Dat honored
IRVING, Texas - Tonight was a night to smile for a very serious, focused football player.
And smile he did.
The Dallas Cowboys celebrated the career of former linebacker Dat Nguyen Saturday night during halftime of this third preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers here at Texas Stadium.
Dat, his wife, Becky, and his two daughters stood in front of Cowboys fans as owner and general manager Jerry Jones introduced him and praised his accomplishments as a football player during this retirement ceremony.
"He's a great inspirational leader," Jones said over the microphone to a roaring crowd. "He's a great inspirational player. And he's a great inspirational Texan. Let's give it up for Dat Nguyen."
Nguyen, the son of Vietnamese immigrants, thanked Jones and the Dallas Cowboys for giving a chance to a player who was often thought of as undersized for a linebacker.
"I would like to thank the Jones family for giving me an opportunity," he said. "An opportunity to fulfill a dream. The dream of a kid from a small town, from a family of immigrants from a refugee camp, coming to America to play America's sport. And the opportunity to play with America's team."
Nguyen was forced to retire following last season's neck injury he suffered during the Sept. 25 game against San Francisco. He didn't leave the game and played the next game against Oakland on Oct. 2.
He missed the next three games, but came back Oct. 30 for the games against the Arizona Cardinals, the Eagles, the Lions and finally his last game on Thanksgiving Day against the Denver Broncos. Nguyen didn't start another game after playing against the Raiders. He was placed on injured reserve the following Monday, and officially retired in mid-March.
After the halftime ceremony, Nguyen said it was bittersweet to retire, but his body was ready.
"When I started in this profession, I knew one day it would end," he said. "I didn't know it was gonna end this early, but one day it's gonna end. And you're fortunate to walk away when you can, on your own strength."
More than sadness about retiring, Nguyen was happy for the recognition he earned in Dallas.
"It's a great honor," he said. "When you do something and somebody recognizes and honors what you did for a living, it's something I feel deep down inside. I can't explain to you how it feels. How I feel about the Jones family and the Dallas Cowboys organization and what they've done for me. The opportunity they've given me to do something that I love.
"And for me to be here and to get honored in front of the best crowd in professional football, I couldn't ask for anything better."
Nguyen closed his career in Dallas with 665 career tackles, 34 tackles for lost yardage, 30 pass breakups and seven interceptions. He had three seasons of at least 100 tackles and was the club's leading tackler in each of the final three seasons he played all 16 games (2004, 2003 and 2001).
Nguyen said he plans to try his hand in the business world, but his heart will always be with the Cowboys.
"I wouldn't want to go anywhere else," he said. "I think when you play for the Cowboys, and you know how rich the tradition is and how many people have walked through the path that you're walking through, I think you don't want to go anywhere else to play."
And smile he did.
The Dallas Cowboys celebrated the career of former linebacker Dat Nguyen Saturday night during halftime of this third preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers here at Texas Stadium.
Dat, his wife, Becky, and his two daughters stood in front of Cowboys fans as owner and general manager Jerry Jones introduced him and praised his accomplishments as a football player during this retirement ceremony.
"He's a great inspirational leader," Jones said over the microphone to a roaring crowd. "He's a great inspirational player. And he's a great inspirational Texan. Let's give it up for Dat Nguyen."
Nguyen, the son of Vietnamese immigrants, thanked Jones and the Dallas Cowboys for giving a chance to a player who was often thought of as undersized for a linebacker.
"I would like to thank the Jones family for giving me an opportunity," he said. "An opportunity to fulfill a dream. The dream of a kid from a small town, from a family of immigrants from a refugee camp, coming to America to play America's sport. And the opportunity to play with America's team."
Nguyen was forced to retire following last season's neck injury he suffered during the Sept. 25 game against San Francisco. He didn't leave the game and played the next game against Oakland on Oct. 2.
He missed the next three games, but came back Oct. 30 for the games against the Arizona Cardinals, the Eagles, the Lions and finally his last game on Thanksgiving Day against the Denver Broncos. Nguyen didn't start another game after playing against the Raiders. He was placed on injured reserve the following Monday, and officially retired in mid-March.
After the halftime ceremony, Nguyen said it was bittersweet to retire, but his body was ready.
"When I started in this profession, I knew one day it would end," he said. "I didn't know it was gonna end this early, but one day it's gonna end. And you're fortunate to walk away when you can, on your own strength."
More than sadness about retiring, Nguyen was happy for the recognition he earned in Dallas.
"It's a great honor," he said. "When you do something and somebody recognizes and honors what you did for a living, it's something I feel deep down inside. I can't explain to you how it feels. How I feel about the Jones family and the Dallas Cowboys organization and what they've done for me. The opportunity they've given me to do something that I love.
"And for me to be here and to get honored in front of the best crowd in professional football, I couldn't ask for anything better."
Nguyen closed his career in Dallas with 665 career tackles, 34 tackles for lost yardage, 30 pass breakups and seven interceptions. He had three seasons of at least 100 tackles and was the club's leading tackler in each of the final three seasons he played all 16 games (2004, 2003 and 2001).
Nguyen said he plans to try his hand in the business world, but his heart will always be with the Cowboys.
"I wouldn't want to go anywhere else," he said. "I think when you play for the Cowboys, and you know how rich the tradition is and how many people have walked through the path that you're walking through, I think you don't want to go anywhere else to play."
posted by The Gryphon at 1:12 PM
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