Lone Star Struck

Everyone or should I say most people that come to this site are Dallas Cowboy fans. So I ask this question why are we so hated by other NFL fans?

It seems to me being a loyal Cowboy fan for 30 years, that we are the most hated fans. Everywhere I go wearing my Dallas gear proudly, I get scorned by people. ” What about those Cowboys?” they laugh. I respond ” I know didn’t they have a good season. I am so proud of them!” I get shocked looks.

They think I am a crazy old woman that doesn’t know anything about football. They usually respond by saying ” I was talking about the Minnesota game.” I shrug my shoulders and say ” Yea, we got beat in that game, but I am referring to the season. We weren’t even considered for the playoffs in the beginning of the season. Everyone thought we might be 8-8 if we where lucky, and instead we ended our season with the NFC East Title and finished at 11-5. So yes I am proud of my boys.” That usually ends the conversation for some reason.

Reading other NFL sites, I find that 80% of football fans want any team but the Cowboys to be in the Super Bowl. We have been to the big game too many times they say. Yes we have, but so have the Steelers, Colts, Patriots etc. So why are we disliked?

Jerry Jones is one reason. Fans that have turned on the ‘Boys say that is why. They where big Cowboy fans, then Jerry bought the team and let Tom Landry go. Sure that was a tough ride for all Cowboys fans, but the real fans found reasons for staying. Mine was finding a player I liked. After Danny White left I had to find a new favorite. Then this awesome fullback called “Moose” caught my eye. That was enough to keep me a Cowboy Fan.

Being a Cowboy fan as we all know can be tough when we lose, but the true Starstruck Cowboy fans can handle all the mean and hateful things that are thrown our way.

We stick together through tough times and we celebrate the good ones.

Here we are again in the playoffs!  What a year it has been for the Cowboys.  We started out the season a little different this year.  In past years we start off strong then bust at the end of the season. This year we started out slow 2-2 and they had all of us scratching our heads saying “What”?  But,  what’s different this year is that we continue to improve from game to game.

We will see what the playoffs hold for us tonight when we play the Eagles for the third time this season. I have read we can’t do it, but is it too hard to win three games in a row against a team that knows you so well?

I believe this our team can do it. Why am I so sure? 

What makes me believe is something Tony Romo said after the first game we played against the Redskins at home. We won the ugly game by just one point and he said,

“We didn’t play as well as we liked today, that’s obvious, but I was proud of the guys for continuing to fight, not giving up and believing throughout the game we were going to win the game and you don’t win these types of ball games without that type of belief in each other.”

That belief is why I believe we will win against the Eagles for the third time this season. This team believes in each other and that is what we have been lacking the last few seasons.

Believe!

Romo is on top of his game. He is playing with confidence, but not too much that would come off as cocky. He is thinking out on the field. The line has protected him well, but when he is pressured he isn’t making silly impulsive throws like he once did. He takes the sack or makes the most out of each play.

Of course, it helps when you have targets like Witten, Crayton and of course, Miles Austin.  Although Roy Williams and Tony can’t seem to connect or get on the same page, I do see RW doing the small things like blocking, which also helps the team.

The defense has been everything we could have hoped for and better. They are strong, confident and solid throughout. Besides Pro Bowlers like DeMarcus Ware and Jay Ratliff, Anthony Spencer and Mike Jenkins have emerged as legitimate weapons. A great defense wouldn’t be complete without leadership. Enter Keith Brooking. 

With a high powered offense led by Romo, and a stellar defense coming off back to back shutouts, the Cowboys are in a great position to continue their NFC East dominance later today.

Say good bye to that awful string of six consecutive playoff losses. That all ends today with a decisive victory against a fierce rival. Today… we unleash hell… and a new era of Cowboys championship football begins.

As most Cowboys fans know, we have plenty of  talent within our defensive huddle: DeMarcus Ware, J-Rat, Brooking, etc., I could go on and on.

However, one player that has really come in to his own this season is linebacker Anthony Spencer. In the last few games number 93 has been on fire.  In 12 games he has played this season, he has tallied 45 tackles, 2 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble.  He is quickly making a name for himself and has become relied upon as much as fellow defensive play-makers Ware and Ratliff.

