1 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:10,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to a Cowboy Life, the podcast presented by Smoothie King, 2 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: blending goodness to fuel your greatness. This week's story is 3 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,840 Speaker 1: Hot Off the Presses about a man they called Captain 4 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: Crash and hot off the Presses because Cliff Harris just 5 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: became the three hundred and thirty third player ever inducted 6 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Cliff played ten 7 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: years for the Dallas Cowboys at safety. He was a 8 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: starter from the first day he arrived in Dallas. Big deal. 9 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: You might say that happens all the time. Well, not 10 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:40,080 Speaker 1: in the nineteen seventies, it didn't, and not if you 11 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: were undrafted from a school in the Arkadelphia Hills of 12 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:48,560 Speaker 1: Arkansas called Watatop Baptist University. No, sir, here's what day one, 13 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: play one sounded like. When Cliff Harris joined the huddle 14 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: for the Dallas Cowboys in Week number one, the very 15 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: first game of the year, and Bob Lily looked over 16 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 1: into my face, I was the only rookie starter and said, rookie, 17 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: we're going to the Super Bowl this year, and I 18 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: don't want you to do anything to mess it up. 19 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,759 Speaker 1: Do you understand? And I said, yes, sir, mister Lily. 20 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: The nineteen seventy Cowboys camp a thousand Oaks, California, offered 21 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 1: one hundred and twenty other rookies for Cliff to compete with, 22 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: plus fifty four veterans already a part of the team 23 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: weren't even here yet. But there was probably nothing as 24 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 1: intimidating as mister Cowboy Bob Lily pointing at you in 25 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:32,199 Speaker 1: the first huddle of the year and saying, hey, kid, 26 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,520 Speaker 1: don't f this up. But let's back up. I mentioned 27 00:01:35,560 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: Cliff Harris was from the Hills of Arkansas, born in Fedville, Arkansas. 28 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 1: Moved to Desark, Arkansas in high school, which he says 29 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: was a great break for him. He was a really 30 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: good high school football player that nobody knew and nobody 31 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: was paying attention to. No matter how good he was 32 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: in high school, you only got into watchtop because someone knew. 33 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: Someone said you need to give this kind of scholarship, right, Yes, 34 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: it is. My father's roommate owned a supporting goods stared 35 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: Southwest Sporting Goods Red Nelson with my dad's roommate in college, 36 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: and he said to coach Benson, who was dead coach, 37 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:13,480 Speaker 1: and he said, you need to give that Buddy Harris's 38 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 1: boy a scholarship. And this is the story I tell 39 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 1: and he said, he said, Okay, Cliff's father, O. J. 40 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: Buddy Harris also played football. They'll watch a tap Baptist. 41 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,040 Speaker 1: If you're picturing Arkansas on a map, well, Arkadelphia is 42 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 1: about sixty miles of beautiful hill country southwest of Little Rock. 43 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: You thought you were going to plan the NFL. How come, Well, 44 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 1: they'd have scouts would come by, and Thomas and I'd 45 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: run some good times, and I've had big games as 46 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 1: a safety and as a as a cornerback. Okay, reading 47 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: between the lines here, Cliff thought he was going to 48 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: play in the NFL because well, just he was somehow, 49 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: some way, maybe I can tell you, you know, there 50 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: is no way for that, no way I should have 51 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 1: had a chance to even try out. I mean I 52 00:03:19,960 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: was just lucky to try out. I was lucky to 53 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 1: have an opportunity to go to training camp, and it 54 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,640 Speaker 1: was lucky to make the Dallas Cowboys and just in 55 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: the right place at the right time, right place, right time. Well, yes, 56 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,840 Speaker 1: because the Dallas Cowboys had a man who scouted athletes 57 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: to play football named Gil Brant. He is also now 58 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 1: in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Gil would traverse 59 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: the country to find gems for his beloved Dallas Cowboys 60 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,320 Speaker 1: and his coach Tom Landry. He would even go to 61 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: the middle of Arkansas to a school that certainly was 62 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: not getting national press for its football team, and he 63 00:03:56,880 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 1: did and he found Cliff Harris, a player that he 64 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: was so impressed with that he would later say, if 65 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: Cliff had attended Texas A and M, we would have 66 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:07,000 Speaker 1: had to use a first round pick on him. But 67 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,920 Speaker 1: nobody else found Cliff, so he was a free agent. 68 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: So the signing bonus from the Dallas Cowboys for Cliff 69 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: was small. Do you remember how much of the contractor? 70 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: I do very well, but I'm not gonna tell you, Okay, 71 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 1: I'll tell you. So my contract my first year, I 72 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 1: had a five hundred dollars bonus and I made thirteen 73 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: five the first year, fifteen and seventeen five. So let's 74 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: take that first number there. He said, thirteen thousand, five 75 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: hundred dollars in his first year. And let's give it 76 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 1: some context for nineteen seventy. If you were a trade 77 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: worker that helped build buildings in New York City in 78 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: nineteen seventy then you made about twelve thousand, five hundred 79 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 1: dollars a year a professor at a local university such 80 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 1: as watched it. How Baptist, for example, made thirteen thousand. 81 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: But this was the NFL Professional football, and Cliff Harris 82 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 1: signed a play for the Dallas Cowboys for thirteen thousand, 83 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: five hundred dollars. Yes, he did as good as Gilbrandt 84 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 1: was at finding great players. He and the man he 85 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: worked for, Tech Shram, were known for shaving every penny 86 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: when it came to salaries for the players for the 87 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: Dallas Cowboys, especially in the nineteen seventies. I made the 88 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: starting lineup my rookie year. It was the MVP of 89 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: two of the first games. First five games. Well, then 90 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 1: I was told I had to go to the Army 91 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:36,919 Speaker 1: for basic training. I went to basic training, but I 92 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,719 Speaker 1: came back on weekends. He went to basic training for 93 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 1: the Army, but was back for games on weekends. If 94 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: that sounds strange, it's because it was unbeknownst to Cliff Harris. 