The Hail Mary Game

[5Stars]

It truly was a different game back then

You look at the shots that Roger took; today they would throw that player out of the game and suspend him for six

and look at the hits the WRs took. Same thing.

That type of football ground down everyone so much faster. Back then, once you hit thirty you were going down hill fast. Seeing anyone at the top of their game at say 33 or so just did not happen unless you were a punter or kicker

except for the exceptions like Tarkenton and Roger

That was back when those teams played with pride and one goal was to win the SB. Today's players only play for the bag.

Name one player today that has a off season job to make ends meet.

 

[FoxF]

The 80’s belonged to the 49ers but the 70’s and 90’s was a great time to be a Cowboys fan!

 

[5Stars]

The 80’s belonged to the 49ers but the 70’s and 90’s was a great time to be a Cowboys fan!

And then, bam! Here came Jerry.

 

[fivetwos]

John, that run of playoff appearances in the 70s to early 80s was incredible. But, I wonder how the modern fan base would judge those teams.

For years they fell short in the playoffs, NFC Championship game, and SB. But, they were perennial contenders and always in the mix. Much like the Ravens and 49ers currently.

Would we all appreciate being there year after year but coming up short? Those 3 years of 12-5 seasons get zero respect from the fan base. I wonder how the Landry 'Boys would be viewed. I guess of one of the 12-5 teams made the NFC Championship game or one SB it would be different.

I’d certainly complain a lot less, thats for sure.

There’s a difference between being good enough to win but just getting beat in a late round playoff game, as opposed to not being good enough in the first place.

I would absolutely settle for being the current version of Baltimore or SF. Yeah it be heartbreaking, but THATS where luck comes into play. Stephen Jones thinks this team is at the level where “the oblong ball not bouncing the right way” is the problem…and he couldn’t be more wrong, but that’s what the kings of misevaluation do.

Great point overall actually…can probably throw Buffalo in there as well. BUT…at least they go into seasons lately knowing that they have a chance to win it all if they get the right breaks.

Dallas can’t even win more than one playoff game in the same season, and that’s the upside until some serious changes are made.

 

[FoxF]

And then, bam! Here came Jerry.

And we are stuck in perpetual hell with a family business that’s not going to change.

 

[morat1959]

Agreed 100%.

But, I wonder if fans are different now as well.

100% yes. A large portion of our fan base has been brainwashed into thinking mediocrity is greatness.

 

[Thrill99]

What people do not remember or know is that things were very bleak in that game. Roger was being harassed by a ferocious pass rush. The Cowboys' center John Fitzgerald hurt his right hand and his shotgun snaps were off target. He was eventually was replaced by rookie enter Kyle Davis on THE DRIVE.

This was the Roger and Drew show. Virtually 86 yards in pass receptions by the original #88 on THE DRIVE, including an impossible 4th down pass for a first down to midfield on the sideline that appeared as if Drew went into the heavens to catch it. Rookie RB first rounder Charles Young, #30 was the RB on the field for this set of downs, which will live forever as the hallmark HAIL MARY game.

Don't forget that Drew had not caught a pass the whole game until that last drive.

 

[Ranching]

I bet you lost all four games, huh? lol

Actually, we were 4-0...the first win put us on the map. It was my second season as HC and we beat a team coming off a 12-1 record. That game provided me with a great Pic of my NG sitting on their QB. I'll make it my avatar. That kid was a junior at the time. Benched 550 and squatted about 700.

 

[mrmojo]

The 75 and 92 teams were my favorite Cowboy teams, they were both relatively young teams who seriously no one expected to get to the SB. I believe Landry did his best coaching job that year, introducing the shotgun was game changing and letting the young kids earn their keep on special teams was fun.

I always saw the Hail Mary pass itself as the first "back shoulder throw"..... Roger under threw it, Wright lost his balance, Drew caught it on its hip.....and the rest is history.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

John, that run of playoff appearances in the 70s to early 80s was incredible. But, I wonder how the modern fan base would judge those teams.

For years they fell short in the playoffs, NFC Championship game, and SB. But, they were perennial contenders and always in the mix. Much like the Ravens and 49ers currently.

Would we all appreciate being there year after year but coming up short? Those 3 years of 12-5 seasons get zero respect from the fan base. I wonder how the Landry 'Boys would be viewed. I guess of one of the 12-5 teams made the NFC Championship game or one SB it would be different.

Think about how Cowboys fans in social media would have treated the Cowboys in the '60s when they were nicknamed, "Next year's champion" falling short year after year.

 

[saturdaysarebetter]

The 75 and 92 teams were my favorite Cowboy teams, there were both relatively young teams who seriously no one expected to get to the SB. I believe Landry did his best coaching job that year, introducing the shotgun was game changing and letting the young kids earn their keep on special teams was fun.

I always saw the Hail Mary pass itself as the first "back shoulder throw"..... Roger under threw it, Wright lost his balance, Drew caught it on its hip.....and the rest is history.

No doubt, Landry bringing back the shotgun changed the game. Who would think today, that bringing back something from the past, would be adopted as the norm henceforth.

 

[FVSTONE]

What people do not remember or know is that things were very bleak in that game. Roger was being harassed by a ferocious pass rush. The Cowboys' center John Fitzgerald hurt his right hand and his shotgun snaps were off target. He was eventually was replaced by rookie enter Kyle Davis on THE DRIVE.

