A receding hairline, a mustache known around the whole league, and skills to match only those of legends.  Cliff Harris is a relative unknown throughout the Cowboys fan community, but his play and dedication is historic for sure. 

Harris was undrafted out of Ouachita Baptist, and was invited to join Landry and the Cowboys at minicamp in 1970.  Harris’ hard hitting and crisp coverage skills landed him in the starting spot in his rookie year, beating out Charlie Waters as starting Free Safety.  However, his rookie season was cut short due to Military obligations that took him out of the second half of the season.  Luckily he returned in time for the cowboys Super Bowl VI victory.  In his first season he had 2 Interceptions.

It was Harris’ powerful and devastating hits that earned him the nickname “Captain Crush” but his intelligence and football skills that earned him the 29 interceptions throughout his career.  Harris’ has been said to be the molder of safeties and the way they were bred throughout the later years of the NFL.  His hard hitting, ball hawking skills made offensive coordinators stay up all night, quarterbacks second guess,  and running backs and wide receivers quiver. 

For the younger audience you could imagine him a consistent rookie Roy Williams, who awed us with his well-rounded dominant play.  Harris is a small name because he never made an off the field ruckus.  He came to work did his job and went home.  In 9 seasons Harris’ accomplishments include: Winning 2 Super Bowls, he was elected to 6 Pro Bowls, He created 47 turnovers, and has been inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor.   Harris’ was elected for the Hall Of Fame ballot and 2004 and many experts expect him to one day sit in Canton with may other fellow legends.

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Cowboys Nostalgia: Bob Lilly

Always First

The word “first” is a fairly basic word with a profound meaning.  Being “first” is a sign of domination, of greatness, and of legends.  When you think of dominating, great, and legendary Cowboys- names will arise in your mind such as Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, and Tom Landry.  However, not too many present Cowboys fans will think of the original Cowboy, a mean player, a player nicknamed “Mr. Cowboy”… Bob Lilly.

Bob was the First Cowboys Draft pick, the First Cowboys Pro Bowl selection, the First Cowboy to be elected into the Ring of Honor, and the First ever Cowboy to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.  It was Bob’s superior intelligence, agility, speed, and strength that made him consistently victorious against double, and yes, even triple teaming lineman.  He was simply unstoppable, and his play was the birth of the Doomsday Defense.

Lilly had 4 Defensive touchdowns, one off of a interception return, the others off of fumble returns. He had 18 fumble returns total. Though sacks weren’t a “official stat” believe me when I say he was a monster.  One particular historic Super Bowl memory came in 1972 against the Miami Dolphins, Bob Lilly sacked Bob Griese an NFL Record 29 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Bob Lilly was a reliable player who hardly missed a game.

Bob Lilly’s accomplishments consist of:

·      Rookie of the Year in 1961

·      11 Time Pro Bowl Selection

·      Won Super Bowl VI

·      Won 2 NFC Titles

·      Inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor

·      Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Bob Lilly was a revolutionary player that defined the guidelines of Smash Mouth defense, Instilling fear into the heart of offensive coordinators, offensive linemen, and quarterbacks throughout the league.  He reminds us of what champions are, what legends are, in a league where team playing legends are scarce.  He made the Cowboys “America’s Team” and he brought great history to a team that has become the pinnacle of our sports life.

Check Wednesday for Cowboys Nostalgia: Roger Staubach at A Cowboy Nation

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