95 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 1: The Dallas Cowboys had well known and well placed front 96 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 1: office personnel making trips to the Fourth Army headquarters in 97 00:05:55,960 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 1: San Antonio to talk with the General in a steam 98 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:03,320 Speaker 1: bath about delaying Cliff's basic training until the offseason. The 99 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: General then sent that Cowboy personnel member to Washington to 100 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:10,960 Speaker 1: meet with the Secretary of Defense. The Cowboys, you see, 101 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,320 Speaker 1: had clout and all of these covert meetings while they 102 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 1: worked sort of. That's how one month into his duty 103 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: with the Army Reserve, Cliff was getting weekends off to 104 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 1: play football. He was a Dallas Cowboy, but he was 105 00:06:23,680 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 1: missing practices during the week and the team and the 106 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: coaches needed a full time free safety. Charlie Waters ended 107 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 1: up with my spot. He started his rookie year. Then 108 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:39,479 Speaker 1: he had to lead after five games, which is terrible. 109 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: You know, I was thinking, how hard was that for 110 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,559 Speaker 1: him to come in on the weekend. I was playing 111 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 1: his position for him. That is the great safety, Charlie Waters. 112 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 1: And you'll hear more about and from him later in 113 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: this story, I promise, But just so you'll know, Charlie 114 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,600 Speaker 1: was a converted wide receiver from the University of Clemson 115 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,599 Speaker 1: that the Cowboys turned into a defensive back that same year. 116 00:07:00,040 --> 00:07:01,840 Speaker 1: He too was a rookie, just like Cliff, and he 117 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 1: had been drafted in round number three and at the 118 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 1: beginning of the season. He was going to be a 119 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 1: substitute until Cliff was pressed into his military obligation. That 120 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: was a turbulent time. You wanted to support the arms 121 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: services in the United States, so you had to do 122 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:19,840 Speaker 1: what you had to do. But but you also wanted 123 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: to play for the Dallas Cowboys. Yes you did. Thus 124 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 1: the Cowboys attempted to keep their prize rookie free safety 125 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: on the team right from the beginning. By the way 126 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: Cliff got his free safety spot back the following year 127 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: after his obligation to Uncle Sam was fulfilled, and by 128 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: the way, the Cowboys played in the Super Bowl in 129 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: nineteen fifty, just like Bob Lily said they would. They lost, 130 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: but they were a team on the rise. And what 131 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: a ride already. And you think about the opportunity that 132 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 1: Gil Brandt going to Washtaw Baptist and finding me there 133 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: and giving me that opportunity to trial as a free agent. 134 00:07:54,360 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 1: There were one hundred and twenty rookies trying, and twenty 135 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: rookies at your rookie at your initial If that seems 136 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: like a lot, it is for reference. There were thirty 137 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: one rookies of the training camp in two and twenty 138 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: one in Oxnard, California. Thirty one, not one hundred and twenty. 139 00:08:11,400 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: So why so many, Cliff? Because there was an NFL 140 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: strike and we had six rookie games that year. Six 141 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:21,760 Speaker 1: rookie games. If that seems trained, well it is. There 142 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: are no such things as rookie games now. But the 143 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: veterans were holding out for free agency, and there were 144 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: one hundred and twenty rookies at camp. I guess, so 145 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: why not play some rookie games? But six that's a 146 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: lot of hitting and wear and tear on one's body. 147 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:39,280 Speaker 1: Training camp so long. Guys were quitting because they knew 148 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 1: they wouldn't have a chance. Forty five veterans from the 149 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: year before hadn't even come in. And I made this 150 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:47,200 Speaker 1: starting lineup, the only rookie to made the starting lineup. 151 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:49,720 Speaker 1: How does that happen? I don't know. I mean, it 152 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 1: was just a guide thing. I think I was blessed. 153 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,360 Speaker 1: Take us through your mindset at camp with all of 154 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: those players are standing next to you. I didn't know 155 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: what to expect when I went to Thousand Oaks. After 156 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 1: I got there and I started seeing what my competition was, 157 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 1: I said, you know, I can compete with these guys. 158 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 1: Whoa wait a minute, I can beat these guys. Instead 159 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: of going into a negative idea of old guysh you 160 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: know these guys from Oklahoma and Clemson and Texas and Ohio. Stay, 161 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: I can't beat them. Well, all of a sudden I 162 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:30,840 Speaker 1: got out there. I said, yeah, I can beat them, 163 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 1: and I can also knock out some of these receivers 164 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: when they come across the middle. So Cliff Harris was 165 00:09:38,480 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: maybe six feet tall, one hundred and eighty pounds, not big, 166 00:09:42,559 --> 00:09:44,680 Speaker 1: one of one hundred and twenty rookies, and it takes 167 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: him about three days at camp to realize that he 168 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: can compete and play with anyone on that field. And 169 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:53,200 Speaker 1: you now hear his mentality. As long as I'm here, 170 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,199 Speaker 1: I might as well knock out a few guys when 171 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 1: they come my way across the middle. Where did that 172 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: toughness come from? It came from my dad. My dad 173 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: was a fighter pilot in World War Two. Flew a 174 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: P thirty eight and was shot down in the South 175 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: China Sea and paddle to the only American occupied island 176 00:10:11,520 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: in the day and a half in the South China Sea. 177 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: He had diabetes, he lost his vision. He was going 178 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,839 Speaker 1: to be a jet test pilot, and because of diabetes 179 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,960 Speaker 1: they washed him out of the Air Force. He taught 180 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:27,600 Speaker 1: me mental toughness. O. J. Buddy Harris grew up in 181 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: Arkansas and played football at watch Top Baptist University as well. 182 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: Then he went to the Air Force to defend his country. 