In 2007, the Cowboys’ scouts knew what a talent they where getting when they selected Anthony Spencer as their #1 pick.  He has athletic ability and is fast enough to offer a change of pace and give the team another solid pass rushing option. He played in all 16 games his rookie season and started 6. The only other Dallas Cowboys that have achieved this their rookie year are Lee Roy Jordan in 1963, Robert Jones in 1992, and DeMarcus Ware in 2005. Pretty good company of you ask me.

So, where did this young power house come from?  Let me tell you a little about Anthony Spencer before the Cowboys drafted him and he slipped that famous silver helmet on for the first time.

Anthony E. Spencer II is 6-3 and weighs in at 256. He was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on January 23, 1984.

As a teenager, Spencer was a 3 year starter playing nose guard and full back at Bishop Luers High School, in Fort Wayne. While playing fullback, he absolutely dominated in the backfield and he ran for more than 600 yards, averaging solid 9.1 yards per carry. By the time Spencer was through, he ended his high school career by setting team records in tackles and sacks.  Anthony lettered in both football and basketball, and this helped him get accepted at Purdue University.

While at Purdue, Spencer majored in African American Studies and minored in law society, but it was on the gridiron that he would make his impact and make scouts take notice.  He started 36 of 47 games for the Boilermakers and recorded 155 tackles, 2 fumble recoveries,13 pass deflections, and a blocked kick. If you were to look into Purdue’s record books, Anthony’s name would appear for sacks, tackles, and forced fumbles.  He already has his name written in the Dallas Cowboys record books thanks to an impressive rookie campaign. and I am looking forward to see what else this exciting and intimidating linebacker will achieve in the future.

What are your expectations for Spencer going forward, and do you seem becoming an integral part of the Cowboys defense?

We as fans have watched the progression of this rookie receiver from training camp, through the pre-season and the impact he has had on the offense so far this season. I wanted to know a little more about this young man that is catching our eye, so I have done a little digging and this is what I have uncovered for Starstruck readers.

Kevin Ogletree was born August 5, 1987 in Queens, New York and has grown into a perfect size for a wide receiver at 6 ft 2 inches weighing in at a 189 pounds. He attended Holy Cross High School in Queens where he was one catch away from making state history with 19 touchdown catches. Kevin’s senior year he caught 63 passes for an amazing 1,170 yards, that did make league history. His junior year he caught 40 passes for over 1,000 yards and made 10 touchdowns, not bad for a junior in high school. Not only did he make touchdowns, he also made 5 interceptions and led his team to a conference championship. Olgetree was quite the athlete, also playing basketball and baseball.

He attended College at Virginia where he studied as a sociology major. He played as a true freshman for seven games. He had his breakout year as a sophomore when he led the team with receptions. His junior year he ran back kick-offs for 274 yards. Kevin’s total stats at Virginia totaled 117 receptions for 1,332 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Olgetree decided to enter the 2009 Draft after his junior season, but went unnoticed. The Cowboy scouts didn’t let him slip through the cracks and he was signed immediately following the draft. As a rookie undrafted, free agent he made the cut, and made the 53 man roster.

This young  man seems to have a dream and he is not letting the fact that he wasn’t drafted slow him down in making that dream come true. Going from the practice squad to the 5th receiver is a feat in itsself. This guy has stepped up when his number is called and shows that he has worked hard to learn routes and to be on the same page as Tony Romo.

There is no lack of blogs, or interviews to research.  He’s definitely becoming a fan favorite. He has a nice personality, being able to kid around with Marty B on his show. He wants to learn from veterans like Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton. Jerry Jones said on a phone interview that he is excited about Olgetree. He’s quick, fast and they have pushed him as a rookie to make a impact on this year’s team and Kevin has responded and made plays that helped the team.

While watching an interview on the Marty B. Show I noticed a tattoo on Kevin’s right shoulder that said “Respect” , that is something that he is earning play by play.

I don’t know about you, but Kevin you have my respect and I am sure we will be seeing more and more #85 jerseys in the stands as your stats continue to grow here in Dallas.

