I mentioned yesterday that I would post the video clip showing Larry Cole making a critical third-down tackle on John Riggins in the final game of the season in 1979.

More about this game before we get to the clip:

The Game’s Meaning

Dallas, Washington, and Philadelphia each entered the final week of the 1979 season tied at 10-5. Dallas had split with Philadelphia but had just beaten the Eagles the week earlier. The Cowboys had already lost at Washington in week 12.

The Situation in This Clip

With just over seven minutes left to play in the fourth quarter, running back John Riggins had stunned everyone by racing 66 yards for a touchdown, giving Washington a 34-21 lead. With 3:49 left in the game, Randy White recovered a Clarence Harmon fumble. Three plays later, the Cowboys had new life when Roger Staubach hit Ron Springs on a 26-yard touchdown pass. The clip here begins on a 3rd-and-2 play from the Washington 33 and Dallas trailing 34-28. Less than two minutes remained in the game, and a first down would give the Redskins the win.

The Tackle

Cole lined up at left defensive tackle, heads up over right guard Jeff Williams. Williams tried to pull around the right side, and center Ted Fritsch tried to slide down to take Cole. But Cole burst into the gap left when Williams pulled, and Fritsch could not get there to stop Cole. Cole make a perfect tackle on Riggins at the 30.

Here is the clip:

After the Washington Punt…

Staubach performed his final miracle, driving the team 75 yards in seven plays, capped off by an eight-yard touchdown pass to Tony Hill.

The Win By Dallas

Coupled with a Philadelphia win over Houston and a Chicago win over St. Louis, this victory over the Redskins gave Dallas the NFC East title and home field advantage in the playoffs.

The Loss by Washington

Left the Redskins at home for the playoffs.

Part of the Greatest Players by Number Series

Jersey #63

Eleven players have worn #63 for the Cowboys. This includes nine offensive linemen and two defensive linemen.

Lester Brinkley, DL, Mississippi, 1990

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played one season in Dallas.

Intangibles: He was a backup defensive end.

Larry Cole, DL, Hawaii, 1968-80

Statistics: Cole recorded four interceptions and three defensive touchdowns during his career. He had quite a few sacks, though official statistics are not available from his era.

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played 13 seasons in Dallas.

Intangibles: Cole once held the record for most career playoff games at 26, broken one year later by D.D. Lewis. He was a 16th round pick in 1968 who transitioned from a starting defensive end to a backup defensive tackle, and even as a backup, he continued to make big plays.

Gennaro DiNapoli, C, Virginia Tech, 2003

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played one season in Dallas.

Intangibles: The Cowboys acquired DiNapoli in 2003 to replace an injured Al Johnson at center. However, Matt Lehr emerged as the starter, and DiNapoli was gone after one season.

Mike Falls, G, Minnesota, 1960-61

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played two seasons in Dallas.

Intangibles: Dallas acquired Falls when he was released by Green Bay prior to the 1960 season. He played two years in Dallas, starting several games. He later became an Episcopal chaplain.

John Flannery, G, Syracuse, 1996-97

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played two seasons in Dallas.

Intangibles: The Cowboys signed Flannery in 1996 as a backup, but he was injured that season. In 1997, he started a few games in relief, but that was his last season in Dallas. He ended his career after playing one more year in St. Louis.

John Gesek, G, Cal. St. - Sacramento, 1990-93

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: Gesek played four seasons in Dallas.

Intangibles: Gesek started at right guard for the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVII, then filled in for an injured Mark Stepnoski at center in Super Bowl XXVIII the following year. He left via free agency the following year, though the Cowboys were able to upgrade a bit by drafting Larry Allen.

Aaron Gibson, T, Wisconsin, 2001-02

Statistics: n/a (other than his weight).

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played two seasons in Dallas.

Intangibles: Gibson was known for being the first 400-pound football player. However, he seldom dressed for the Cowboys (two games, to be exact), and was gone after two seasons.

Mike Kiselak, C/G, Maryland, 1998

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played one season in Dallas.

Intangibles: Kiselak was a 31-year-old rookie in 1998 after spending several years in the Canadian Football League. He took over as the starter for Clay Shiver, and actually represented an upgrade. However, the Cowboys reacquired Mark Stepnoski in 1999, and Kiselak was soon gone from pro football.