183 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: Diabetes shortened his aspirations and his life. Cliff saw what 184 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 1: toughness looked like, So Buddy taught you to be tough. 185 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: What did Tom Landry see to have so much faith 186 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:48,240 Speaker 1: in you so early as a rookie. I'd had two 187 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 1: games in a row that my rookie year that I 188 00:10:51,480 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: was defensive player of the game, and I had a 189 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: big game against the New York Giants, which was coach 190 00:10:56,880 --> 00:10:59,959 Speaker 1: Landry where he played. And I think that it proved 191 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:05,320 Speaker 1: to him that me as a player could perform and 192 00:11:05,840 --> 00:11:10,000 Speaker 1: perform well and make the plays that he was counting 193 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,719 Speaker 1: on me making. Okay, a couple of good games early on, 194 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:15,559 Speaker 1: but there had to have been more than that through 195 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 1: the years that allowed you to lead Tom Landry's team 196 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 1: from the safety position. You know, he was a defensive back. 197 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: He and I related to each other and I was 198 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 1: one of his guys you know, there were a few 199 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 1: guys that were a landry guys. You know, he never 200 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:37,120 Speaker 1: could get my name right. He had called me Chris 201 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:44,360 Speaker 1: or Phil who never could he say, you know, Chris, Chris, yes, sir, 202 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: I knew what he was talking to. Or Phil, yes, sir. 203 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:50,680 Speaker 1: So Cliff or Chris or Phil, whatever it was, made 204 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: an impression and led the Doomsday defense from the free 205 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: safety position unheard of. And this Cowboy team was a force, 206 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,319 Speaker 1: and they once again went to the Super Bowl. This 207 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 1: time they were in New Orleans against the Miami Dolphins, 208 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: and some well placed officials thought it was a no brainer. 209 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: The Dolphins were going to beat the Dallas Cowboys in 210 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl. Nixon, a matter of fact said, and 211 00:12:14,920 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: it really upset me, and I confronted him into President Nixon. 212 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:22,600 Speaker 1: President Nixon said, Miami's going to beat the Cowboys because 213 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:26,760 Speaker 1: of the inside routes to Paul Warfield. I was offended 214 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 1: by that, because inside routesman, he was talking to me, 215 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,120 Speaker 1: and so I said, no, he is not, and we 216 00:12:33,160 --> 00:12:37,920 Speaker 1: shut him down. Indeed, they shut them down. Cliff and 217 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 1: the Cowboys won the nineteen seventy one Super Bowl, the 218 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: first of the Dallas Cowboys. They won it by a 219 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:46,439 Speaker 1: twenty four to three score over the Miami Dolphins. It 220 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:50,199 Speaker 1: was a complete domination from beginning to end. But why 221 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,200 Speaker 1: were you so confident your team would win, Cliff? We 222 00:12:53,480 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 1: had computerized print outs that the Cowboy organization and maybe 223 00:12:58,760 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: Gil Brandt and others had because we analyzed film. We 224 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: put the film on computer print outs, and the computer 225 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:10,560 Speaker 1: print outs were broken down by position, by down in distance, 226 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: and by primary and secondary receivers, so we knew what 227 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 1: to expect. The Cowboys organization, led by Gilbrandt and Tex 228 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 1: Tram were way ahead of the NFL curve. They were 229 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 1: the first team to use computers and thus these printouts 230 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: with valuable information was there for them to study, and 231 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 1: it gave their teams a clear advantage weekend and week out, 232 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,679 Speaker 1: and it showed in Super Bowl six and for the 233 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:45,280 Speaker 1: next twenty years we dominated the Miami Dolphins and beat 234 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:49,439 Speaker 1: them handily. The Dolphins had a total of two hundred 235 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: and fourteen yards of offense and scored a measly three 236 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 1: points in the year's final game. The Cowboys were finally 237 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:00,760 Speaker 1: Super Bowl champs and they were here to stay. Before 238 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: there was a draft, you could size up a cowboy 239 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,720 Speaker 1: by three simple factors, the crease in his hat, the 240 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: bend of his brim, and his unbending attitude a man. 241 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: Stetson didn't just protect him from what life through at him. 242 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: It projected a rugged, unstoppable spirit. Stetson hats are still American, 243 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 1: made with pride. Right here in Texas, there's still the 244 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 1: unofficial crowd of all self respecting cowboys, and Stetson is 245 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 1: proud to be on the field with America's team. Find 246 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 1: a retailer nearest Hwitt Stetson dot com, slash Cowboys. The 247 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,640 Speaker 1: Cowboys Way, where sixteen Hall of Famers and five championships 248 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 1: shows us what success looks like. Where Turkey is always 249 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,040 Speaker 1: the second best part of Thanksgiving Day, Where we are 250 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: all defined by one single thing, the Star, where we 251 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,160 Speaker 1: as fans know it's our job to keep the tradition going. 252 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: Bank of America is proud to be the official bank 253 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: of the Dallas Cowboys and to support the quest of 254 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 1: living life. The Cowboys Way copyright twenty twenty. Bank of 255 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:01,960 Speaker 1: America Corporation. Use what the pros use. How about the 256 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 1: official men's skincare brand of the Dallas Cowboys, Jack Black. 