Five minutes with ... Cliff Harris
By JONATHAN TJARKS / The Dallas Morning News
An undrafted free safety out of tiny Ouachita Baptist University who became a member of the Ring of Honor, Harris played 10 seasons for the Cowboys. A four-time All Pro safety, Harris was an instrumental part of the 1970s teams that went to five Super Bowls.
Harris' thoughts on ...
Current team's prospects: "I think we have a better shot at the playoffs this year because the NFC East won't be as strong as it has been in the past. We have good running backs, a good defense and a better line.
Taking the next step: "They're building a strong defense, and that's what we've seen year after year, strong defenses get you to a position where you can win a Super Bowl. I'm not trying to sound biased, but if you look back at the history of the league, you see you to have to have a great defense. "
High point of Cowboy career: "The final team meeting before the final cut, the week before the first game of my rookie season. Coach Landry announced the starting lineup, and he named me the starting free safety. What was significant was that I made the team, and that was a big deal for a college free agent. Before you can play in five Super Bowls, you have to make the team, so that was a big, big deal. "
Interesting story: "Lee Roy Jordan would always ride on the first seat of the bus next to Landry, where they would talk defense and strategy. It was right before we got to the stadium and everyone was really pensive and solemn, and Landry leaned over to Lee Roy and said: 'Why did you go right instead of left on that QB sneak? Lee Roy looks over and asks: 'Do you mean the Ice Bowl against Green Bay, Coach? That was five years ago, I don't know. Landry just goes, 'Oh.' "
Watching the Mavericks: "I was watching every minute of [the Mavericks' playoff run]. What stood out to me most in The Finals was leadership - Dirk's a great player, I'd compare him to an Emmitt Smith in football, but it seemed like he was thrust into a leadership role after Nash left that he wasn't quite comfortable with. When you're playing at a championship level, the difference between winning and losing is so minute, you need a strong base of leadership. I think we'll be a much greater team in the future, now that we've been so close and tasted it; guys are going to be hungry. When [his Cowboys teams] got beat in the playoffs, that's when we figured out what it takes to win."
An undrafted free safety out of tiny Ouachita Baptist University who became a member of the Ring of Honor, Harris played 10 seasons for the Cowboys. A four-time All Pro safety, Harris was an instrumental part of the 1970s teams that went to five Super Bowls.
Harris' thoughts on ...
Current team's prospects: "I think we have a better shot at the playoffs this year because the NFC East won't be as strong as it has been in the past. We have good running backs, a good defense and a better line.
Taking the next step: "They're building a strong defense, and that's what we've seen year after year, strong defenses get you to a position where you can win a Super Bowl. I'm not trying to sound biased, but if you look back at the history of the league, you see you to have to have a great defense. "
High point of Cowboy career: "The final team meeting before the final cut, the week before the first game of my rookie season. Coach Landry announced the starting lineup, and he named me the starting free safety. What was significant was that I made the team, and that was a big deal for a college free agent. Before you can play in five Super Bowls, you have to make the team, so that was a big, big deal. "
Interesting story: "Lee Roy Jordan would always ride on the first seat of the bus next to Landry, where they would talk defense and strategy. It was right before we got to the stadium and everyone was really pensive and solemn, and Landry leaned over to Lee Roy and said: 'Why did you go right instead of left on that QB sneak? Lee Roy looks over and asks: 'Do you mean the Ice Bowl against Green Bay, Coach? That was five years ago, I don't know. Landry just goes, 'Oh.' "
Watching the Mavericks: "I was watching every minute of [the Mavericks' playoff run]. What stood out to me most in The Finals was leadership - Dirk's a great player, I'd compare him to an Emmitt Smith in football, but it seemed like he was thrust into a leadership role after Nash left that he wasn't quite comfortable with. When you're playing at a championship level, the difference between winning and losing is so minute, you need a strong base of leadership. I think we'll be a much greater team in the future, now that we've been so close and tasted it; guys are going to be hungry. When [his Cowboys teams] got beat in the playoffs, that's when we figured out what it takes to win."
posted by The Gryphon at 10:56 AM
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