Game plan for Thursday night’s pre-season finale against the Houston Texans: No injuries.
Theme of Wednesday’s Kickoff Luncheon: One goal.
As the Cowboys put on their Sunday best and gathered at AT&T Stadium Wednesday to raise charitable awareness and contributions for Happy Hill Farm in Granbury, head coach Jason Garrett made it clear what his expectations are for 2013.
“We’re committed to making the Dallas Cowboys the best of the best,” Garrett told the crowd of around 3,000 season-ticket holders and corporate sponsors. “We understand the legacy, we understand the standard. Our goal is to be standing on a podium in Giants Stadium on the night of Feb. 2, freezing, freezing, freezing as much as you can freeze, but holding a trophy over our head. That’s our goal. That’s our vision for this franchise.”
It was an uncharacteristic proclamation for the man who generally tends to generalize when generally speaking about his team in general terms. It’s usually all “football” and “process” and “day-by-day.”
It was refreshing, if not altogether realistic.
Crazy that the head coach would upstage the bombastic owner, but Jerry Jones was relatively subdued in saying, “I know how 8-8 feels and, trust me, it makes us wanna do better.”
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Other highlights of the luncheon:
*Orlando Scandrick wore a salmon suit. That’s right pink ... ish.
*Sure enough, offensive lineman Phil Costa is engaged to Brooke Hogan. Wouldn’t believe until I’d seen it and, yep, she was sitting with a group of players’ significant others at a table.
*Lee Roy Jordan presented the Tom Landry Legend Award to Cornell Green. By the way, Green – who made five Pro Bowls and led the team in interceptions four straight years in the ‘60 - should be the next player inducted into the Ring of Honor along with Darren Woodson.
*While Green approached the stage to accept his award, it was Tony Romo who reminded organizers to have a microphone ready. See, the quarterback really is more involved in game-planning this season.
*In accepting the team’s Defensive Player of the Year award for 2012, Anthony Spencer revealed that his nickname for DeMarcus Ware is “Weezy.” Not sure if that’s gonna stick. Plus, isn’t it already taken by George Jefferson’s wife?
*The team was introduced to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ “Can’t Hold Us.” I’m guessing the players were the only ones in the house who’d ever heard the song.
Garrett opened up even more after his Super Bowl revelation, giving insight on one of his personal role models: Singer/songwriter Harry Chapin. Who knew?
Seems the man who gave us “Cat’s in the Cradle” back in ‘74 was also an extremely charitable person. And, after all, that’s what the Kickoff Luncheon was all about.
Well, that and pinpointing super goals.
A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently writes a sports/guy stuff blog at DFWSportatorium.com and lives in McKinney with his fiancee, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