257 00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: Right now you can get the Jack Black Starter, a 258 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: curated collection of Cowboys locker room favorites, for just ten 259 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:14,680 Speaker 1: bucks with free shipping. The starter includes four Jack Black 260 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: skincare favorites, plus a full sized and tense therapy lip bomb. 261 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: Go to get Jack Black dot com slash Cowboys and 262 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 1: use the code word team JB. That's get Jack Black 263 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: dot com slash Cowboys The Jack Black Starter ten bucks, 264 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 1: free shipping. Honey, big News, Gary? Are you okay? Oh? 265 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: I'm not Gary anymore. I'm Jackie Flash. What see? I 266 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 1: want the latest smartphone, but the best deals are only 267 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: for new customers. So to get a new customer deal, 268 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,800 Speaker 1: I changed my name to Jackie Flash. Okay, But the 269 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: best smartphone deals at AT and T are for everyone, 270 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:49,120 Speaker 1: new and existing customers. That's huge. Then guess who's getting 271 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: the deal? Is it Jackie Flash, Jackie Flash. It's not 272 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,960 Speaker 1: complicated at AT and T our best smartphone deals are 273 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: for everyone. Restrictions apply. Is it att dot com for details. 274 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 1: There were lots of notorious Cowboys games played during Cliff's 275 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: ten year run of the seventies. One of the most 276 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 1: talked about was certainly a nineteen seventy five playoff game 277 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: against the Minnesota Vikings. But I didn't know that Cliff 278 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: was a star in this game too. That was a 279 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: good game for me. I'd had two interceptions, but I 280 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: had another situation that caused a little trauma for the coaches. 281 00:16:23,040 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: So I was returning punts back there, and there was 282 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 1: a player of Viking that would run down on the 283 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 1: when they were punting and get right up in the 284 00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:37,440 Speaker 1: face of the pump returner and cause him to miss 285 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: the ball or do something with it. Well, I had 286 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: a plan I was going to when he came down 287 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: and got in my face. I was going to judge 288 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: the ball. I was going to come down behind him 289 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 1: and I was going to go into him. Was going 290 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 1: to be interference, and we're gonna get fifteen quick yards. 291 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: If a defender interferes with a punt returner's ability to 292 00:16:55,760 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: catch the punt, it is a personal foul and the 293 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: receiving team indeed fifteen yards. Since Cliff was standing with 294 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: his heels on about the ten yard line, well maybe 295 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:07,400 Speaker 1: fifteen yards in front of his own end zone would help. 296 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: Maybe this is a good idea. This was a plan 297 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: you hadn't shared with anybody. No, this was a Cliff 298 00:17:14,920 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: cliff as deal. It was one of my brilliant moves 299 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:21,080 Speaker 1: that I did, and it worked just the way I planned. 300 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:25,520 Speaker 1: I was about on the fifteen yard lunch and he 301 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,760 Speaker 1: came down and got right in my face and the 302 00:17:29,760 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: ball was right there behind him, so I stepped up 303 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:40,240 Speaker 1: to bump into him. Well he dodged me. The ball 304 00:17:40,359 --> 00:17:44,640 Speaker 1: hit right in front of me and careem to my right, 305 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 1: and so what happened there was big scramble because the 306 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: team thought that it had hit me. It didn't hit me. 307 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:56,480 Speaker 1: We tried to recover it and they fumbled it and 308 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 1: Minnesota got the ball back and it was on the 309 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: five yard line or ten yard on or something. They 310 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 1: scored on the next play. So the way I look 311 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,760 Speaker 1: at this is a new perspective of this is so 312 00:18:07,880 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 1: they started out with a seven point lead on us, 313 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: and you know that seven point lead, and they didn't 314 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:15,920 Speaker 1: tended of it to be a three point lead. Well, 315 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 1: if I hadn't done that play, Drew would have never 316 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:23,640 Speaker 1: had the hail Mary and Roger would never have had 317 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: that play because we would have been ahead of it 318 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:27,879 Speaker 1: at that time. So I take some credit for that 319 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 1: hail Mary pass. And all these years I thought the 320 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 1: Hail Mary pass was just a Roger Staubach to Drew 321 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 1: Pearson miracle, but instead it was a Cliff Harris concoction. 322 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: In Cliff Harris's ten years with the Dallas Cowboys, there 323 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: were so many huge games, five Super Bowls, six Pro Bowls, 324 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,520 Speaker 1: and he was first team All Pro four of those years. 325 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: But ten years of flying around an NFL gridiron laying 326 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,280 Speaker 1: would to anyone in his path eventually would wear down 327 00:18:56,359 --> 00:19:05,199 Speaker 1: his body. I'd had an injured net and I was 328 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: paralyzed several times on the field momentarily and got up, 329 00:19:10,600 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 1: and I had to kind of change my style my 330 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:16,919 Speaker 1: last year of playing and not playing so aggressively because 331 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 1: I didn't want to be paralyzed. And all of us 332 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:25,120 Speaker 1: can certainly understand that none of us wants to be paralyzed. 333 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:28,720 Speaker 1: So what finally pushed you to retire? Cliff? I've been 334 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:32,720 Speaker 1: working the offseason the energy business with Max Williams US Companies, 335 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: and he told me said, hey, Cliff, You've got to 336 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 1: make a decision. You want to work in the energy 337 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: business or will play for the Cowboys. The energy business 338 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: was paying big dividends already for Cliff and his partners 339 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:45,639 Speaker 1: and then there was also that I don't want to 340 00:19:45,640 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: be paralyzed thing. Cliff knew what the answer was, and 341 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:52,720 Speaker 1: he had lots left to do with his life. I 342 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:55,520 Speaker 1: called Coach Landry said I'm going to retire, and he said, Cliff, 343 00:19:55,720 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 1: could you come over my house and talk to me? 344 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:01,400 Speaker 1: And I said, yeah, sure, I've never been to your house. 345 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: Where is it? And he told me where. It was 346 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: right off the Northwest Highway, across from Methodist Church. And 347 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: I drove down there and rang his doorbell and Miss 348 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: Landry opened the door and said, huh, Tommy's here waiting 349 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: for you and Cliff, and I said, oh goods. I 350 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: was went down to his study and he said, Cliff, 351 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: I'm not trying to put any pressure on you. But 352 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:26,880 Speaker 1: I didn't think he were going to retire. I thought 353 00:20:26,880 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 1: you had two or three more years. And I said, Coach, 354 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:31,440 Speaker 1: you know, I know you're not trying to put any 355 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: pressure on me, but I've never been here to study before. 