Induction, hiring both bring congratulations
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
WACO -- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wasn't quite sure exactly why he was getting all the handshakes and the pats on the back Thursday. Was it because he was being inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame? Or was it because he hired native Texan Wade Phillips as his head coach last week?
"If we were just getting voted in rather than being inducted tonight, I would think I got voted in because I hired Wade Phillips," Jones said. "... Wade is a part of the Cowboys in no small part because of his great Texas tradition. He's in no small part a part of the Cowboys because of his heritage [as the son of former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips]."
Jones, a native of Arkansas who played for the Razorbacks, is an adopted Texan. He became one in 1989 when he purchased the Cowboys and turned them back into "America's Team."
On Thursday, he was honored for the three Super Bowl titles the Cowboys have won on his watch. Former WNBA star Cynthia Cooper, Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, former Olympian Rafer Johnson, former UT running back Roosevelt Leaks, former Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon, former Cowboys running back Don Perkins and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims completed the Class of 2006.
"I'm honored. I'm humbled," Jones told the Ferrell Center crowd.
Since Jones became the team's president and general manager, the Cowboys have drafted 20 players who have appeared in 68 Pro Bowls and signed seven free agents who made 16 Pro Bowls.
Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Tom Landry Theater at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame is filled with jerseys, helmets and other memorabilia honoring the Cowboys. Jones' family spent several minutes touring the room Thursday before the induction banquet.
"There are Cowboys all over the place," Moon told Jones.
Just outside the Tom Landry Theater are displays in the foyer honoring the inductees. Jones' display contains three replicas of the Vince Lombardi trophies won by his teams after the 1992, '93 and '95 seasons, as well as replicas of the championship rings and glass-enclosed tickets from those games.
"I was just taken aback by the display. I was just taken aback," Jones said. "... I'm here because of the Dallas Cowboys. I'm riding that great franchise in here. Coach Landry, Tex Schramm, Gil Brandt and all the great players -- Bob Lilly, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith -- those are the coattails that I ride in here tonight. We all know that's what makes sports so special, because you have to have the team to do it."
Jones' teams have 12 playoff victories, though none since 1996. In Bill Parcells' four seasons, the Cowboys had two playoff berths and no playoff victories.
Jones hopes Phillips, a native son, can change that.
"I bet I've had more pats on the back about hiring Wade Phillips than I have congratulations about being inducted," Jones said. "... I'm glad I've got Wade."
Jones reiterated that he expects Terrell Owens to return to the Cowboys next season. Owens is due a $3 million roster bonus in June and $5 million in salary for 2007.
"He's part of our team. That's what I'm saying," Jones said. "I don't want the play on the words to look one way or another. We are evaluating everybody, but still, my plans are for him to be back."
Owens called Phillips on Saturday, and the two had a nice chat, Jones said. Owens caught 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns, but he dropped 18 passes.
"There's no question that last year, by having Terrell come in and having been with San Francisco and then with Philadelphia, in those West Coast-type offenses, we changed the game up for him a little bit," Jones said.
IN THE KNOW
Class of 2006
Six players and two administrators were inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday:
Cynthia Cooper
DeLoss Dodds
Rafer Johnson
Jerry Jones
Roosevelt Leaks
Warren Moon
Don Perkins
Billy Sims
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
WACO -- Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wasn't quite sure exactly why he was getting all the handshakes and the pats on the back Thursday. Was it because he was being inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame? Or was it because he hired native Texan Wade Phillips as his head coach last week?
"If we were just getting voted in rather than being inducted tonight, I would think I got voted in because I hired Wade Phillips," Jones said. "... Wade is a part of the Cowboys in no small part because of his great Texas tradition. He's in no small part a part of the Cowboys because of his heritage [as the son of former Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips]."
Jones, a native of Arkansas who played for the Razorbacks, is an adopted Texan. He became one in 1989 when he purchased the Cowboys and turned them back into "America's Team."
On Thursday, he was honored for the three Super Bowl titles the Cowboys have won on his watch. Former WNBA star Cynthia Cooper, Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, former Olympian Rafer Johnson, former UT running back Roosevelt Leaks, former Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon, former Cowboys running back Don Perkins and Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims completed the Class of 2006.
"I'm honored. I'm humbled," Jones told the Ferrell Center crowd.
Since Jones became the team's president and general manager, the Cowboys have drafted 20 players who have appeared in 68 Pro Bowls and signed seven free agents who made 16 Pro Bowls.
Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The Tom Landry Theater at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame is filled with jerseys, helmets and other memorabilia honoring the Cowboys. Jones' family spent several minutes touring the room Thursday before the induction banquet.
"There are Cowboys all over the place," Moon told Jones.
Just outside the Tom Landry Theater are displays in the foyer honoring the inductees. Jones' display contains three replicas of the Vince Lombardi trophies won by his teams after the 1992, '93 and '95 seasons, as well as replicas of the championship rings and glass-enclosed tickets from those games.
"I was just taken aback by the display. I was just taken aback," Jones said. "... I'm here because of the Dallas Cowboys. I'm riding that great franchise in here. Coach Landry, Tex Schramm, Gil Brandt and all the great players -- Bob Lilly, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith -- those are the coattails that I ride in here tonight. We all know that's what makes sports so special, because you have to have the team to do it."
Jones' teams have 12 playoff victories, though none since 1996. In Bill Parcells' four seasons, the Cowboys had two playoff berths and no playoff victories.
Jones hopes Phillips, a native son, can change that.
"I bet I've had more pats on the back about hiring Wade Phillips than I have congratulations about being inducted," Jones said. "... I'm glad I've got Wade."
Jones reiterated that he expects Terrell Owens to return to the Cowboys next season. Owens is due a $3 million roster bonus in June and $5 million in salary for 2007.
"He's part of our team. That's what I'm saying," Jones said. "I don't want the play on the words to look one way or another. We are evaluating everybody, but still, my plans are for him to be back."
Owens called Phillips on Saturday, and the two had a nice chat, Jones said. Owens caught 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-best 13 touchdowns, but he dropped 18 passes.
"There's no question that last year, by having Terrell come in and having been with San Francisco and then with Philadelphia, in those West Coast-type offenses, we changed the game up for him a little bit," Jones said.
IN THE KNOW
Class of 2006
Six players and two administrators were inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday:
Cynthia Cooper
DeLoss Dodds
Rafer Johnson
Jerry Jones
Roosevelt Leaks
Warren Moon
Don Perkins
Billy Sims
posted by The Gryphon at 8:23 AM
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