Kyle Kosier, G, Arizona St, 2006-

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He will enter his third season in Dallas in 2008.

Intangibles: Kosier has been a solid player at right guard in the past two seasons. Though certainly not the most dominant guard the team has ever had, he has been steady.

Joe Shields, OL, Portland State, 1987

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: Shields played in one game for the Cowboys.

Intangibles: He was a replacement player in 1987.

Glen Titensor, G, Brigham Young, 1981-86, 1988

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played a total of seven seasons in Dallas.

Intangibles: Titensor was converted from defensive line and became a starter by 1984. He was a solid though not a spectacular player with the Cowboys.

Poll

Here is your chance to vote for the greatest player to wear #63.

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My Vote: Cole

There are quite a few solid contributors on this list, but Cole contributed the most for the longest period of time. He played in five Super Bowls and started in two. He began his career when Don Meredith was still quarterback, and he ended his career when Danny White was quarterback. He made perhaps the best play of his career in 1979 when he tackled John Riggins late in the game, allowing the Cowboys to get the ball back when they trailed Washington 34-28. I’ll show the video shortly.

Kosier, Titensor, and Gesek are or were good starters, but not great players. None have given as much to the franchise as Cole, who deserves this one.

I found a short clip of the 1983 playoff game between the Cowboys and Rams, one in which the Cowboys lost 24-17. I cannot embed this clip, but if you click on the image below, it will take you to the file:

Click here to visit YouTube.

Below are a few notes about that game:

The Cowboys of 1983

Dallas started 12-2 in 1983 and appeared to be a possible Super Bowl contender. But a collapse against the Redskins on December 11, followed by another blowout loss to San Francisco, left the Cowboys at 12-4.

The L.A. Rams of 1983

The Rams finished the season 9-7 but– much like they did in 1979– came into Texas Stadium and stunned the Cowboys. There are two very good reasons that to this day, I hate Vince Ferragamo. The Rams followed this win by losing to Washington, 51-7.

Drew Pearson

This was Drew Pearson’s final NFL game. You can see him making the first of two receptions at the beginning of the clip.

Tony Dorsett

After the interception by LeRoy Irvin, Dorsett only carried the ball one more time for two yards.

Danny White

1983 was the season that Danny White broke all team records (just recently surpassed by Tony Romo) for pass completions, yards, and touchdowns. He also threw 23 interceptions. In the wildcard round, White completed 32 of 53 passes for 330 yards and 2 TDs. However, his three interceptions, especially the one shown on this clip, really hurt.

Ron Springs

Anyone remember Ron Springs being so fast? He ran down Irvin from about 10 yards behind.

The Rest of the Game

The Cowboys trailed 21-10 when Irvin picked White off and returned the pick inside the Dallas 5. Dallas held the Rams to a field gold and scored later in the quarter to cut the lead to 24-17, which was the final score.

The Aftermath

White lost his job before the 1984 season in favor of Gary Hogeboom. The next season started in very good fashion, with Hogeboom leading Dallas to a 20-13 win over these Rams in Anaheim. However, Dallas struggled all year, and though White regained the starting job, Dallas missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record.

[The first title of this post read “Tomo Romo.” This was not a joke but was rather a very stupid typo that I failed to notice until this evening…]

I was contacted by an author named Richard Brenner, who has written several children’s books featuring several NFL stars. Fred Goodwin, who comments on here frequently and who has a huge Cowboys book collection, noted that Brenner has also penned titles featuring Troy Aikman and Deion Sanders.

Brenner’s contact information is as follows:

East End Publishing, Ltd.
18 Harbor Beach Road
Miller PL, NY 11764
rjbrenner1@gmail.com
631-509-0622

Here is the press release that accompanies this book:

Richard J. Brenner is the author of more than 80 best-selling books for children of various age groups. Brenner, whose books have sold more than 28 million copies, has spoken at many elementary and middle schools, and was a featured author in the 1993-1994 edition of Scholastic Book Fairs’ annual video. He has also lectured at Stanford University’s Publishing Program, and was featured at a children’s day promotion at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Brenner has achieved acclaim from the educational community for writing books that are not only highly accessible, but also substantial and inspirational. His middle school readers and easy-to-read series of photo-filled biographies of popular sports stars have won high praise from the likes of Columbia University Teachers College, the Literacy Volunteers of America and many librarians from around the country.