356 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:37,919 Speaker 1: And I was trying to be funny, but it's funny. 357 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:41,800 Speaker 1: I think. Did he find that funny? And he no, 358 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:45,359 Speaker 1: he didn't. He didn't find that funny. Tom Landry was 359 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:48,320 Speaker 1: a faithful, hard working man who was light years ahead 360 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: of the other coaches in the NFL, but he was 361 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: never known for his stand up comedic routines. And I've 362 00:20:53,920 --> 00:20:57,080 Speaker 1: got an opportunity to the old business, energy business. And 363 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:01,320 Speaker 1: he said, all right. He said that's fine, Then you 364 00:21:01,400 --> 00:21:03,080 Speaker 1: do that. He said, if you'll just do one thing 365 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:07,679 Speaker 1: for me, and that is if you will stay in 366 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: shape during the season, and if Charlie's knee. See Charlie 367 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: had hurt his knee the year before and he was 368 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:16,680 Speaker 1: out all that year. And he said, and he's coming 369 00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: back this year. If he can't come back, will you 370 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:23,120 Speaker 1: come back? And I said, yes, sir, I'll do that. 371 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:28,879 Speaker 1: I'll come back. So I stayed in shape. Charlie Waters 372 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 1: knee healed up just fine, and he played that nineteen 373 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,320 Speaker 1: eighty season for the Dallas Cowboys, so Cliff's playing days 374 00:21:34,359 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: were over. In nineteen eighty five, Cliff became eligible for 375 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 1: enshrinement into the Hall of Fame, but he didn't get 376 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:42,720 Speaker 1: enough votes, and it stayed that way for quite a while. 377 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:45,040 Speaker 1: He came close a few times in the late eighties. 378 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:46,920 Speaker 1: He was voted on the All Decade Team of the 379 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:50,200 Speaker 1: nineteen seventies at some point, but never reached the final 380 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: group for Hall of Fame worthiness until two thousand and four, 381 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 1: his final year of eligibility as a player. This was big. 382 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:01,200 Speaker 1: Here's one of Cliff's sons, former Arkansas razorback free safety 383 00:22:01,280 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 1: Matt and Cliff's awesome wife Karen. Let's start with Matt. 384 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:08,080 Speaker 1: That day of the day I'll ever forget. We were 385 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:11,119 Speaker 1: in Cherokee, Texas and South Texas, and I think he 386 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 1: knew in his gut that this was like his first 387 00:22:13,359 --> 00:22:16,880 Speaker 1: real shot at it, and it was fifty fifty. Yeah, 388 00:22:16,960 --> 00:22:19,479 Speaker 1: we thought he was in. We even got a packet 389 00:22:19,640 --> 00:22:23,199 Speaker 1: from the Hall of Fame that had our plane reservation 390 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 1: information for the super Bowl, and he'd been nominated several 391 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: times but never got that far. And said the fact 392 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: that he made it to a finalist position, it was 393 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,600 Speaker 1: we were thinking that that was it. He was up 394 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 1: with Rayfield, right, Bob Hayes, and himself, and we were 395 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:40,119 Speaker 1: just scared that all three weren't going to get in. 396 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:52,240 Speaker 1: Rayfield got in. Dad didn't first thing he did Brady, 397 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:54,679 Speaker 1: I mean, I think it was within sixty seconds. He 398 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: took a minute to like be bummed, and he picked 399 00:22:57,800 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: up his phone and he called bray Field right and 400 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:03,199 Speaker 1: he can grab. He did stuff right, Raphael. I was 401 00:23:03,240 --> 00:23:06,400 Speaker 1: so proud of him, and he was truly a Hall 402 00:23:06,440 --> 00:23:09,280 Speaker 1: of Famer, and I've said that all along about him, 403 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:11,680 Speaker 1: and I was happy for and he handled it was 404 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: so much dignity and grace. We knew that was the 405 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 1: last year for him to be a modern day finalist, 406 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: because after that year he fell into that senior category, 407 00:23:21,880 --> 00:23:24,879 Speaker 1: and good grief, it's just so hard to get in 408 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: when when you're in that senior category you live your 409 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: life not in the past and the future. And I said, well, 410 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: you know, I still have a chance. Karen was right. 411 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 1: From two thousand and four. The next time Cliff made 412 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: it as a finalist for instriment and the Pro Football 413 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:47,960 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame was sixteen years later, two thousand and twenty. 414 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:51,240 Speaker 1: How discouraging did it get in those last sixteen years, Cliff, 415 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 1: You know, I've never lost complete hope, but it does 416 00:23:57,560 --> 00:24:01,720 Speaker 1: diminish somewhat in your mind as the year sixteen more 417 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:04,040 Speaker 1: years was a long time, and really it was thirty 418 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:06,920 Speaker 1: six years since he became eligible back in nineteen eighty 419 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: five for the Hall of Fame. That's a long time. 420 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:13,240 Speaker 1: But in two and twenty, the long awaited news finally came. 421 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 1: Cliff Harris got the call. He was finally going to 422 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 1: be able to write h O F next to his 423 00:24:19,640 --> 00:24:34,120 Speaker 1: name when he signed autographs. Karen, he finds out in January. 424 00:24:34,280 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 1: We found out we got the call, and it was 425 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:39,399 Speaker 1: just it was just the most amazing gay. When I 426 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:43,840 Speaker 1: heard that I was getting in from David Baker, that 427 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:48,200 Speaker 1: just incredible. I'm you know, just had an unbelievable moment 428 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:53,400 Speaker 1: just realizing the significance of all that. I can only 429 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,120 Speaker 1: imagine the rush that you must have felt. You had 430 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:58,119 Speaker 1: waited longer to get this call than you did to 431 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:01,000 Speaker 1: play your first game in the NFL. Near another lifetime. 432 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 1: Here again is his dear friend and great Dallas cowboy, 433 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 1: Charlie Waters, who teamed with Cliff and the safety position 434 00:25:07,359 --> 00:25:11,119 Speaker 1: to be a big part of the Doomsday defense. Cliff 435 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:14,920 Speaker 1: reminded us Randy that the game is a contact corner. 436 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:18,200 Speaker 1: One NFL coach set of Cliff Harris' style of play 437 00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:20,680 Speaker 1: on the football field. He looks to me like a 438 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:26,240 Speaker 1: rolling ball of knives. Here's Charlie. Because of Cliff's style 439 00:25:26,240 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: of play, Coach Andrey designed a defense that was when 440 00:25:30,480 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: of the times, and he used Cliff as a weapon. 