Keith Brooking admitted when interviewed on Cowboy Insider, that he has had Sunday’s game against his former team of ten years, circled on his calendar since coming to Dallas. He thinks it will be a lot of fun, but at the end of day it isn’t about facing my old team, it is about us winning against a very good team. That is most important.

He added that he will prepare for the game, play confident and fly around and try to make plays to help the team win.<

Keith has only played on football team’s in the state of Georgia, from East Coweta High School in Senola GA, college football at Georgia Tech and then on to the Atlanta Falcons.

At age 34, moving to Dallas with his wife and two small children Ella and Logan has been refreshing. It is new and so far has been a lot of fun. Keith’s two children are in preschool, and have adjusted well to move.

The thing I noticed most in the interview was how dedicated he seemed to the team. He is by all means a team player. Bringing Brooking to Dallas is one of Wade Phillips best moves since becoming head coach. Brooking is a natural leader on and off the field. I think he has added a spark to the defense playing well with J-Ratt and Ware. He also is a veteran and can help develop young players. He has been to 5 Pro-Bowls and is working on heading to Hawaii this year the way he is playing.

I am quickly becoming a fan of #51!

I felt every emotion that you could possibly feel during Sunday’s win over the Chiefs. I went from being embarrassed by all the penalties and disappointed by the bad plays, to being thrilled by Choice setting the pace for the offense that culminated in the exhilarating feeling of seeing Miles Austin make the game ending catch and sprint into the end zone.

Austin made me so proud and I’m so happy that we have such an emerging presence in the receiving corps. It looks like the Cowboys will be rewarded for sticking with him.

I saw some raw emotion from every player that played in the game. The team seemed to come together and believe in each other.

There was no finger pointing afterward, just a feeling of relief and accomplishment. At least for that day, they were a team in every sense of the word. A team that wanted the win and where determined to get it.

Players stepped up on special teams and on defense as well. Many of our players stepped up for the players that were struggling. One example being how Tashard Choice upped his performance while his teammate Marion Barber struggled. It seemed to set the tone for the rest of the game as many silent heroes followed his lead and shone brightly and stole the spotlight from the stars. Keith Brooking was a dominating presence on defense.

It’s wasn’t a well played game by any stretch of the imagination. We were expected to romp over a poor Chiefs team and instead it turned into a street brawl. We did everything you can do to give the game away. There were missed extra points, dropped touchdown passes, penalties on both sides of the ball, fumbles, etc. But somehow, the Cowboys dug down deep inside and they kept battling and struggling until finally being rewarded for their intense perseverance and boundless determination. It was something to behold and it’s been a while since we saw that kind of grit and heart on the gridiron.

The sheer exuberance of the moment came at the end when the team rushed to the end zone to celebrate and relish the moment with an exalted Miles Austin whose touchdown lifted the team’s spirit to an ultimate high. It really choked me up. It was the moment I had long been waiting for this season from this team.

In the last few years, the Cowboys have always started off strong only to fizzle away as the season drew to an end.

Maybe this year it will be different.

Maybe this year the Cowboys will only get stronger as the season wears on.

Maybe this year… the Cowboys will have saved their best for last.

As my heart heals and we as die hard Cowboy fans lick our wounds, I am going to try and give you my view of the game.  I am not going to throw stats at you like I should  as a author.  Today I am writing this as a FAN ! So don’t read this looking for writing mistakes etc. this is from the heart.

Let’s start with the Stadium and the party…  WOW!

That was all I could say last night.  Jerry and his family took our past and intertwined it  with the present and our future and made it work! I was proud of Cowboy Stadium and all that it stands for and I always will be.

Oh boy, Let’s get to the game.  I have been reading how bad our defense was. That is not what I saw. What I saw was our defense standing strong for 3 Quarters. They stopped the run, and the young secondary made some great plays. When you look at the stats you can be fooled if you didn’t watch the game. I saw players that where worn down in the 4th quarter. Ok, yes they should be able to play all 4 quarters I know, but they have alot of young players. The heat didn’t help and time on the field with the turnovers wore them out. I hear the comments I am going to get, but this is how I feel.  I wish they would of made some sacks and had some take aways, but overall I think they played hard.

