Q&A with George Teague
by Brian Sandalow
The Monitor
ALAMO - Former Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins safety George Teague is scheduled to appear at the 4th Annual Pro Players Football Camp at PSJA Memorial High School in Alamo. The camp, which runs Wednesday and Thursday and costs $60, will also feature Byron Williams of the New York Giants and Scooter McGruder of the New England Patriots. For more information, call (956) 483-6387.
Over the weekend, The Monitor caught up with Teague, currently the head football coach and athletic director at Carrollton Christian Academy, and talked with him about coaching, Brett Favre and Terrell Owens.
Q: How does coaching compare to playing?
A: I think the gratification is still good. It's a little different but it's still good because I'm able to take all of my football knowledge and my sports knowledge and shape and mold young men and women. Although it's not the same as standing in front of 60, 70 or 80,000 fans on a weekend, I still get the same kind of gratification. It's just a different purpose; I'm trying to help others now.
Q: What are some things coaches have taught you that you're teaching your kids?
A: Pretty much that it's going to take hard work to reach your goals. You've got to be committed to work toward your dream to be able to make it. You can't ever quit. Often times, we want things, dream about things but we don't want to take the necessary steps. It doesn't matter if you want to play professional football or be a doctor, you can't have somebody who quit.
Q: You got to play for the University of Alabama, the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. Did you ever think about how lucky you were to play for such well-known teams?
A: Yeah. I'm actually very grateful. One, because of the places that I played for but also the people that I played for. I got to play for coach Gene Stallings at Alabama, Mike Holmgren, Barry Switzer and some others. It's been tremendous the amount of knowledge I've been able to gather about coaching and also the things you learn about how to become a man.
It was awesome, man. Going from Alabama to Green Bay was... it was sweet because everybody has a rich tradition and the loyalty that comes with the Cowboys is the same thing. Call it luck or whatever, it's a good feeling.
Q: Which is the most football-crazy: Alabama, Green Bay or Dallas?
A: You almost have to put Green Bay at the top. I say that because it's pretty much the only thing they've got. Not that any of the other ones are weak. Green Bay's got 90,000 people living there with a pro stadium right in the middle. It's kind of crazy, there's no other basketball team or anything in that little city. So, I had a lot of fun playing there. It wasn't my best playing days, my best were with the Dallas Cowboys. I also won a national championship with Alabama.
Q: Speaking of the Packers, do you think Brett Favre is really retired, or is he coming back?
A: I don't know, I think he got most of the jitterbugs out of there last year when he was really contemplating it. I think he'll still be influential. I think he'll still have a lot to do with the team. I don't know, and I don't think that he'll play.
Q: How often are you asked about hitting Terrell Owens off the star at Texas Stadium during the 2000 season?
A: There probably isn't a day that goes by when I'm in Texas that somebody doesn't ask me about it. That was an event, a play, whatever you call it, that put a little stamp on my history with the Dallas Cowboys. It's a great talking piece. Terrell and I haven't talked much since then. But it is a great topic of conversation at all the tables I sit at.
Q: Ever get sick of being asked about that?
A: No, I don't. When you're an athlete, a lot of things come across your plate, and I'm happy to be known for something of that nature instead of something negative that could be detrimental to me.
Q: Are you surprised T.O. has become as popular as he is?
A: I'm happy, actually. I'm very happy. When he first came, I wasn't sure how it was going to pan out but I'm glad it's been a very positive experience for him and for the team.
The Monitor
ALAMO - Former Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers and Miami Dolphins safety George Teague is scheduled to appear at the 4th Annual Pro Players Football Camp at PSJA Memorial High School in Alamo. The camp, which runs Wednesday and Thursday and costs $60, will also feature Byron Williams of the New York Giants and Scooter McGruder of the New England Patriots. For more information, call (956) 483-6387.
Over the weekend, The Monitor caught up with Teague, currently the head football coach and athletic director at Carrollton Christian Academy, and talked with him about coaching, Brett Favre and Terrell Owens.
Q: How does coaching compare to playing?
A: I think the gratification is still good. It's a little different but it's still good because I'm able to take all of my football knowledge and my sports knowledge and shape and mold young men and women. Although it's not the same as standing in front of 60, 70 or 80,000 fans on a weekend, I still get the same kind of gratification. It's just a different purpose; I'm trying to help others now.
Q: What are some things coaches have taught you that you're teaching your kids?
A: Pretty much that it's going to take hard work to reach your goals. You've got to be committed to work toward your dream to be able to make it. You can't ever quit. Often times, we want things, dream about things but we don't want to take the necessary steps. It doesn't matter if you want to play professional football or be a doctor, you can't have somebody who quit.
Q: You got to play for the University of Alabama, the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. Did you ever think about how lucky you were to play for such well-known teams?
A: Yeah. I'm actually very grateful. One, because of the places that I played for but also the people that I played for. I got to play for coach Gene Stallings at Alabama, Mike Holmgren, Barry Switzer and some others. It's been tremendous the amount of knowledge I've been able to gather about coaching and also the things you learn about how to become a man.
It was awesome, man. Going from Alabama to Green Bay was... it was sweet because everybody has a rich tradition and the loyalty that comes with the Cowboys is the same thing. Call it luck or whatever, it's a good feeling.
Q: Which is the most football-crazy: Alabama, Green Bay or Dallas?
A: You almost have to put Green Bay at the top. I say that because it's pretty much the only thing they've got. Not that any of the other ones are weak. Green Bay's got 90,000 people living there with a pro stadium right in the middle. It's kind of crazy, there's no other basketball team or anything in that little city. So, I had a lot of fun playing there. It wasn't my best playing days, my best were with the Dallas Cowboys. I also won a national championship with Alabama.
Q: Speaking of the Packers, do you think Brett Favre is really retired, or is he coming back?
A: I don't know, I think he got most of the jitterbugs out of there last year when he was really contemplating it. I think he'll still be influential. I think he'll still have a lot to do with the team. I don't know, and I don't think that he'll play.
Q: How often are you asked about hitting Terrell Owens off the star at Texas Stadium during the 2000 season?
A: There probably isn't a day that goes by when I'm in Texas that somebody doesn't ask me about it. That was an event, a play, whatever you call it, that put a little stamp on my history with the Dallas Cowboys. It's a great talking piece. Terrell and I haven't talked much since then. But it is a great topic of conversation at all the tables I sit at.
Q: Ever get sick of being asked about that?
A: No, I don't. When you're an athlete, a lot of things come across your plate, and I'm happy to be known for something of that nature instead of something negative that could be detrimental to me.
Q: Are you surprised T.O. has become as popular as he is?
A: I'm happy, actually. I'm very happy. When he first came, I wasn't sure how it was going to pan out but I'm glad it's been a very positive experience for him and for the team.
posted by The Gryphon at 10:25 AM
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