441 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:36,600 Speaker 1: Cliff Harris had come from a tiny school in the 442 00:25:36,640 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 1: middle of our country, the middle of nowhere, and he 443 00:25:39,200 --> 00:25:43,720 Speaker 1: wasn't nobody. I wannabe in a cowboy helmet, Charlie. That's 444 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 1: one thing that we shared in that I was a 445 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:51,200 Speaker 1: long shot. He was on a uphill battle, and I 446 00:25:51,240 --> 00:25:54,399 Speaker 1: was on a cluphill battle. Cliff was a free sinct 447 00:25:54,520 --> 00:25:58,160 Speaker 1: and I was a strong safety. Hi, I'm Clint Tillison. 448 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 1: Will you not at agin turf before you can park 449 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 1: yourself in front of the game, Park yourself in a 450 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 1: John dear and power through your chores. Our land Run 451 00:26:05,840 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 1: package is a ten twenty five R twenty five horsepower 452 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: tractor with a loader, rotary cutter and a box blade 453 00:26:12,119 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: for two twenty nine a month, and the price you 454 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:17,720 Speaker 1: see is the price you'll pay. No surprises, so don't 455 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 1: miss another kickoff. Visit United egginturf dot com offer INDs 456 00:26:21,320 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 1: February first, twenty twenty one. Restrictions apply you see dealer 457 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:28,119 Speaker 1: for details. Now let's get to work, Honey, big news, Gary, 458 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: Are you okay? Oh? I'm not Gary anymore. I'm Jackie Flash. 459 00:26:31,760 --> 00:26:34,160 Speaker 1: What see? I want the latest smartphone, but the best 460 00:26:34,160 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: deals are only for new customers. So to get a 461 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 1: new customer deal, I change my name to it Jackie Flash. Okay, 462 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: but the best smartphone deals at AT AT and T are 463 00:26:41,680 --> 00:26:45,640 Speaker 1: for everyone, new and existing customers. That's huge. Then guess 464 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:49,520 Speaker 1: who's getting a deal. Is it Jackie Flash, Jackie Flash. 465 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,640 Speaker 1: It's not complicated at AT and t our best smartphone 466 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 1: deals are for everyone. Restrictions apply. Is it att dot 467 00:26:55,600 --> 00:27:00,639 Speaker 1: com for details? New Doctor Pepper zero sugar, it I 468 00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 1: do deserve that. You deserve decadent flavor without sugar, and 469 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 1: a day at the beach without sand getting everywhere, and 470 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:12,560 Speaker 1: a relaxing bath that your children don't interrupt. I deserve 471 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 1: all that. It's least a visual metaphor for doctor Pepper 472 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:19,639 Speaker 1: zero sugar. Everything you want, nothing you don't a visual 473 00:27:19,680 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: metaphor on the radio. I do deserve that, Doctor Pepper, 474 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 1: zero sugar, the zero you deserve is finally here. Before 475 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:28,880 Speaker 1: there was a draft, you could size up a cowboy 476 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 1: by three simple factors. The crease in his hat, the 477 00:27:31,880 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 1: bend of his brim, and his unbending attitude. A man 478 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:37,760 Speaker 1: stetson didn't just protect him from what life through at him. 479 00:27:37,960 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 1: It projected a rugged unstoppable spirit. Stetson hats are still American, 480 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:45,639 Speaker 1: made with pride right here in Texas. There's still the 481 00:27:45,720 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 1: unofficial crown of all self respecting Cowboys, and Stetson is 482 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,400 Speaker 1: proud to be on the field with America's team. Find 483 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: a retailer nearest you at Stetson dot com. Slash Cowboys. 484 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: Cliff had an uphill battle because of where he came 485 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:02,520 Speaker 1: from and because of the fact that he was an 486 00:28:02,560 --> 00:28:05,720 Speaker 1: undrafted free agent. Charlie was a third round pick from 487 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:08,960 Speaker 1: a big school at Clemson, but he was a wide 488 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,840 Speaker 1: receiver in college. When gil Brant called him to say 489 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 1: he was picking him in the third round, he said, 490 00:28:13,520 --> 00:28:17,800 Speaker 1: can you run backwards? And Charlie said yeah. So the 491 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 1: Cowboys turned him into a safety. Why did two long 492 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:24,719 Speaker 1: shots become so good at playing football in the NFL? 493 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:30,480 Speaker 1: For the Cowboys, Cliff, we had a real good understanding 494 00:28:30,480 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: of the complete defense and how it worked and how 495 00:28:32,720 --> 00:28:35,640 Speaker 1: we could work together. And we worked together as a tandem, 496 00:28:35,680 --> 00:28:39,880 Speaker 1: and we knew how to work the Landry system. We 497 00:28:39,880 --> 00:28:41,440 Speaker 1: could just look at each other and we knew it. 498 00:28:41,480 --> 00:28:45,000 Speaker 1: With Zelan was thinking. Gil Brandt saw something in Cliff 499 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 1: and Charlie when they were just kids, and boy was 500 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 1: he right. Charlie understood covering wide receivers because he had 501 00:28:51,080 --> 00:28:53,400 Speaker 1: been a wide receiver. Cliff knew how to hit like 502 00:28:53,400 --> 00:28:56,080 Speaker 1: a hammer because his dad, OJ Buddy Harris, taught him 503 00:28:56,080 --> 00:28:59,000 Speaker 1: principles of leverage and how to use his body as 504 00:28:59,040 --> 00:29:02,280 Speaker 1: a hammer. And they studied and worked together and a 505 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:06,960 Speaker 1: bond was formed and they became friends for life. Up next, well, 506 00:29:07,080 --> 00:29:10,080 Speaker 1: Cliff has to write a Hall of Fame speech. Speeches 507 00:29:10,560 --> 00:29:21,360 Speaker 1: not Cliff Harris's strength. Here's his son, Matt. My dad, 508 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,000 Speaker 1: he wasn't knant for public speaking. I was a little 509 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 1: jittery about, you know, getting up and front of thirty 510 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:33,200 Speaker 1: thousand people and nationwide talking to you know, doing a speech. 511 00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: I've seen Cliff give speeches to as few as thirty people, 512 00:29:36,880 --> 00:29:40,200 Speaker 1: not thirty thousand, and it's not pretty. He cares way 513 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:42,800 Speaker 1: too much about every word and every person that he's 514 00:29:42,840 --> 00:29:47,320 Speaker 1: talking to. He is a classic over analyzer. There's all 515 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:50,120 Speaker 1: his notes and Brady, it's like reading rail. It was 516 00:29:50,160 --> 00:29:53,560 Speaker 1: like I could barely read what my dad would write, 517 00:29:53,560 --> 00:29:55,959 Speaker 1: and then he'd have arrows, and six months leading up 518 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,240 Speaker 1: to it, you would think, fifty fifty he's gonna bombit 519 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 1: or he's gonna do agree. It's a nervous energy on 520 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:05,360 Speaker 1: his part. It comes from because he's a math major. 521 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 1: He's strictly for detail all the time. Okay, so how 522 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,960 Speaker 1: did this speech ever round into shape? Here's his wife, Karen. 