Dallas Cowboys QB Decision for 2016

   The 2015 regular season of the National Football League has come to an end and some teams are headed for the playoffs in pursuit of the ultimate...a Super Bowl Championship.

   Others are already hard at work preparing for the April college draft in hopes of improving their team for 2016. Such is where we find the Dallas Cowboys ! A season that saw Dallas win only four
of the sixteen games on the schedule rewards them with the fourth overall pick in the college draft...

And that brings us to the crux of today's post.. What will Dallas do with that lofty selection? The multiple injuries to the Cowboys will explain some of the pain of the 2015 season, but team owner, general manager, and Grand Poobah Jerry Jones is already on record saying he expects quarterback Tony Romo to play another four or five years. Romo, who will turn 36 years old this year, has a history of injuries that reads like the Magna Carta in length. Twice he went down this season with a broken collarbone on his non-throwing shoulder, and this was in addition to past injury prone seasons.

      So..... I say now is the time to take advantage of that high draft pick and select a quarterback to guide the team in the future. Romo might have a season or two left in his career and could be a valuable teacher for the new quarterback. 
    The Tennessee Titans have the first pick in the college draft, but they have Marcus Mariota, who they drafted last year. The Cleveland Browns have the second pick and they could be quarterback hunting after Johnny Manziel's road show has gone south for them. San Diego's Chargers have the third pick and need defensive help, besides Philip Rivers has years ahead of him. Dallas is fourth and San Francisco has the fifth pick. Colin Kaepernick is out in the Bay Area and the 49'ers definitely will be shopping for a new quarterback. 
     There are two quarterbacks currently standing head and shoulders above the crowd in April's draft,..both juniors who have forfeited their senior seasons in order to become available for a professional career.

    PAXTON LYNCH of the University of Memphis stands six foot seven inches tall and weighs in at 245 pounds. In three years at Memphis he threw for almost nine thousand yards, fifty-nine touchdowns, and had passes intercepted on 23 occasions. 

     Despite his height, Lynch has good agility and mobility for a big man, and shows an ability to run with the ball when forced from the pocket. His passing velocity has been called excellent and sometimes looks like he is throwing a dart rather than a football, a trait sometimes applied to former Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Terry Bradshaw, and just remember how many Super Bowls they attended.

       Lynch will turn 22 years of age on Febuary 12, 2016 and despite growing up in Florida he has another factor that might make him more attractive to the Cowboys... He was born in San Antonio!

      The other quarterback under consideration for succeeding Romo is current University of California quarterback JARED GOFF.

       Goff also is a junior coming out a year early. He is six foot four inches tall and tips the scales at two hundred and ten pounds. He re-wrote the California high school record book while playing for Marin Catholic High School. He turned down offers from Boise State, Fresno State, and Stanford to play for the Golden Bears of Cal as did his Dad. Goff became the first true freshman to start at California and in three years at the helm he passed for over twelve thousand yards, 96 touchdowns and had 30 passes intercepted. He was a first team selection to the All Pac-12 Conference Team.

       In the 2015 Armed Forces Bowl game last month Goff was named the Most Valuable Player after he threw six (6) touchdown passes and accounted for 467 yards in a 55-36 win over the Air Force Academy. Goff has faced a higher caliber of competition than Lynch and that might be the deciding factor. That and the comparison to another quarterback the Cowboys took out of California back in 1989 might tip the scale in Goff's favor...

       Troy Aikman was the top pick in that draft out of U.C.L.A. and led Dallas to three Super Bowl Championships. Maybe Goff or Lynch can duplicate that kind of leadership and ability.
     It is a decision that has to be made and when April rolls around I want the Dallas ownership and coaching staffs to remember one image as they contemplate that fourth pick.

       No one plays the game forever and Tony Romo has given Dallas fans plenty of great memories over the years,...BUT it is time to plan for the post-Romo years. Dallas fans have suffered through inept back-ups this past season as each tried to fill the shoes of Romo without success.... Hello.. Why do you think other teams let them go?

     It's time to plan for the future. The competition will be looking for a weak spot on the Cowboys roster and unfortunately it will be the shoulders of Romo. Draft a quality quarterback while we can and use the remainder of the draft to find help on the defensive side of the ball. Time is not on our side but a decision has to be made. Dallas,..  You're on the clock.

Another quarterback has popped up on the radar screen of the Cowboys.... and he might be the sleeper of the entire NFL College Draft.

