Monday, September 21, 1998

For Garrett, Monday is huge day

By Clarence E. Hill Jr.

Knight Ridder Newspapers

(KRT)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jim Garrett, former quarterback, former coach and current NFL scout, spent much of the past 30 or so years preparing his son for Monday night.

Jason Garrett will play the biggest game of his six-year NFL career when he starts at quarterback for the Cowboys against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands, 50 miles from his parents' home in Monmouth, N.J.

But Jim Garrett won't be there. Nor will his wife, nor Jason's three brothers, each of whom is a football coach. Nor any of the rest of Jason's seven siblings.

Jim Garrett won't allow any distractions to interfere with Jason Garrett's mission the next four games, the chance of a lifetime. Jim Garrett, who in his playing career made cameos with NFL and Canadian teams, understands.

While Troy Aikman recovers from a broken collarbone, Jason can do more than follow in his father's footsteps. It's an opportunity Jason began preparing for as a youngster, when he used to make his brothers catch passes in "the dead of winter."

"He understands that I have a job to do because he's been around it," Jason Garrett said. "How he prepared and approached the game was a great example for me. It's what I've tried to follow.

"We grew up with a value system that you should do what you want to do in life. We had opportunities to go to a place like Princeton and we had varied experiences there. We graduated and had the choice to do what we wanted to do. And we all chose to be around football. It's something we've been around and love to do."

Garrett attended an Ivy League school to get an Ivy League education -- an Ivy League football education. Princeton coach Steve Tosches remembers Garrett's being around the fieldhouse so much, he wondered how he ever graduated.

"We always referred to Jason as being born in a huddle because he always hung around his dad, his dad's teams and on the sideline," said Tosches, who coached Jason and his brothers John and Judd at Princeton.

"When he graduated, I kiddingly asked him when he went to class, because he was always at the fieldhouse."

Good things always seem to happen to Jason Garrett. Cowboys fans will never forget Thanksgiving Day 1994, when he led the Cowboys to a 42-31 comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers. Replacing the injured Aikman and Rodney Peete, Garrett completed 15 of 26 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns, winning NFC offensive player of the week honors. His teammates called him Rudy after the movie about the legendary, undersized Notre Dame walk-on.

"That game was a long time ago," Garrett said. "But it was a great day for me and will give me fond memories the rest of my life. I can draw from the experience. That game will certainly help me against the Giants."

Judd Garrett has seen the Green Bay effect work elsewhere.

There was that time Jason returned to New Jersey and went with his brothers to their favorite bar down the street. Judd said nothing special had ever happened there before. But on this night Bruce Springsteen walked through the door.

"The big joke around the family is that he is a Ferris Bueller type," Judd said. "Things always work out for him or happen around him. He's always meeting famous people or having something special happen to him."

Cowboys deep snapper Dale Hellestrae, who hangs with a group that often includes Garrett, Aikman and former Cowboys lineman Mark Tuinei, said his friend's personal interests are diverse, ranging from golf to crossword puzzles to dinner with his wife, Brill.

Hellestrae added, however, that the strait-laced Garrett can be kind of wacky if you consider his karaoke singing

"And if you ever heard him sing, you'd think it was kind of wacky," said Hellestrae.

It's fitting for this week that one of Garrett's favorite songs is "New York, New York".

If he does "make it there" tomorrow night, credit goes to Garrett's approach to the game of football, which is based on an intense work ethic and preparation.

They are a byproduct of the lessons he learned from his father and served him well during early career struggles.

After earning Division I-AA All-America honors as a Princeton senior, Garrett was considered too slight of build and arm strength on NFL draft day. He began his career as an rookie free agent in 1989.

He made the practice squads of two NFL teams, played in the Canadian Football League and the World League before earning a spot on the Cowboys' roster in 1993.

Judd Garrett, a coach with the Saints, said his brother's perseverance is another family trait.

"Dad kept trying until there were no more opportunities," Judd said. "He kept at it until all the doors are closed. Jason did the same thing. Now it's paying off for him."

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(c) 1998, Fort Worth Star-Telegram

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