lurkercowboy
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To a kid living in a tiny rural village in North Carolina, preseason was a time of hot humid nights with the electric fans going and the windows open. Pregame was roughhousing with cousins and friends. When gametime came, it was sitting sweaty and drinking ice water in front of the fuzzy TV screen. There would be two or three games every year on each of the networks, along with the Commanders games on channel seven. The Commanders would have the most homer announcers possible raving about the pursuit of the defense and the hustle of the younger players. Preseason was Tom Flick at QB for the Commanders and how great Art Monk was going to be. Jarvis Redwine for the Vikings averaging about one yard per carry against that awesome Commander defense and wondering if Joe Gibbs brought along any of the Don Coryell offense.
Who cared though? Football was back! When last seen, we were all huddling around the stove trying to stay warm. Now the Green Bay/San Diego game was called because of lightning. The Eagles completed a flea-flicker against the Steelers and back to school was just around the corner. Usually there would be at least two Cowboys games shown, sometimes on the road against a southern California team like the Rams or Chargers. Sometimes at home against the Steelers, or more likely, the governors cup game against the Oilers. Preseason was Glenn Carano and Gary Hogeboom and Robert Lavette. Getting a glimpse of Rod Hill and some guy named Everson Walls (he wasn’t on the draft list!). Peering at the roster, which was last years TV Guide close-ups plus the draft picks. Straining to read the names on the jerseys and match them up with unfamiliar numbers. (Hurt? That is a good name for a defensive back.) While the preseason talked about Campbell and Dorsett, the game came down to a catch by Doug Donley against some corner in powder blue that I never saw again.
Preseason was calling the sports guy at the TV news and asking him to read you the Cowboys waiver list on cutdown day. Preseason was poring over the NFL preview magazines, playing every tabletop football game we could find and inventing new ones, and knocking on doors to see if anyone wants to throw the ball around. Wearing my Cowboys jersey to school the first day, only it had no numbers because we couldn’t afford them. Preseason was watching Herschel Walker break tackles in his debut against the Oilers. Preseason was watching Bob Lilly (he must have been good because everyone is making a big deal about it) be inducted in the Hall of Fame. Preseason was looking forward to the first regular season opponent, which was often the Commanders in those days. Preseason was mowing the yard while wondering if Danny White would still be the starting quarterback. Preseason was getting to see the entire roster. Preseason was fabulous.
What was preseason like for you back in the day?
Who cared though? Football was back! When last seen, we were all huddling around the stove trying to stay warm. Now the Green Bay/San Diego game was called because of lightning. The Eagles completed a flea-flicker against the Steelers and back to school was just around the corner. Usually there would be at least two Cowboys games shown, sometimes on the road against a southern California team like the Rams or Chargers. Sometimes at home against the Steelers, or more likely, the governors cup game against the Oilers. Preseason was Glenn Carano and Gary Hogeboom and Robert Lavette. Getting a glimpse of Rod Hill and some guy named Everson Walls (he wasn’t on the draft list!). Peering at the roster, which was last years TV Guide close-ups plus the draft picks. Straining to read the names on the jerseys and match them up with unfamiliar numbers. (Hurt? That is a good name for a defensive back.) While the preseason talked about Campbell and Dorsett, the game came down to a catch by Doug Donley against some corner in powder blue that I never saw again.
Preseason was calling the sports guy at the TV news and asking him to read you the Cowboys waiver list on cutdown day. Preseason was poring over the NFL preview magazines, playing every tabletop football game we could find and inventing new ones, and knocking on doors to see if anyone wants to throw the ball around. Wearing my Cowboys jersey to school the first day, only it had no numbers because we couldn’t afford them. Preseason was watching Herschel Walker break tackles in his debut against the Oilers. Preseason was watching Bob Lilly (he must have been good because everyone is making a big deal about it) be inducted in the Hall of Fame. Preseason was looking forward to the first regular season opponent, which was often the Commanders in those days. Preseason was mowing the yard while wondering if Danny White would still be the starting quarterback. Preseason was getting to see the entire roster. Preseason was fabulous.
What was preseason like for you back in the day?