This was the Roger and Drew show. Virtually 86 yards in pass receptions by the original #88 on THE DRIVE, including an impossible 4th down pass for a first down to midfield on the sideline that appeared as if Drew went into the heavens to catch it. Rookie RB first rounder Charles Young, #30 was the RB on the field for this set of downs, which will live forever as the hallmark HAIL MARY game.

The only thing I remember about this great play is I bet my EX-FATHER IN-LAW a gallon of my favorite Johnnie Walker against a gallon of his Smirnoff Vodka! I told him my Cowboys were going to the Super Bowl before the regular season ended, and he started laughing and said if I was so sure then let's bet. After that great Cowboy victory, it was on to LA, where the Boys took care of business once again! When I went over to his house to pick up my favorite drink, this prick meets me at the door with a half-gallon of some cheap scotch I had never heard of. Well, since I was dating her daughter at the time I didn't think it was a good idea to knock this guy on his butt, so I accepted the cheap stuff and never ever bet again with this cheap prick again! LOL!

 

[dupree89]

Actually, we were 4-0...the first win put us on the map. It was my second season as HC and we beat a team coming off a 12-1 record. That game provided me with a great Pic of my NG sitting on their QB. I'll make it my avatar. That kid was a junior at the time. Benched 550 and squatted about 700.

nice job, Coach

Let me put you through the preliminary step that's necessary to advance to a full job interview next time the Cowboys have a head coaching vacancy. Here we go....

Can you say: "yes, ok, Jerry"

 

[plasticman]

I was in Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio....my hometown, actually.

The barracks was an open bay with 50 trainees. On the day of the game about 30 of us were stuffed into the dayroom, watching the game.

The makeup of our flight (called a platoon in the army) was about 20 Californians, 10 New Yorkers, about 10 more from the Midwest. There were two Texans, me and another.

When it looked as though the Cowboys had lost, me and my fellow Texan were getting bombarded with jeers, insults, put-downs, you name it. It was unbearable.

And then Staubach threw the Hail Mary. For a good five seconds you could have heard a pin drop.

Then my fellow Texan let out a scream and I followed. It was the greatest feeling in the world smack-talking a dejected group of about 25 guys silently exiting the room. Just a minute earlier, they had been merciless.

I will never forget the day and where I was when Roger Staubach threw the Hail Mary.

 

[dupree89]

I was in Air Force basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio....my hometown, actually.

The barracks was an open bay with 50 trainees. On the day of the game about 30 of us were stuffed into the dayroom, watching the game.

The makeup of our flight (called a platoon in the army) was about 20 Californians, 10 New Yorkers, about 10 more from the Midwest. There were two Texans, me and another.

When it looked as though the Cowboys had lost, me and my fellow Texan were getting bombarded with jeers, insults, put-downs, you name it. It was unbearable.

And then Staubach threw the Hail Mary. For a good five seconds you could have heard a pin drop.

Then my fellow Texan let out a scream and I followed. It was the greatest feeling in the world smack-talking a dejected group of about 25 guys silently exiting the room. Just a minute earlier, they had been merciless.

I will never forget the day and where I was when Roger Staubach threw the Hail Mary.

thank you for serving the country my friend

 

[MS17]

I caught most of it last night. It reminded me of how good Ed "Too Tall" Jones was.

Fans and pundits talk of how ex Giant Lawrence Taylor changed how NFL offenses played. Well, Too Tall had a similar effect (Im not comparing them). I still remember that many of those 106 sacks the 6-9 Jones had were with one arm. A freak athlete.
Im still waiting for someone to offer a credible explanation why Too Tall isnt in the NFL Hall of Fame.

 

[john van brocklin]

John, that run of playoff appearances in the 70s to early 80s was incredible. But, I wonder how the modern fan base would judge those teams.

For years they fell short in the playoffs, NFC Championship game, and SB. But, they were perennial contenders and always in the mix. Much like the Ravens and 49ers currently.

Would we all appreciate being there year after year but coming up short? Those 3 years of 12-5 seasons get zero respect from the fan base. I wonder how the Landry 'Boys would be viewed. I guess of one of the 12-5 teams made the NFC Championship game or one SB it would be different.

12 and 5 is nice , don't get me wrong.
But our abject failure in the playoffs is putrid.
And it's like rubbing salt in the wound given that we have been terrible in the playoffs for 29 years in a row.

 

[john van brocklin]

Mountain would say the Roger sucked. Lol

He would be wrong.
Greatest Cowboy ever....

 

[dupree89]

12 and 5 is nice , don't get me wrong.
But our abject failure in the playoffs is putrid.
And it's like rubbing salt in the wound given that we have been terrible in the playoffs for 29 years in a row.

john
jerry asks for your patience in this matter. We are right around the rim.

 

[john van brocklin]

Fans weren't as stupid back then. They new teams and players busted their butt's and teams with the better players and fewer injuries, usually won. The game was much more fun before social media with critics getting to hide behind a keyboard.

That was the first game that I remember watching....Landry was born and raised about 30 miles from my home. He was and still is a hero around here. I got to coach 4 games in the stadium na,ed after him. Good times...

Hey Ranch!
That was my first game too.
Been hooked for 50 years now.