The Rich History of America's Team
The Dallas Cowboys are "America's Team". Year after year their popularity soars. They are known the world over as a great National Football League franchise and as the team that is cheered on by "America's Sweethearts", the world famous Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. It is due to their success on and off the field that the team has such a legion of loyal fans and that the Dallas Cowboys history is so rich and storied.
The city of Dallas, Texas, was granted an NFL franchise on January 28, 1960. The start of a sports dynasty had begun. The team, first known as the Dallas Steers, then the Dallas Rangers, settled on the nickname the Cowboys. The formation of the Texas NFL expansion team didn't get off to a very smooth start. The owner of the Washington Redskins had, for several decades, enjoyed a monopoly in the Southern States of the US a monopoly he wasn't ready to give up. So the soon to be owners of the Texas expansion team went out and bought the rights to the Redskins fight song, "Hail to the Redskins". The Redskins owner quickly changed his mind and the Texas expansion team came into being. This early confrontation sparked a rivalry between the two franchises which continues to this day.
Tom Landry was hired as the first Dallas Cowboys coach of the the new team which ended their first season winless. The following year, the Cowboys selected Bob Lilly in their first NFL draft selection and in this year as well the the Cowboys' tasted their first victory. The Dallas Cowboys continued to improve and by 1966 they had their first winning season and their first playoff appearance, the first of eight straight playoff appearances (which they would later surpass with nine straight appearances in 1983). By the mid point of their first decade the Dalls Cowboys had become a powerful force in the NFL and sent eight players to the Pro Bowl. For the next 30 years the Cowboys would show their dominance in the NFL.
The 1970s got off to a great start as the Cowboys made it to their first Super Bowl, Super Bowl V. Unfortunately their first appearance ended in defeat. The 1971 season marked the teams move from the Cotton Bowl, in Dallas to their newly built home, Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. The legendary Roger Staubach was named starting quarterback for the Cowboys midway through the season and the team found themselves making their second Super Bowl appearance. Super Bowl VI would be different as the team led by an MVP performance by Dallas Cowboys quarterback Staubach would become Superbowl Champions for the first time.The Cowboys were now beginning to grow in popularity not just in Dallas, but nationwide.
In 1974 the Cowboys stumbled and missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years. The next year they made some good draft choices and with their new talent found themselves in Super Bowl X. They went down to defeat at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Super Bowl victory would come again to the Dallas Cowboys in 1977 as they defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII to once again become Superbowl Champions. It was at this point in Dallas Cowboys history that the team was dubbed "America's Team" by an NFL films editor. It is a title that has stuck through all the team's ups and downs despite opposition from non-Cowboys fans. The 1970s glory days for the Cowboys would end with one final trip to the Super Bowl, Super Bowl XIII. . Again the team would lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In the 1980's the Dallas Cowboys returned to the playoffs 5 times and won 2 Division Championships. The team however failed to claim a single Conference Championship in the 1980s, despite playing in the NFC championship game 3 consecutive years. They did not return to the Super Bowl in this decade. As the decade came to a close the ownership of the Cowboys changed, Tom Landry the only coach in Cowboys history was fired, Jimmy Johnson became the new Dallas Cowboys coach and Troy Aikman was drafted.
The Cowboys drafted running back, Emmitt Smith in 1990, and the trifecta of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith, and wide receiver Michael Irvin was set. In 1991, the Cowboys made the playoffs for the first time in six years. In 1992, the Dallas Cowboys went on to victory in Super Bowl XXVII and the following year were Superbowl Champions again in Super Bowl XXVIII.The Cowboys sent an NFL record 11 players to the Pro Bowl in 1993. After a falling out, Jimmy Jones was fired and the days of glory would soon draw to a close but not before one more Super Bowl victory. The Cowboys would get their revenge and defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XXX.
In the new millenium the woes of the Dallas Cowboys were being attributed to its owner Jerry Jones and his refusal to hire a strong coach. In 2003, however, he did just that as Bill Parcells was lured out of reTireMent to coach the Cowboys. November 2004 saw a vote that determined the Dallas Cowboys new stadium in Arlington, Texas would be built and ready for play in 2009. The Cowboys finished an up-and-down 2005 season in 3rd place in the NFC East. After five games into the 2006 season Tony Romo took over as the starter Dallas Cowboys quarterback. The team made it to a wild card matchup but their efforts fell short in a crushing loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
At the conclusion of the Cowboys' season Bill Parcells resigned.Wade Phillips, former San Diego defensive coordinator will take over the coaching duties for the Cowboys as they put this season behind them and strive to move forward. Based on the Dallas Cowboys history they will no doubt rise again to glory, they are afterall, America's Team.
