Thursday, August 1, 1996

Aikman surprisingly upbeat about season

By RANDY GALLOWAY
The Dallas Morning News
(August 1, 1996)

AUSTIN (KRT) - In a training camp where so much has gone wrong, why is Troy Aikman THIS relaxed, THIS mellow?

Aikman has forever been the Cowboys' designated worry wart. He's the team's blinking yellow light in a school zone. On his way to quarterbacking three world championships in the last four years, Aikman has privately fretted over the most minute of details and preached openly on the larger issues, such as his fear of complacency in the ranks, or a dwindling team work ethic once Jimmy Johnson departed.

And this has been the kind of camp that has given Aikman all the doom and gloom platform he could possibly desire. His critics say he's overdone the "sky is falling" routine in the past, but at the moment, even Chicken Little would be speaking before a large gathering on the St. Ed's campus.

In capsule form, the Cowboys are hurting and thin. And that doesn't even account for what Michael Irvin and a few others have done to the team's national image. When was the last time a world champion in any professional sports league was considered so classless? Probably never.

Aikman will be quick to tell you he deeply resents an entire team being lumped into a sewer category due to the actions of a handful. And he's still quick to defend himself, without apology, for that courtroom appearance three weeks ago on behalf of Michael baby.

But football is, above all else, Aikman's passion. And winning another Super Bowl is his only true concern. So on a lunch break Wednesday, he was giving his observations on where the team now stands. Surprisingly, it sounded like a case of making chicken salad out of Chicken Little.

"Coming into camp, I think most people thought this would be a deal of us fine-tuning the machine, and then picking up right where we left off," said Aikman.

"But if you look at us right now, there may be more questions coming out of this camp than we've ever had before. Admittedly, these are legitimate questions, too. Like I'm sitting here right now concerned if we will have Jay Novacek, and if we do have him, for how many plays each game? And that's just one of many questions."

Since the second Super Bowl win, Aikman has harped on the team's "window of opportunity" and how it's slowly closing on this era of the Cowboys.

"The NFL is all about cycles, and at some point the Cowboys are not going to be at the top of their game," he said. "When that will happen, I don't know. Is it happening right now to us? Maybe. But when the opportunity is there, you have to win as many as you can, because eventually, it will go the other way on us."


But then Aikman's face brightened.

"With all the reasons to be concerned about this season, honestly, I'm more optimistic than I've ever been. I'm stubborn enough to think we are going to get through this current situation and keep going.

"As far as Jay is concerned, who knows? That's a worry, of course. But Kevin Williams has just been sensational, and if we can't overcome those five games Michael will be out, then we've got problems anyway.

"The offensive line has no depth on paper, but I listen to Too-ee (tackle Mark Tuinei), and he says we've got some kids who can help.

"Then there's the addition of Herschel (Walker), and he's been a breath of fresh air for this team. He's going to be a real big factor for us on the field, but I've got to compliment him on his work ethic and his attitude. For a guy of his stature to be the way he is, it's gives the NFL a good name.

"Defensively, I like our new linebackers (Broderick Thomas and Fred Strickland) a lot. Thomas can do a lot of things for us. We are gonna be gambling with health in the defensive line, so we need some luck there. And our cornerbacks, well, that's a major question at the moment, and it will take some time to see how that works out.

"But for whatever the reason, I can sit here with a good feeling today, because I think once everything is sorted out, this team will respond like it has in the past. It's just a feeling, but I'm confident with it."

Sunshine over St. Ed's. Aikman in a good training camp mood. Will Austin ever be the same?

(Randy Galloway is a sports columnist for the Dallas Morning News. Write to him at: Dallas Morning News, Communications Center, Dallas, Texas 75265.)
(c) 1996, The Dallas Morning News. Distributed by Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

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