Special Teams was better than last year, but no big plays.

Let’s get to the offense. I thought the line played great. They protected Romo and made holes for Barber, Felix Jones and Choice. I mean major holes that I could of ran through. The backs overall played well. I was impressed with TE Bennett and Witten as always. Roy Williams and Crayton got open most of the game. Miles Austin made plays.

Now to Romo, I really don’t know what to say, but WHAT THE ?!  Ok, it might of been nerves. He had the pressure of the world on his shoulders and he had a bad game. He didn’t pick up the Giants defensive changes when he should of and he threw behind on so many plays, but he did put points on the board.

Obviously, when you turn the ball over four times you are going to lose. The Cowboys almost overcame all the crazy turnovers. I thought Garrett’s play calls where right on overall. I did feel he should of been with Romo after the bad plays and he may of been, but on television all they kept showing was Tony sitting alone, no coaches no one to help him through it. That I don’t understand. I will stand behind Tony 100%, he is our quarterback and I will defend him against all the Cowboy Haters out there, but here at LSS we are die hard fans and I have to admit to you that I am worried.

I hope the team stands behind him and gets him through this week of bad press.  They all have to look forward to the Monday Night Game against the Panthers.

So there’s my view of the game… you can all go ahead and let me have it…

Whether you agree or disagree, leave me your thoughts and tell us what you think went right or wrong.

The Dallas Cowboys second pick in this year’s draft was offensive tackle #79, Robert Brewster. Robert was born to Robert and Delaney Brewster, July 30, 1986, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Robert is 6′4″ and weighs 325.

Bernie Barre coached Robert at Wyoming High School in Cincinnati where he lettered three times and also played basketball. Robert’s Senior year he was named Cincinnati Hills League Offensive Player of the Year; he was also named All-State, All-City and was named to the Tremendous 26 Division Player of the Year.

Brewster earned a starting position his true freshman year at Ball State. They started him at right offensive tackle for the the first four games and without any problems, he was moved to right guard for the the final seven games. He had 65 knockdown blocks, helping the Cardinals average almost 300 yards per game.

Brewster was graded at 82.7% for his blocking consistency, delivering nine touchdown resulting blocks the next year. The Cardinals reduced their sacks allowed to 28 and averaged 351.2 yards per game.

In 2007, Brewster collected 105 knockdowns and had 13 blocks for touchdowns in 13 games. The Cardinals offense averaged 433.8 yards per game. With that type of play, Brewster was an All-Mid-American Conference pick.

Brewster’s final college year, he earned All-American midseason honors from Sports Illustrated and was All MAC first team choice. Brewster only allowed 2.5 quarterback sacks on 405 pass plays. He led the conference with 100 knockdowns and came in second with 14 touchdown-resulting blocks.

With all of those knockdowns, he sounds a lot like ‘Too Tall’ Jones. I haven’t heard a lot about this rookie, but I am looking forward to see what he can do at training camp. We all know how much press an offensive linemen gets right?

Have you guys checked out 4th and Long yet?

I have been watching and recording 4th and Long all season and I absolutely love it.

Watching these young players trying to make the cut and playing their hearts out is really something. Michael Irvin has to be one of the hardest coaches I have ever seen.

Of course I have never really witnessed what it’s like behind the scenes of a training camp, or thought about what it takes to be a pro football player, so to me this all new and fascinating.

Last night’s episode displayed what the remaining players are made of and how badly they want to wear the silver and blue. These young players have to not only deal with the pain of playing the game and learning all the plays in such a limited amount of time, but just about everything that comes with making the Dallas Cowboys!

I thought it was a good move for the coaches to give them a little taste of some of the perks of being a Cowboy by taking them to Coach Joe’s Bar and Grill. They got to see and hear the benefits of being a success in the NFL, but that was just a prelude for the onslaught that was to come the next morning.