CARSON WENTZ has played four years at North Dakota State and as a starter, Wentz has led the Bisons to their 4th and 5th consecutive FCS National Championship. In last month's title game, North Dakota State defeated #1 seeded Jacksonville State for the championship.

 Wentz is six foot five and weighs in at 220 pounds. In the 2015 season he connected on 130 of 208 passing attempts for 17 touchdowns, and had only 4 passes intercepted. He broke his wrist back in October, but now doctors say he is fully healed. Another point in his favor is he will be playing in the Senior Bowl Game,...and his North squad will be coached by the staff of the Dallas Cowboys....so they will have a good preview of him. Dallas' coaching staff also had the same preview of DeMarcus Ware, DeMarco Murray, Zack Martin, and James Harris in the Senior Bowl and then drafted them in the April college draft.

Wentz is said to have excellent delivery on the ball and the ability to pick out secondary and third choices on passing plays. Some experts are calling him the most 'ready to play' quarterback in the draft and say he will be the first qb picked in April.

Army-Navy Football Game

            The annual Army-Navy football game is more than just a gridiron battle between two schools. This game is a part of American History and was voted one of the most heated rivalries in all of college football. It dates back to 1890 when the first football game was played on the plains of the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Navy won that first game 24 to nothing....BUT Army came back the following year to win 32 to 16. The long series between the two finds Navy on top with 59 wins, compared to 49 for Army. They have battled to a tie 7 times.