“As I was entering the info from the title page (Bound for Glory), I noticed your dedication and author’s note,” wrote Vicki Turner, a school librarian from Louisiana. “I just had to say that they are most touching and, hopefully, will touch the lives of the students who love your books (some of whom never read anything else, by the way!). As a librarian, I see many young people today who idolize sports stars and books on these men and women seem to be what most encourages them to read. Your books have always been favorites of my students—they are, literally, read to pieces.”

Brenner, a former marketing director at a large New York publishing company, has also worked as a free-lance editor to best-selling authors, ghosted a young adult novel, and has operated his own highly successful independent publishing company since 1987.

Due to Brenner’s wide-ranging experience, he can speak to students about all aspects of publishing, from the conception of an idea to the completed book, and is always very willing to be guided by the needs of a school’s personnel. But what most interests him, and what he has found to be most effective in talking with children, is speaking to them about his own childhood, as it pertains to his writing, his development as a writer, including the value of hard work, the triumph of persistence over adversity, and his unshakable faith in the power of words to help us transcend our differences and bring the human community together in peace and harmony.

Brenner came out with two new titles in 2007: TOM BRADY * LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, a biography of two football greats, and SUPERSTAR QUARTREBACKS, an easy-reader football book. ALEX RODRIGUEZ*ALBERT PUJOLS was published in January 2008, and TONY ROMO*BEN ROETHLISBERGER will be available mid-July. He is currently at work on a biography Martin Luther King, Jr.

Part of the Greatest Players by Number Series

Jersey #62

Eleven players have worn #62 for the Cowboys. This includes ten offensive linemen and a kicker.

Brian Baldinger, OL, Duke, 1982-84,1986-87

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played a total of five seasons with the Cowboys.

Intangibles: Baldinger started at every offensive line position with the Cowboys, but he was injured frequently. He is now a commentator for Fox.

Bob Brotzki, T, Syracuse, 1988

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played less than a full season with the Cowboys.

Intangibles: Brotzki was signed midway through the 1988 season after he was released by the Colts. He did not play again following that season.

Andy Cvercko, G, Northwestern, 1961-62

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: Cvercko played two seasons in Dallas.

Intangibles: Dallas acquired Cvercko from Green Bay prior to the 1961 season, and he started much of the season. Two years later, he was off to Cleveland.

Leon Donohue, G, Cal. State San Jose, 1965-67

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: Donohue played three seasons with the Cowboys.

Intangibles: Donohue started at right guard in 1966 and 1967. He retired in 1968 due to knee problems.

John Fitzgerald, C, Boston College, 1971-80

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: Fitzgerald played ten seasons with the Cowboys.

Intangibles: He took over as the starting center for Dave Manders, and he played in Super Bowl X, XII, and XIII. He was known as having a great sense of humor and was a hard worker. He had to retire after the 1980 season due to injuries.

Al Johnson, C, Wisconsin, 2003-05

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played three seasons in Dallas.

Intangibles: Johnson was a second round pick in 2003 who developed into the starting center by 2004. He battled for the starting job with Andre Gurode, and the latter finally won the position for good in 2006. Johnson started last year for Arizona.

Tom Myslinski, G/C, Tennessee, 1999

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played one season in Dallas.

Intangibles: Dallas was Myslinki’s seventh team in eight seasons when he joined the Cowboys in 1999. He started a couple of games in relief but was gone after one year.

Paul Oswald, G, Kansas, 1988

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played less than a full season in Dallas.

Intangibles: Oswald saw action in one game for the Cowboys before he was released in 1988.

Craig Page, C, Georgia Tech, 2000

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played less than a full season in Dallas.

Intangibles: Page played in a couple of games in 2000.

Lance Poimboeuf, K, Southwest Louisiana, 1963

Statistics: He is credited for having dressed for one game in 1963, but he has no stats.

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played in one game for Dallas.

Intangibles: Poimboeuf was Sam Baker’s backup in 1963.

