out loud several times.
I don't think I have ever seen such quality footage of Duane Thomas and that was awesome.
But he has to be one of the sport's worlds all-time anachronisms.
He came across as an incredibly selfish, insecure man. He appeared to be in his 50's when the program was filmed. It was sad and disappointing to see him still blaming others after all those years.
Yet just as much of a flake he is off the field, and he is a big one, the dude was just as much a phenomenal athlete and running back.
As I watched the runs he made I kept thinking he seemed like a cross between OJ and Gale Sayers. I mean the dude was just incredible.
You could tell that Thomas' knuckle-headedness made a big impression on Bob Lilly. But Bob was clearly in awe of Thomas the football player. And most people were in awe of Bob Lilly.

 

[IndianaCowboyFan]

Yet just as much of a flake he is off the field, and he is a big one, the dude was just as much a phenomenal athlete and running back.
As I watched the runs he made I kept thinking he seemed like a cross between OJ and Gale Sayers. I mean the dude was just incredible.
You could tell that Thomas' knuckle-headedness made a big impression on Bob Lilly. But Bob was clearly in awe of Thomas the football player. And most people were in awe of Bob Lilly.

I remember watching him as a kid and thinking he was the only running back I had seen better than Gale Sayers. He was truley a very rare talent.