523 00:30:13,480 --> 00:30:16,680 Speaker 1: He put so much thought into it, and he practiced 524 00:30:16,720 --> 00:30:20,280 Speaker 1: on me quite a bit. And I was pretty nervous 525 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 1: about it, Brady, because I just felt like he was 526 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:26,480 Speaker 1: He would read the speech to me and it would 527 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,280 Speaker 1: sound very flat. But I also knew he was trying 528 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: to get so much verbage in that he he needed 529 00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:36,480 Speaker 1: to read it and otherwise he would be he would 530 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: be lost in front of that many people just trying 531 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:41,080 Speaker 1: to say it off the cuff. The Hall of Fame 532 00:30:41,120 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 1: set up for the inductee speeches is pretty cool. There 533 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:46,280 Speaker 1: are three teleprompters in front of you, one right in 534 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:48,760 Speaker 1: the middle and one on each side. If you dare 535 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:52,160 Speaker 1: look away at your audience on either side. But teleprompters 536 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:54,480 Speaker 1: are not easy. If you look away, the words have 537 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:58,640 Speaker 1: come and gone. It's a help, but it ain't easy anyway. 538 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 1: When I heard his speech for the first time, there 539 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,640 Speaker 1: was one part in there that was especially amazing, and 540 00:31:03,760 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 1: I knew he had reached a place of peace with 541 00:31:06,680 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 1: his speech. We have a place in Arkansas and like Washita, 542 00:31:12,040 --> 00:31:14,880 Speaker 1: and I mean, he loves to go up there and hike, 543 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:17,560 Speaker 1: and he always wants me to go with him. He 544 00:31:17,600 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: says he does, but I really think he enjoys that 545 00:31:19,880 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 1: alone time because it's really when his brain, his crazy 546 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:29,480 Speaker 1: intelligent brain kicks in. He hipes the trail and Hot Springs, Arkansas, 547 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:32,360 Speaker 1: and he told me about it before he went to Canton. 548 00:31:32,480 --> 00:31:34,480 Speaker 1: He was like, Matt, it wasn't part of my speech, 549 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: but I think that's the way my life was. Matt. 550 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 1: He's like, I just took care of every rock that 551 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:40,600 Speaker 1: was in front of me. I just made sure I 552 00:31:40,600 --> 00:31:42,520 Speaker 1: didn't stumble on the rock of my next step. I 553 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:45,040 Speaker 1: looked down and make sure my foot didn't flip. He's 554 00:31:45,080 --> 00:31:48,440 Speaker 1: so poetic. How romantic is that story? Like? What a lover? 555 00:31:49,920 --> 00:31:52,280 Speaker 1: So the speech had gotten written and Cliff was finally 556 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:55,640 Speaker 1: breathing normally. He was ready. What was the key, Cliff? 557 00:31:56,160 --> 00:31:59,480 Speaker 1: My wife Karen has a calming effect on me, and 558 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,000 Speaker 1: Sir and I have a lot of belief in love 559 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:05,360 Speaker 1: and trust in her. Did calm me down? Something? She 560 00:32:05,560 --> 00:32:10,160 Speaker 1: gave him a comfort, level of confidence and most of 561 00:32:10,160 --> 00:32:13,680 Speaker 1: the famous would spouses do goods? Do you know Rosie 562 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:15,959 Speaker 1: does it for me? And my feel like Karen has 563 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:19,720 Speaker 1: got the great personality for Cliff. He said so much 564 00:32:19,760 --> 00:32:22,800 Speaker 1: for me. Cliff does so many things for so many people. 565 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:24,840 Speaker 1: I know that has nothing to do with football or 566 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame, but he truly is a Hall of 567 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:30,720 Speaker 1: Fame person. He's our spiritual leader, he's our protector, he's 568 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:33,680 Speaker 1: our advisor. I mean, he's just He's the whole deal 569 00:32:33,960 --> 00:32:38,320 Speaker 1: and we would be lost without him. Got it? Love 570 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:41,960 Speaker 1: was the key, and isn't it always? Matt? Was he ready? 571 00:32:42,840 --> 00:32:45,160 Speaker 1: How do you feel? You know? Are you nervous? He's 572 00:32:45,200 --> 00:32:46,480 Speaker 1: feeling good? And you looked at me and he's like, 573 00:32:46,480 --> 00:32:50,760 Speaker 1: you know, I kind of overdramatize things. I overdid it 574 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:58,480 Speaker 1: a little bit. I feel really good. With Karen's help 575 00:32:58,520 --> 00:33:01,400 Speaker 1: and his divine epiphany on that path in Arkansas to 576 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:03,719 Speaker 1: cap off his speech, Cliff was now ready for his 577 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 1: big day. The only problem was it was a full 578 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:08,360 Speaker 1: year later than it was supposed to be because of 579 00:33:08,400 --> 00:33:12,120 Speaker 1: COVID nineteen and now in twenty twenty one, two groups 580 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:14,000 Speaker 1: were going into the Hall of Fame at the same 581 00:33:14,040 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 1: time the twenty twenty inductees, which Cliff was a part of, 582 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:20,560 Speaker 1: and the twenty twenty one group did that suck. I 583 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:23,320 Speaker 1: was disappointed that we didn't go in that first year, 584 00:33:24,120 --> 00:33:28,120 Speaker 1: but you know, you can't take away that you've made it. 585 00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:31,480 Speaker 1: As it turned out, going in at the same time 586 00:33:31,560 --> 00:33:34,840 Speaker 1: and us and twice as many people. It turned out 587 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 1: great that bronze bus. No matter what year you do, 588 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:42,320 Speaker 1: it's gonna last longer than you anyway, whether it was 589 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:45,160 Speaker 1: one year's worth of inductees or in this case, two groups, 590 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:49,440 Speaker 1: it was a magic ceremony. And anyway, his teammate, Drew Piercing, 591 00:33:49,560 --> 00:33:52,280 Speaker 1: that great wide receiver, was in the second group, so 592 00:33:52,440 --> 00:33:54,480 Speaker 1: Cliff got to be with his friend when he got 593 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:57,000 Speaker 1: in as well, and it meant a ton to him. 594 00:33:57,280 --> 00:34:01,120 Speaker 1: Drew as an emotional guy in a and his passion 595 00:34:01,560 --> 00:34:04,560 Speaker 1: and what made him a great player, and I'm so 596 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:08,920 Speaker 1: happy that he got in and probably happier for him 597 00:34:08,960 --> 00:34:11,600 Speaker 1: than I am for me. Drew Pearson and Cliff Harris 598 00:34:11,640 --> 00:34:14,000 Speaker 1: won a Super Bowl together, and we know that Cliff 599 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:16,640 Speaker 1: made the Hail Mary Cat's possible for Drew at least 600 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:19,680 Speaker 1: we know it now. So cool, it's time for the speech. 601 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:22,440 Speaker 1: How nervous were you as you headed up on that stage? 602 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 1: Had Charlie Waters up there with me. It was really 603 00:34:27,080 --> 00:34:29,480 Speaker 1: good to kind of share that time with him, and 604 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:33,359 Speaker 1: he was my presenter, and man, I couldn't have had 605 00:34:33,360 --> 00:34:36,680 Speaker 1: a better guy and a better friend to have him 606 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:40,279 Speaker 1: as someone that I That was a part of my 607 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:42,560 Speaker 1: deal because he was a part of my career and 608 00:34:43,080 --> 00:34:45,680 Speaker 1: helped me so much. So a friendly face with Cliff 609 00:34:45,800 --> 00:34:48,000 Speaker 1: up on the stage in Charlie Waters he even helped 610 00:34:48,040 --> 00:34:50,680 Speaker 1: Cliff take the cloth off to reveal his face on 611 00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:53,480 Speaker 1: his bronze statue. That was a nice moment. And then 612 00:34:53,520 --> 00:34:55,799 Speaker 1: it was time to hear from Charlie on his dear 613 00:34:55,880 --> 00:35:01,400 Speaker 1: friend Cliff. It's an oxymore on to say that Cliff 614 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:04,799 Speaker 1: is just a football player. He's a lot more than that, 615 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:08,319 Speaker 1: and he shows it all on the field. He had 616 00:35:08,480 --> 00:35:11,799 Speaker 1: great passion for it and it was contagious. Everybody on 617 00:35:11,840 --> 00:35:16,160 Speaker 1: the team understood what Cliff stood for and how he played. 