Michael Irvin, Bill Bates and Coach Joe ramped up what was already a tough test of endurance and perseverance and literally put the remaining players through hell. I really thought at least one of them would give up, but every one of them gutted it out like true warriors.

I also enjoy seeing the former Cowboys appear as guest coaches and sharing their wisdom and their own experiences. Watching Tony Dorsett (TD himself!) spending time with that kid could be the one thing that could change his life. Or, like he said, it is something he can one day tell his great grandchildren about.

All I know is that I sure would not want to be in Irvin’s shoes right now.

Do you have a favorite competing player?

Who do you want to be a Cowboy?

Here is a short video promotion of 4th and Long.

For more information and broadcast times visit Spike TV.

Edited by Joe D.

I am sure that every reader knows the name QB Jon Kitna.  Kitna has been around or 12 seasons.  Jon is 36 years old, weights 220 and is 6-2.

Jon started his career with the Seattle Seahawks in 1997 and played for them 4 years.  He moved on to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001 for 5 years. The last team he played for is the Detroit Lions until the end of last season, and now he is a Dallas Cowboy. 

Was it a good move for us to pick up another back-up QB? Definitely.

Is Jon Kitna worth trading CB Anthony Henry?  Some might say no, but I say why not? It’s time to see what we got with Mike Jenkins and Orlando Scandrick.

Jon Kitna in my opinion is great back-up material.  He is a veteran that knows the game.  He has recently said he hopes he never has to take a snap during a game.  I like that about him. He knows his role and seems to be satisfied with it.

Jon Kitna’s stats are nowhere close to Tony Romo’s, but he’s a backup and he is an upgrade over Brad Johnson.

He has a total of 27,293 yards passing.  Kitna’s 2008 stats, during 4 games that he played were not bad at all. Sure they lost all the games, but come on we are talking about the Lions. 

He had a QB rating of 72.2 which is not bad.  He threw 5 touchdowns and had threw for 758 yards.  The only negative I see is that he did throw 5 interceptions. We all know that a receiver may have run a bad route or their was a miscue in the huddle. So the interceptions aren’t bothering me yet.

Let’s all hope that  Jon’s wish comes true and he never has to take a snap during a game and Romo stays healthy all season. But if he does have to step in, I’m confident he can hold down the fort.

I am going to kick off this new series with the Cowboys first pick in the 2009 NFL draft, linebacker #58 Jason Williams.

Jason attended Western Illinois College. He stands 6-1 and weights 238. From the research I have done on Jason he seems to be one of the most underrated players in the draft. Jason switched from strong safety to weak side linebacker in his sophomore year. He ranked among the nation’s leaders in forced fumbles and tackles behind the line of scrimmage in the last three years.

Jason attended DeSable High School in Chicago. He was highly regarded for his rushing and passing ability as a linebacker. Jason rushed for 2,988 and threw for 3,015 yards. He had a total of 71 total touchdowns in his high school career, which led to a undefeated season his Senior year and earned him two All-City and All-Section honors.

Williams enrolled at Western Illinois as a 200 pound athlete in 2004, where he red-shirted. In 2005, he appeared in 10 games, not seeing much action early in the year being listed third on the depth chart at strong safety. His special team talent helped him get a starting position for the team’s two final games. When he got the chance to play he took advantage and had 23 tackles with a stop for a loss and one blocked kick.

In 2006 Williams continued to be a terror on special teams. Jason switched to weak side linebacker, he was the only defender to start all 11 games. He received the teams’ Green Beret Award for his talent on the kicking game. He also ranked second on the team with 92 tackles, three sacks, and 10.5 stops for a loss and he also caused three fumbles.

In 2007 Jason was on fire, He made All-American and All-Gateway conference first-team choice,finished second in the voting for Defensive Player of the Year. He also led the team with 107 tackles and eight sacks. He led the conference with 16.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also recovered two fumbles.

Williams’ senior year in 2008 he was named a consensus All-American and a unanimous All-Gateway Conference first-team selection. He came in 4th in the voting for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FSC ranks. He started every game as a weak-side linebacker, leading the nation with a school season-record six forced fumbles, the second best total by a Gateway player. He finished 2nd in the league with team high 17 stops for a loss and had 4 sacks among his 67 tackles 39 being solo’s.

