Miles Austin is making the most of his opportunity
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 12/1/06
Standing at the goal line in University of Phoenix Stadium on Nov. 12, emotions ranging from excitement and anticipation, to nervousness and trepidation pulsated through Miles Austin when it became clear Neil Rackers second-half kickoff was
heading in his direction.
After enduring the grueling two-a-days of training camp to make the roster as a rookie free agent, and then sitting as one of the inactives in seven of the first eight games, the only Monmouth University player ever to make an NFL roster was
about to make his first contribution as a Dallas Cowboy.
"It was a weird feeling, for sure,'' he recalled. "I didn't return kickoffs in high school or college, but here I was returning them for the Dallas Cowboys. So many things are going through your head. I just wanted to make sure I caught the ball. And once it's in your hands, it's like everything goes out of your head and you just start running.''
He's been running ever since.
In three games as a regular on the kickoff return team, Austin is averaging a solid 24.9 yards. He averaged nearly 30 yards on two returns a week after his debut when the Cowboys handed the Colts their first loss of the season, before breaking off a 34-yard return on Thanksgiving Day as the Cowboys extended their winning streak to three straight.
Now comes what will undoubtedly be an emotional weekend for Austin.
Prior to the Cowboys' charter flight departing for Newark Airport on Saturday afternoon, Austin will be trying to catch some of Monmouth's postseason showdown with the University of San Diego in the Gridiron Classic. After all, it was Austin who helped take the program to new heights with 150 receptions for 2,867 yards and 33 touchdowns, all school records.
A day later, the Garfield native will make his first appearance at Giants Stadium, with a host of friends, relatives and former teammates in attendance for a game against the Giants that will go a long way toward deciding the NFC East title.
"First of all, it's great for Miles,'' Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan said. "To think that a kid who was unheralded coming out off high school, comes to Monmouth and makes the Cowboys as a free agent receiver, and now not only is he here with the Cowboys, but he's making a contribution to their success and will be playing in Giants Stadium, it's just a great story.''
With coach Bill Parcells giving his players last weekend off, Austin showed up at Monmouth's practice last Sunday, addressing his former teammates before they took the field.
"I just told them keep grinding, that they deserve to be in this spot and just go out and have fun and live up everything they've done this season,'' Austin said. "Hopefully they take my advice. But they've had such a great season, it would be nice to finish with a win.''
Added Callahan: "That's just Miles. It was really nice. He stays in touch with a lot of guys on the team. He actually came down and got a workout in here, and when he was finished it was about the time we were getting going and he came over to the field.''
Over the past month, Austin has had a front-row seat to one of the most remarkable transformations in the league this season, with the Cowboys having won four of Tony Romo's five starts since replacing Drew Bledsoe, with the one loss coming in a bizarre series of last second events in Washington.
During that time, the entire Cowboys' organization has been energized, with talk of a possible run at a Super Bowl now rampant.
"I mean I don't know if it's been Tony, or what it's been,'' Austin said. "I just know that guys have been more focused all week, and we just happen to be executing a lot better right now than we were. If people want to think it's because of Tony, that's fine. Whatever it is, I hope it continues and we continue to succeed.''
While Austin got some playing time at wide receiver late in the Cowboys last game … a blowout win over Tampa Bay … he understands his role is on special teams. In addition to his returns, he has three special teams tackles.
"It's a different situation than the roles I've had in the past, but I'm going to fill them to the best of my abilities,'' he added. "If I get a chance to do some other things, that's great. But this is my chance to contribute, and I'm trying to make the most of it.''
Standing at the goal line in University of Phoenix Stadium on Nov. 12, emotions ranging from excitement and anticipation, to nervousness and trepidation pulsated through Miles Austin when it became clear Neil Rackers second-half kickoff was
heading in his direction.
After enduring the grueling two-a-days of training camp to make the roster as a rookie free agent, and then sitting as one of the inactives in seven of the first eight games, the only Monmouth University player ever to make an NFL roster was
about to make his first contribution as a Dallas Cowboy.
"It was a weird feeling, for sure,'' he recalled. "I didn't return kickoffs in high school or college, but here I was returning them for the Dallas Cowboys. So many things are going through your head. I just wanted to make sure I caught the ball. And once it's in your hands, it's like everything goes out of your head and you just start running.''
He's been running ever since.
In three games as a regular on the kickoff return team, Austin is averaging a solid 24.9 yards. He averaged nearly 30 yards on two returns a week after his debut when the Cowboys handed the Colts their first loss of the season, before breaking off a 34-yard return on Thanksgiving Day as the Cowboys extended their winning streak to three straight.
Now comes what will undoubtedly be an emotional weekend for Austin.
Prior to the Cowboys' charter flight departing for Newark Airport on Saturday afternoon, Austin will be trying to catch some of Monmouth's postseason showdown with the University of San Diego in the Gridiron Classic. After all, it was Austin who helped take the program to new heights with 150 receptions for 2,867 yards and 33 touchdowns, all school records.
A day later, the Garfield native will make his first appearance at Giants Stadium, with a host of friends, relatives and former teammates in attendance for a game against the Giants that will go a long way toward deciding the NFC East title.
"First of all, it's great for Miles,'' Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan said. "To think that a kid who was unheralded coming out off high school, comes to Monmouth and makes the Cowboys as a free agent receiver, and now not only is he here with the Cowboys, but he's making a contribution to their success and will be playing in Giants Stadium, it's just a great story.''
With coach Bill Parcells giving his players last weekend off, Austin showed up at Monmouth's practice last Sunday, addressing his former teammates before they took the field.
"I just told them keep grinding, that they deserve to be in this spot and just go out and have fun and live up everything they've done this season,'' Austin said. "Hopefully they take my advice. But they've had such a great season, it would be nice to finish with a win.''
Added Callahan: "That's just Miles. It was really nice. He stays in touch with a lot of guys on the team. He actually came down and got a workout in here, and when he was finished it was about the time we were getting going and he came over to the field.''
Over the past month, Austin has had a front-row seat to one of the most remarkable transformations in the league this season, with the Cowboys having won four of Tony Romo's five starts since replacing Drew Bledsoe, with the one loss coming in a bizarre series of last second events in Washington.
During that time, the entire Cowboys' organization has been energized, with talk of a possible run at a Super Bowl now rampant.
"I mean I don't know if it's been Tony, or what it's been,'' Austin said. "I just know that guys have been more focused all week, and we just happen to be executing a lot better right now than we were. If people want to think it's because of Tony, that's fine. Whatever it is, I hope it continues and we continue to succeed.''
While Austin got some playing time at wide receiver late in the Cowboys last game … a blowout win over Tampa Bay … he understands his role is on special teams. In addition to his returns, he has three special teams tackles.
"It's a different situation than the roles I've had in the past, but I'm going to fill them to the best of my abilities,'' he added. "If I get a chance to do some other things, that's great. But this is my chance to contribute, and I'm trying to make the most of it.''
posted by The Gryphon at 9:03 AM
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