Army victories

Navy victories

Ties

Year	Winner	Score	Location	City	Series
1890	Navy	24–0	"The Plain" USMA	West Point, NY	Navy 1–0
1891	Army	32–16	Worden Field USNA	Annapolis, MD	Tied 1–1
1892	Navy	12–4	"The Plain"	West Point, NY	Navy 2–1
1893	Navy	6–4	Worden Field	Annapolis, MD	Navy 3–1
1899	Army	17–5	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 3–2
1900	Navy	11–7	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 4–2
1901	Army	11–5	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 4–3
1902	Army	22–8	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Tied 4–4
1903	Army	40–5	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Army 5–4
1904	Army	11–0	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Army 6–4
1905	Tie	6–6	Osborne Field	Princeton, NJ	Army 6–4–1
1906	Navy	10–0	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Army 6–5–1
1907	Navy	6–0	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Tied 6–6–1
1908	Army	6–4	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Army 7–6–1
1910	Navy	3–0	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Tied 7–7–1
1911	Navy	3–0	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 8–7–1
1912	Navy	6–0	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 9–7–1
1913	Army	22–9	Polo Grounds	New York, NY	Navy 9–8–1
1914	Army	20–0	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Tied 9–9–1
1915	Army	14–0	Polo Grounds	New York, NY	Army 10–9–1
1916	Army	15–7	Polo Grounds	New York, NY	Army 11–9–1
1919	Navy	6–0	Polo Grounds	New York, NY	Army 11–10–1
1920	Navy	7–0	Polo Grounds	New York, NY	Tied 11–11–1
1921	Navy	7–0	Polo Grounds	New York, NY	Navy 12–11–1
1922	Army	17–14	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Tied 12–12–1
1923	Tie	0–0	Polo Grounds	New York, NY	Tied 12–12–2
1924	Army	12–0	Municipal Stadium	Baltimore, MD	Army 13–12–2
1925	Army	10–3	Polo Grounds	New York, NY	Army 14–12–2
1926	Tie	21–21	Soldier Field	Chicago, IL	Army 14–12–3
1927	Army	14–9	Polo Grounds	New York, NY	Army 15–12–3
1930	Army	6–0	Yankee Stadium	Bronx, NY	Army 16–12–3
1931	Army	17–7	Yankee Stadium	Bronx, NY	Army 17–12–3
1932	Army	20–0	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Army 18–12–3
1933	Army	12–7	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Army 19–12–3
1934	Navy	3–0	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Army 19–13–3
1935	Army	28–6	Franklin Field	Philadelphia, PA	Army 20–13–3
1936	Navy	7–0	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 20–14–3
1937	Army	6–0	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 21–14–3
1938	Army	14–7	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 22–14–3
1939	Navy	10–0	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 22–15–3
1940	Navy	14–0	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 22–16–3
1941	Navy	14–6	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 22–17–3
1942	Navy	14–0	Thompson Stadium	Annapolis, MD	Army 22–18–3
1943	Navy	13–0	Michie Stadium	West Point, NY	Army 22–19–3
1944	Army	23–7	Municipal Stadium	Baltimore, MD	Army 23–19–3
1945	Army	32–13	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 24–19–3
1946	Army	21–18	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 25–19–3
1947	Army	21–0	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 26–19–3
1948	Tie	21–21	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 26–19–4
1949	Army	38–0	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 27–19–4
1950	Navy	14–2	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 27–20–4
1951	Navy	42–7	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 27–21–4
1952	Navy	7–0	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 27–22–4
1953	Army	20–7	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 28–22–4
1954	Navy	27–20	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 28–23–4
1955	Army	14–6	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 29–23–4
1956	Tie	7–7	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 29–23–5
1957	Navy	14–0	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 29–24–5
1958	Army	22–6	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 30–24–5
1959	Navy	43–12	Municipal Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 30–25–5
1960	Navy	17–12	Philadelphia Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 30–26–5
1961	Navy	13–7	Philadelphia Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 30–27–5
1962	Navy	34–14	Philadelphia Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 30–28–5
1963	Navy	21–15	Philadelphia Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 30–29–5
1964	Army	11–8	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 31–29–5
1965	Tie	7–7	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 31–29–6
1966	Army	20–7	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 32–29–6
1967	Navy	19–14	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 32–30–6
1968	Army	21–14	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 33–30–6
1969	Army	27–0	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 34–30–6
1970	Navy	11–7	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 34–31–6
1971	Army	24–23	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 35–31–6
1972	Army	23–15	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 36–31–6
1973	Navy	51–0	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 36–32–6
1974	Navy	19–0	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 36–33–6
1975	Navy	30–6	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 36–34–6
1976	Navy	38–10	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 36–35–6
1977	Army	17–14	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 37–35–6
1978	Navy	28–0	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 37–36–6
1979	Navy	31–7	John F. Kennedy Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Tied 37–37–6
1980	Navy	33–6	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 38–37–6
1981	Tie	3–3	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 38–37–7
1982	Navy	24–7	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 39–37–7
1983	Navy	42–13	Rose Bowl	Pasadena, CA	Navy 40–37–7
1984	Army	28–11	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 40–38–7
1985	Navy	17–7	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 41–38–7
1986	Army	27–7	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 41–39–7
1987	Army	17–3	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 41–40–7
1988	Army	20–15	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Tied 41–41–7
1989	Navy	19–17	Giants Stadium	East Rutherford, NJ	Navy 42–41–7
1990	Army	30–20	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Tied 42–42–7
1991	Navy	24–3	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 43–42–7
1992	Army	25–24	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Tied 43–43–7
1993	Army	16–14	Giants Stadium	East Rutherford, NJ	Army 44–43–7
1994	Army	22–20	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 45–43–7
1995	Army	14–13	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 46–43–7
1996	Army	28–24	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 47–43–7
1997	Navy	39–7	Giants Stadium	East Rutherford, NJ	Army 47–44–7
1998	Army	34–30	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 48–44–7
1999	Navy	19–9	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 48–45–7
2000	Navy	30–28	PSINet Stadium	Baltimore, MD	Army 48–46–7
2001	Army	26–17	Veterans Stadium	Philadelphia, PA	Army 49–46–7
2002	Navy	58–12	Giants Stadium	East Rutherford, NJ	Army 49–47–7
2003	Navy	34–6	Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA	Army 49–48–7
2004	Navy	42–13	Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA	Tied 49–49–7
2005	Navy	42–23	Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 50–49–7
2006	Navy	26–14	Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 51–49–7
2007	Navy	38–3	M&T Bank Stadium	Baltimore, MD	Navy 52–49–7
2008	Navy	34–0	Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 53–49–7
2009	Navy	17–3	Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 54–49–7
2010	Navy	31–17	Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 55–49–7
2011	Navy	27–21	FedEx Field	Landover, MD	Navy 56–49–7
2012	Navy	17–13	Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 57–49–7
2013	Navy	34–7	Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 58–49–7
2014	Navy	17–10	M&T Bank Stadium	Baltimore, MD	Navy 59–49–7
2015	Navy	21-17	Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA	Navy 60-49-7
2016	Army	21-17	M&T Bank Stadium	Baltimore, MD	Navy 60-50-7
2017			Lincoln Financial Field	Philadelphia, PA

               The game has been a national favorite from the very beginning, and was broadcast on radio for the first time in the late 1920's and every year since. The game was televised for the first time in 1945 and has become a staple every season since then. As you can see from the above chart, the game has been played on the school campus of the participants only six times. Because of the large crowds attracted by the game it was moved to a larger venue. The location has been moved around, but 98 per cent of the games have been played in Philadelphia.

