Sunday, July 26, 1998

Cowboys will have new public address announcer

WICHITA FALLS (AP) - When the Dallas Cowboys play the Seattle Seahawks Friday night, there will be a new public address announcer.

Murphy Martin has retired after 20 years of announcing at Texas Stadium and will be honored by the Cowboys prior to the regular season opener against Arizona on Sept. 6.

George Dunham, a co-host of the Dunham and Miller show on Dallas radio station KTCK, will replace Martin for the July 31 game.

"Murphy Martin has been a very important element of the game day experience at Texas Stadium for a long time," said owner Jerry Jones. "He has served as the narrator and voice for one of the nation's most prestigious football stadium and one of the NFL's most successful franchises."

Full contact

The Cowboys wrapped up Saturday's practice before 3,500 spectators with a full-contact goal line scrimmage.

Emmitt Smith, who had missed practice earlier in the week, scored on a short run, and tight end Rod Monroe and fullback Nicky Sualua scored on touchdown passes from Troy Aikman.

It was the first full contact drill since Chan Gailey took over as head coach.

A day off

The Cowboys get a respite from what has been a 100-degree training camp grind today.

Coach Chan Gailey has declared a day off for the team that has been working hard at Midwestern State University trying to forget a 6-10 season. It's the first day off for the team since the golf outing last Monday.

The schedule for next week will be a busy one leading up to the preseason opener Friday.

The Cowboys will work twice Monday, once Tuesday and twice on Wednesday. They will have an afternoon workout on Thursday before heading to Irving for the game against Seattle, Gailey's debut.

Aikman still a young 'un

Troy Aikman is going into his 10th year as the Cowboys quarterback, but said he doesn't want anybody calling him an old-timer.

Aikman has taken the Cowboys to three winning Super Bowls in that span.

"This is my 10th year and as long as John Elway, Dan Marino, Warren Moon and Steve DeBerg are playing, I really feel like a young buck," Aikman said.

More Aikman alarm clock purchases

Aikman has bought a bunch of alarm clocks to make sure he and his teammates are on time for Gailey's punctual practices.

"I bought four of them," he said. "One for myself, one for Dale Hellestrae, one for Emmitt (Smith) and another one. These guys act like they don't get paid or something. I got to buy their alarm clocks."