Sports are tricky, and there are a bunch of components that go into playing a game, much less coming out with a win. Whether it's effort on the field, preparation during the week, or simply having the desire to win, the world of sports is a mine field. A mine field that if not crossed in a smart manner, can result in an explosion of negativity, and possibly career ending decisions.
This is brought about by the firing of Wade Phillips from my beloved Dallas Cowboys. After weeks of "Wade Phillips job is secure" comments from Jerry Jone's, Wade has been finally set free from the prison of a 1-7 season.
Preseason
The Dallas Cowboys were in every conversation involving the Super Bowl before the season started. They have the talent (Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Miles Austin, Demarcus Ware.) They have the fan base and facilities (Dallas Cowboys Stadium, if not a sellout every game, very close to it.) The 'boys had all of the makings for a magical season, and seemingly had more tools at hand than the Patriots in '07 when they put together a perfect regular season, and everyone was excited for it.
So It Begin's...
A football team has three parts. Talent, Experience, Leadership.
Those three components make up the "Great Team". Those three components build teams that transcend through the ages.
The '72 Dolphins had all of these components. They had the big names (Talent) that were always in the spotlight, always fielding questions. They had the veterans (Experience) that always helped out the young players and knew what it felt like to play in the post-season. Lastly, they had the coaches (Leadership) that knew what it took to win a football game, to play past the last week of the regular season, and knew how to sport a Super Bowl ring.
The Cowboys seemingly had all of those coming into this year, but the one thing that seemed to lack was the mixture of leadership. They had the player leadership in the Keith Brooking's of the defense and the Jason Witten's of the offense, but they never developed the next rung of the ladder. The next step was the authority leadership, and that was always a mixture of Phillips and Jerry Jones. The same problem came up when Bill Parcells was in Dallas a few years ago. The personality that goes along with a coach in Dallas is that of an iron willed man. A man who receives criticism well, who understands he plays backup, and who knows how to make that situation the best he can make it.
Jerry Jones won't change, that's the obvious part, and it's looking doubtful that he will ever see another championship in his lifetime if he keeps running the team how he's been running it. So if that doesn't happen, the only other thing he can do is change the coaching.
With that said... I didn't think Phillips was the coach suited for the Cowboys. He had success in Dallas, but he didn't have the personality fit for it. He didn't ever stand up to Jones and take the team over like a head coach should. Obviously, as seen in Minnesota this week with the Brad Childress/Randy Moss situation, there are limits on that. But in Dallas, you have to step up and make Jerry realize you can handle the team, but not in excess to make him think you can't handle him (As seen when Parcells got the boot.)
Overall, I'm sad to see what's coming out of Dallas this week and this season. I'm a Cowboy fan for life, but it's to the point that I have to talk myself into watching the games on Sundays, then deal with being upset the following Monday. There needed to be something done. Obviously, Jones can't fire all of the players (Although he probably could buy the Texans and move them to Dallas), so instead he had to make a change at the top.
So, with hopefully all of this behind us, I would like to take this chance to welcome Jason Garrett to the world of the Head Coach. You're now on a seat that is forever hot, no matter what. You're now in a city demanding wins and Super Bowls. It's your job to make those fans take the paper bags off of their heads, to take those signs down that call for the crucifixion of you that are up every week, and to get the media and players on your side. It won't be easy, but today you were given the OK to start working on the foundation of the mansion you're hopefully about to build in Big D. May your leash be long, your patience strong, and your emotions nonexistent, and may you have good luck!
And if none of that happens... at least my OSU Cowboys are having a historic year!
Go Pokes, Go Cowboys, Go Rangers, and from now on, Go Stars, and Go Mavs!
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