                 The game always attracts a crowd in excess of one hundred thousand fans, with lots of show business types, politicians, and big brass on hand for the annual meeting. Rain, sleet, or snow, the game always goes on. Over the years this contest has not only been an attraction to football fans, it has led to many innovations in college sports. The very first time a helmet was worn in a game occurred in the 1893 game. Navy midshipman (and later Admiral) Joseph Mason Reeves had a local shoemaker fabricate him a leather helmet to protect an earlier injury to his head.

             The 1963 Army-Navy Game was scheduled for November 30th, but was almost cancelled due to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy just a week before. First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy urged both schools to go ahead with the game, and it was re-scheduled for December 7th to coincide with the 22nd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Navy won that 1963 game behind their Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Roger Staubach. After serving his time in the Navy, Staubach would join the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.

        Both Army and Navy were major football powers in the first half of the twentieth century, but with the inception of the National Football League more and more young players wanted to turn professional immediately after their college careers. Both Army and Navy require a four year term in their military service after completing their academy career. This more than anything has hurt the service academies in attracting top talent on a national level.

     

This years game is scheduled for December 12th and it will be the 116th meeting between Army and Navy. The Middies currently enjoy a winning streak of 13 games in a row over the Cadets...BUT don't think that has deterred Army from its appointed task. Both student sections will stand during the entire game to show their support for the teams...and current soldiers, sailors, and Marines will be watching and listening around the world.

     Go Army.... Beat Navy !

Day of the Dead 2015

         Dia de los Muertos.... that translates to Day of the Dead, and it is a Mexican tradition and holiday that dates back over three thousand years. Some critics say it plays up to the Devil and his Satanic following, but a little investigation on your part will reveal the holiday was started to honor and pay respect to family members and friends that have preceded you in death..
     The Sugar Skull is almost emblematic with the holiday and he is seen just about everywhere...and most of all on people's faces.


       
This Sugar Skull is actually a cookie jar that was being offered by one of the many vendors that came out today for the celebration in Denison. The vendor booths were many and varied. Food is a big part of the celebration and you could find hot dogs and hamburgers, but most of the time it was tacos and burritos.

       
    Downtown Main Street was closed down for four blocks to allow the holiday to take over temporarily. The vendors were also selling clothing items and lots of jewelry. I was really impressed with all the color of the activities. Everywhere you looked it was bright colors of the rainbow in clothes, cars, buses, etc.

    
       I have no connection to this tradition being a German-American,...but my wife's family dates back to Spain and Mexico, so we usually go all out for this occasion. It is the fourth year for Denison to recognize the Day of the Dead and it gets a little bigger and better each year. Dancers from the Denison Dance Academy performed at Heritage Park for the crowd and were well received.

     
    I failed to mention the face-painting booths along Main Street. If you came to the celebration without face make-up, there were plenty of artists there to help you paint your own Sugar Face.

          
   My wife and daughter painted their faces before we headed for the downtown activities. Both of them are extremely talented in the art department and it shows in their work. Momma continues to amaze me with her art work and daughter Laura shows it continues in the blood line.

       
  This was before we got to the activities.... Once downtown I discovered a water fountain that I have never seen before, and I have lived here since the 1970's. It is on the east side of the old Barrett Building and is gorgeous. 

     
   What did I tell you?... Isn't that a great fountain?
One of the great things about Day of the Dead is that everyone wants to be seen in their attire. As I ranged up and down Main Street I approached complete strangers and asked about taking their photo...and everyone seemed pleased to take the time to have their picture taken.

          
     In the afternoon a parade was held down Main Street and the theme of the day prevailed in all of the floats, puppets, and cars that were part of the parade.

      
     I found it somewhat ironic that just the day before Momma and I had gone to the movies to see the new James Bond flick 'Spectre.' The opening scene in the movie has Bond in a downtown plaza in Mexico City and the crowd of 25-30 thousand people are all celebrating the Day of the Dead. It was sort of a preview of what to expect the next day.. Weird huh?
    It was a great time for all... and I think everyone went home happy with the participation. I am already looking forward to next year...