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| Don Meredith (knowyourdallascowboys.com) |
Meredith was the Cowboys first quarterback, a 3rd round draft pick out of SMU first to the Chicago Bears, then traded to Dallas. He wore the same jersey number 17 for both SMU and the Cowboys, and played in some of the NFL's most memorable games. Foremost among them was "The Ice Bowl" NFL Championship in 1967, where Dallas had the Green Bay Packers on the ropes until Packers QB Bart Starr scored on a sneak with just seconds left. (See the video at the bottom of this post.)
No, Don Meredith never got a Super Bowl win or appearance for the Cowboys, but he, with Cowboys Head Coach Tom Landry, General Manager Tex Scramm, and Director of Player Personel Gil Brandt, did give the team a heart and soul that's unforgettable. It's hard to say a person was "lovely" if you didn't know them, but when so many praise a person like Don Meredith for his charm, you have to go with it.
What I will remember most is how Meredith, perhaps more than Howard Cosell (rest in peace), made Monday Night Football fun to watch. You never knew what he was going to say, or what kind of verbal joust he would get into with Cosell. Unlike today, the relationship between Meredith and Cosell made Monday Night Football fun to watch, regardless of the matchup.
In fact, I wonder if ESPN's Monday Night Football of today can have that same level of banter. People are so sensitive now, it's fair to ask if Jon Gruden would haul off and bash Ron Jaworski in the mouth.
But I digress.
What I will also remember is Don Meredith singing "Turn Out The Lights" whenever a team was being blown out of the stadium. And Don Meredith was the one Monday Night Football host who referred to Oakland Raiders Legend Otis Sistrunk as being from The University of Mars because he was bald.
That was before Michael Jordan.
It's hard to find good videos of Meredith, but here's one by SMU Video on YouTube, of Don singing "Varsity" on the day his number was retired at SMU:
Don Meredith, RIP.
The Ice Bowl:
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