Mike Zentic, C, Oklahoma State, 1987

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: Replacement player.

Intangibles: He was the starting center during the scab games of 1987.

Poll

Here is your chance to vote for the greatest player to wear #62.

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My Vote: Fitzgerald

Fitzgerald was a quality center for the good part of a decade, and he deserves this due to his longevity. It was thanks to Fitzgerald’s ability to deep snap that the Cowboys were able to install the shotgun in 1975.

Of the others, Baldinger is pretty well-known as an announcer but was never a regular starter for the Cowboys. And though Johnson started for the Cowboys, he was not worth a second round pick that the Cowboys used to get him in 2003. The person who deserves more mention than either Baldringer or Johnson is Donahue, who started both of the championship games in 1966 and 1967.

Part of the Greatest Players by Number Series

Jersey #61

Six players have worn #61 for the Cowboys. This includes five offensive linemen and a punter/kicker.

Jim Cooper, OL, Temple, 1977-86

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: Cooper played ten seasons with the Cowboys.

Intangibles: He was a dependable right tackle throughout a large part of the 1980s.

Kelvin Garmon, G, Baylor, 2001-02

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He was originally drafted in 1999 but only played in two seasons with the Cowboys.

Intangibles: Garmon spent two seasons on injured reserve but came back to become a starter in 2001. He was traded to San Diego early in the 2002 season.

Allen Green, P/K, Mississippi, 1961

Statistics: Green made five of 15 field goal attempts (yes, you read that correctly) with the Cowboys. As a punter, he averaged 36.7 yards per kick.

Accolades: None.

Longevity: He played one season.

Intangibles: When a kicker hits on 33.3% of his field goals, he won’t last long in the NFL. Green didn’t.

Nate Newton, G/T, Florida A&M, 1986-98

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: Newton made six Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro twice. He was named to numerous other all-pro and all-conference teams.

Longevity: He played 13 seasons with the Cowboys.

Intangibles: Newton was a mainstay during the 1990s, first earning widespread recognition thanks to John Madden showing how far Newton’s sweat showed up on his pants. He was also the most likable of all the Cowboys who ran afoul with the law. Since serving 30+ months in prison for smuggling marijuana, he has turned his life around.

Blaine Nye, G, Stanford, 1968-76

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: Nye was named to two Pro Bowls.

Longevity: He played nine seasons with the Cowboys.

Intangibles: Nye was a defensive lineman in college who was converted to offensive line by the Cowboys. He developed into a starter by 1970. He was a solid player with the team (and perhaps its smartest, given that he has a master’s degree in physics). He was notorious for contemplating retirement before changing his mind right before training camp. Didn’t quite get the media coverage of a certain Green Bay quarterback lately.

Duane Putnam, G, Pacific, 1960

Statistics: n/a

Accolades: None with Dallas. He was a five-time Pro Bowler with the L.A. Rams during the 1950s.

Longevity: He played one season in Dallas.

Intangibles: Dallas acquired Putnam in the 1960 expansion draft. He started one season with the Cowboys before the team traded him to Cleveland.

Poll

Here is your chance to vote for the greatest player to wear #61.

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My Vote: Newton

Very few Cowboys lasted as long as Newton, who remained solid throughout most of the 1990s. He was originally signed by Washington but was released during training camp. He then played two seasons in the USFL before joining the Cowboys in 1986, and what a ride it was. He was versatile enough to move from guard to tackle, then back to guard. He was also a vocal leader in the locker room. He’s paid his debt for the prison term, and I don’t think it has hurt his overall standing as one of the Cowboy greats.

Nye was another great one who came along at the best of times, as he appeared in three Super Bowls. I don’t think that he meant quite as much to the team as Newton, however. Cooper was among the better lineman of the 1980s (some tend to forget all of these linemen thanks to Phil Pozderac), but he simply wasn’t in the same class as Newton or Nye.

We are still on pace to finish the Greatest Players by Number Series by the end of training camp. Many thanks to all of those who have voted thus far.

Below is a summary of the voting to date. This does not include the polls being run on Cowboys Pride and Dallas Cowboy Fans United, though I do check out the results on those sites and would like to go back and add the totals from those sites here.