618 00:35:16,480 --> 00:35:20,080 Speaker 1: It was a Gilbridt genius that brought Cliff Harris to 619 00:35:20,160 --> 00:35:23,960 Speaker 1: the Cowboys. He was from a small college, washingtonf Baptist 620 00:35:23,960 --> 00:35:28,000 Speaker 1: College in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and this guy's got a chance 621 00:35:28,080 --> 00:35:30,160 Speaker 1: to make it in the NFL, and he makes it, 622 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 1: and he makes it with an exclamation point. I have 623 00:35:32,960 --> 00:35:36,080 Speaker 1: a son that was born on Cliff Harris's birthday, and 624 00:35:36,360 --> 00:35:38,400 Speaker 1: my wife comes in and tells me, you got to 625 00:35:38,520 --> 00:35:41,280 Speaker 1: name him Cliff, and I went the hell I do, 626 00:35:42,239 --> 00:35:44,839 Speaker 1: but I ended up naming him Cliff, and we're real 627 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 1: proud of it. So I'm honored and privileged to present 628 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:51,839 Speaker 1: my great friend Cliff Harris for schramant into the Pro 629 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:56,960 Speaker 1: Football Hall of Fame. Damn, that was pretty good way 630 00:35:57,000 --> 00:35:59,600 Speaker 1: to go, Charlie. Now it's Cliffs turn and he's ready. 631 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:05,360 Speaker 1: Pretty sure. Wow, What an incredible journey this has been 632 00:36:05,400 --> 00:36:07,759 Speaker 1: for me, and what an honor it is to be 633 00:36:08,160 --> 00:36:11,719 Speaker 1: here with all these legendary players and coaches and so 634 00:36:11,800 --> 00:36:15,879 Speaker 1: many special friends. There are so many people in my 635 00:36:15,960 --> 00:36:19,720 Speaker 1: life that I need to thank. First my beautiful wife, Karen, 636 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:25,120 Speaker 1: who's here tonight, who made my life to believe. I 637 00:36:25,160 --> 00:36:28,520 Speaker 1: only wish you could have been joined by my wonderful, 638 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:32,880 Speaker 1: dedicated parents who spoke supported me so many years and 639 00:36:33,080 --> 00:36:37,120 Speaker 1: when others counted me out. My dad taught me mental 640 00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:42,000 Speaker 1: toughness and my mother instilled me with passion. I've also 641 00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:46,280 Speaker 1: been blessed with many great coaches. I'd like to thank 642 00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:50,840 Speaker 1: coach Jean Stallings, who had the patience which I tested 643 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:54,799 Speaker 1: many times to bring out the best in me. And 644 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:59,840 Speaker 1: then of course Tom Landry, who created the great flex 645 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:06,080 Speaker 1: defense that fit my style of play perfectly. And I'd 646 00:37:06,120 --> 00:37:11,240 Speaker 1: like to thank more importantly Gil Brandt, very importantly gil Brandt, 647 00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:14,520 Speaker 1: who had searched long and hard to find me hidden 648 00:37:14,560 --> 00:37:19,719 Speaker 1: in the Washata Hills. Thank you, Gil. I also liked 649 00:37:19,719 --> 00:37:23,800 Speaker 1: it had the great fortune to play with many legendary players, 650 00:37:24,200 --> 00:37:27,239 Speaker 1: players who taught me the ins and outs of pro 651 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:33,000 Speaker 1: football and how to survive. Players like Leroy Jordan, mel Renfro, 652 00:37:34,120 --> 00:37:39,120 Speaker 1: Cornell Green, and Bob Lilly. And of course my long 653 00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:45,440 Speaker 1: time friend and fellow safety Charlie Waters. Charlie Water. Without him, 654 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:49,799 Speaker 1: I wouldn't be here today. Thank you, Charlie. We were 655 00:37:50,640 --> 00:37:56,719 Speaker 1: the doomsday defense. If I can make it, anyone can 656 00:37:56,760 --> 00:38:01,799 Speaker 1: achieve their goals. The keys to never it, never give up, 657 00:38:02,520 --> 00:38:07,839 Speaker 1: keep trying, keep learning, and keep growing. My roots are 658 00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:11,040 Speaker 1: still in the Arkansas Hills. I was hiking there the 659 00:38:11,080 --> 00:38:14,400 Speaker 1: other day contemplating this speech when I looked over to 660 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:19,560 Speaker 1: see a huge storm brewing over the tops of the hills. 661 00:38:21,280 --> 00:38:23,200 Speaker 1: I still had a couple of miles to go on 662 00:38:23,280 --> 00:38:25,400 Speaker 1: that rocky trail, but all I could think of that 663 00:38:25,560 --> 00:38:28,880 Speaker 1: I and more importantly, my cell phone, were about to 664 00:38:28,880 --> 00:38:32,080 Speaker 1: get drenched. So I liked the challenge, and I knew 665 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:34,440 Speaker 1: I was up to it. I knew better than I 666 00:38:34,480 --> 00:38:37,399 Speaker 1: looked too far down the long path, as it would 667 00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:41,080 Speaker 1: be to seem too imposing. Rather than that, I just 668 00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:43,759 Speaker 1: put my head down made sure that I made it 669 00:38:43,800 --> 00:38:48,000 Speaker 1: past every rock without stumbling. I realized that was a 670 00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:52,160 Speaker 1: metaphor for my life. I've never taken anything for granted. 671 00:38:52,640 --> 00:38:55,800 Speaker 1: I've never looked too far down the road. I've stayed 672 00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:59,320 Speaker 1: in the moment, focused on that rock right in front 673 00:38:59,320 --> 00:39:02,120 Speaker 1: of me. I did trip on a rock or two 674 00:39:02,160 --> 00:39:05,160 Speaker 1: that day, just as I have in my life. But 675 00:39:05,280 --> 00:39:08,520 Speaker 1: I didn't get discouraged. I got right back up and 676 00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:11,919 Speaker 1: pushed even harder. I took one step at a time, 677 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:15,440 Speaker 1: avoided one rock at a time, and before you know it, 678 00:39:15,840 --> 00:39:19,840 Speaker 1: I'd achieved a gold One life's thing has been vitally 679 00:39:19,840 --> 00:39:22,080 Speaker 1: important to me, and it is my faith in God. 680 00:39:23,120 --> 00:39:26,839 Speaker 1: I've got good fortune in my life, but God has 681 00:39:26,840 --> 00:39:35,239 Speaker 1: always been in control. God gives us the freedom to 682 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:38,759 Speaker 1: choose our challenges and how we'll face those challenges and 683 00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:42,520 Speaker 1: opportunities in our lives. You really have to believe in 684 00:39:42,560 --> 00:39:46,480 Speaker 1: yourself and trust that God will be with you. I 685 00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:50,040 Speaker 1: like what Proverbs three says, trusting the Lord with all 686 00:39:50,080 --> 00:39:53,480 Speaker 1: your heart, and lean not on your own understanding and 687 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:58,560 Speaker 1: all your ways. Acknowledge Him and he will make straight 688 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:04,479 Speaker 1: your path. So keep a steady pace. Remember that you're 689 00:40:04,520 --> 00:40:07,600 Speaker 1: the only one who drives your train. If you trust 690 00:40:07,680 --> 00:40:12,920 Speaker 1: in God and make the right choices, you will succeed. 691 00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:17,040 Speaker 1: You'll make it to your own hall of fame, whatever 692 00:40:17,080 --> 00:40:25,000 Speaker 1: that might be. Thank you. So what did the family think? 693 00:40:25,239 --> 00:40:28,520 Speaker 1: How do they think you did? Here's Matt, you nailed it. 694 00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:35,080 Speaker 1: Your speech was great. I was so proud of him 695 00:40:35,160 --> 00:40:38,640 Speaker 1: when he actually got up at the enshrinement and do 696 00:40:38,800 --> 00:40:40,920 Speaker 1: that speech. I thought he knocked it out of the park. 697 00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:44,520 Speaker 1: I was just overjoyed that he did it. He handled 698 00:40:44,520 --> 00:40:47,799 Speaker 1: it as well as he did. I completely agree. I 699 00:40:47,880 --> 00:40:49,920 Speaker 1: was on the phone texting him right away as soon 700 00:40:49,960 --> 00:40:52,600 Speaker 1: as he finished, especially about that rock story. One foot 701 00:40:52,640 --> 00:40:54,799 Speaker 1: in front of the other, never looking too far down 702 00:40:54,840 --> 00:40:57,880 Speaker 1: your path. It was awesome when it was over. What 703 00:40:57,960 --> 00:41:00,880 Speaker 1: were you thinking, Cliff, make how Aloys had such a 704 00:41:00,920 --> 00:41:04,000 Speaker 1: great team during the era that I played. I think 705 00:41:04,040 --> 00:41:08,080 Speaker 1: about those guys, and I think about the great fortune 706 00:41:08,080 --> 00:41:12,200 Speaker 1: of playing in ten years and playing in five Super Bowls. 707 00:41:12,280 --> 00:41:16,440 Speaker 1: I was a three hundred and thirty third Hall of Famer, 708 00:41:16,440 --> 00:41:19,920 Speaker 1: of which there's you know, less than three fifty in 709 00:41:20,120 --> 00:41:23,200 Speaker 1: the whole Hall of Fame. And just so you'll understand, 710 00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:26,600 Speaker 1: that number three thirty three is embroidered on the inside 711 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:30,279 Speaker 1: of his beautiful gold Hall of Fame jacket. Pretty damn cool. 712 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:35,200 Speaker 1: Thank you, Cliff Harris for telling us about your cowboy life.