So after researching Jason Williams I can now understand why he was considered underrated in the draft.

He certainly seems to have the talent to be an impact player and I look forard to seeing him wreak havoc on the footbal field in 2009!

Felix Jones at his high school field. Being hands on with the young athletes attending his inaugural Felix Jones Football Camp and Life Skills camp in Tulsa. Photo by the Tulsa World.

This past weekend Felix Jones came home to celebrate his 22nd birthday with about 300 family and friends in downtown Tulsa and to kickoff his first ‘Felix Jones Football and Life Skills Camp’. Thanks to Bill Haisten sports writer for the Tulsa World we have direct quotes from Felix and a question and answer interview held at his former High School in Tulsa where he held his camp last Saturday.

Felix’s camp was a total success with 75 young athletes in all positions on his high school football field. According to Bill of the World Felix was a hands on coach to these kids, going from different position stations making to give his expertise to each child. I am sure with the dedication he has shown this weekend his camp will strive in Tulsa and Dallas. He will be a Hero to a lot of young players now and in the future. As a parent that is fine with me. Any young man that has just entered the world of the NFL and still care enough to want to take care of the kids in both of his home towns can be my child’s hero anytime.

After starting off his rookie season with the Cowboys, all fans know how great he started out. Felix’s stats were 8.9 yards per rush and a average of 27.1 yards per kickoff returns before his hamstring and toe injury put in on the sideline for the rest of the season.

Here area few of the questions that was asked of Felix during his time at his old high school.

Q: How difficult was it to watch the final 10 games from the sideline?

A: Very tough. We had been doing so good and winning a lot of ball games, and I was able to contribute early in the season. I was upset after I got hurt.

Q: If you hadn’t been injured, you might have been the NFL’s Rookie of the Year.

A: Yeah, but in this sport, injuries happen. It’s part of the game. It’s frustrating, but you just have to deal with it.

Q: Your favorite memory at this stadium during your high school years?

A: My Sophomore year, in my first Varsity game. I returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown. We were playing against McLain ( a rival in Tulsa) and I took it to the house.

Q: Are you determined to score the first touchdown in the Dallas Cowboy’s new stadium?

A: That would be very nice. A big highlight for me. I’m always determined to get into the end zone, but to get that first one in the stadium, Yeah, that would be great. I’ll give it a try.

Q: Troy Aikman says Terrell Owens’ departure is a positive for Dallas. What does Felix Jones say about it?

A: I love Terrell. He was my teammate. But I think my football camp is a better subject to talk about.

Q: Were you at Valley Ranch when a storm flattened their practice faculty?

A: I wasn’t there. It was such a sad situation. You can’t control Mother Nature. I am just glad everyone got out of there alive.

Q: You have been around Tony Romo for a full year. Can he take the Cowboys to the Super Bowl?

A: Romo definitely a Super Bowl quarterback. He’s showing his leadership. I am happy to be his teammate.

Well that is it for the Q & A thanks to the Tulsa World. I am planning on being at next year’s camp for I can take exclusive pictures for LSS.

I think all Cowboy fans will agree that Felix Jones will be a weapon for the Cowboys this season. He is a superstar in the making and I am proud to call the former Razorback a Cowboy.

Felix is back home in Dallas now working hard to be ready for his second season with the Cowboys. Look for his camp in the Dallas area schools and be sure and support it. It is a cause that he feels deeply about and will help so many young people. So Cowboy fans lets not only support him on the field, which I know all fans will, accept him in your community also because he is definitely a asset.

Felix Jones at his old high school football field having his inaugural Felix Jones football camp and life skills camp for the young athletes in the Tulsa area. Photo taken by Tulsa World. Check out the T- Shirt! I want one. Maybe next year.

According to a article in the Star Telegram by Clarence E. Hill Jr., Jason opened up about how he feels about the team, and of course, he was asked about TO being released. They just can not let the whole TO thing drop.  Of course, with Jason’s joking personality, when asked about roster changes, his reply: “We made roster changes? I didn’t hear about that.”