Throughout his press convention forward of OTAs final week, Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was requested about his option to put on a visor. Particularly, he was requested if his visor is a nod to Steve Spurrier. For these unaware, Schotty was part of the 1996 Florida Gators group that Spurrier led to the Nationwide Championship. Schottenheimer landed in Gainesville by the use of switch and advised that story whereas reflecting on the position that Spurrier, identified for his signature visor, performed in his soccer growth. He even bragged about that group’s title whereas recounting the story.
Schottenheimer was a clipboard holder for these Gators as Danny Wuerffel was the group’s quarterback and was additionally that season’s Heisman Trophy Winner, however the position and expertise clearly taught him rather a lot. As famous, Schottenheimer bragged in regards to the group he was part of simply final week proper after confirming that he wears a visor as a nod to the person who helped all of it occur. Historical past is clearly vital to the son of one of many NFL’s best coaches ever.
Marty Schottenheimer ranks eighth all time by way of NFL head coach wins, and was clearly a power throughout his time patrolling the league’s sidelines. Brian additionally made point out of how he would love to talk to his father, Marty handed away in 2021, about life working an NFL group.
Brian Schottenheimer seems to need to marry the current with the previous
You should not have to look laborious to see that historical past issues to Brian Schottenheimer. It is sensible that this may be the case given the soccer life that he has lived.
However whereas Schottenheimer has been across the Cowboys for a minute now, he isn’t Jason Garrett in that he grew up with this group. He has by no means worn a Cowboys helmet, nor did he throw a move at Texas Stadium, and he clearly by no means began for the group at quarterback on Thanksgiving Day.
Nonetheless although, the group’s historical past appears to hold a excessive degree of significance for Schotty. We touched on this in our information roundup final weekend however in case you missed it the Cowboys hosted former legends of the group alongside their households to partake in motion with the present day group.
The mothership’s Mickey Spagnola supplied some particulars on the occasion:
Yep, Schottenheimer needed his gamers to attach with greatness, with the Cowboys’ glorified previous. These guys weren’t solely right here to look at follow but additionally sit in in the course of the group and place conferences, permitting these former gamers to introduce themselves but additionally carry alongside members of the family, for certain youngsters and grandchildren. Additionally a chance to kibitz with each other, reliving previous instances.
You could possibly argue that an issue some Cowboys groups have had all through The Drought™ is that they have been dwelling up to now. What completely different groups, completely different eras truthfully, achieved is enterprise that solely they’ll stand on. Totally different gamers and coaches hung the banners that fly inside AT&T Stadium nowadays. The present model of the group has but to take action.
However ignoring or working from the previous can be a step within the unsuitable path. That is the Dallas Cowboys we’re speaking about, a group wealthy with historical past and custom. It’s on the very least cool that Schottenheimer is attempting to convey the explanations as to why the star on the gamers’ helmets are so heavy. It’s due to the those who got here earlier than them and every part that they did to carry it up so excessive.
Spagnola famous a listing of gamers who partook in these actions and one among them was former BTBer Tony Casillas. On Monday, Casillas shared a little bit of what the expertise was like from his perspective and all of it sounds very cool.
No one is suggesting that Schottenheimer bringing a number of the best gamers in group historical past round goes to assist the present squad on any hypothetical 1st-and-10. What we’re noting right here is that the top coach appears to know some vital issues which might be relatively intangible. That’s vital in and of itself. Good for Schotty and his visor-wearing methods.
