1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: It's time to get inside the Giants Hotel. Let's go 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: back your U on Giants dot Com and the Giants Mobile. 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: Go Go on the Giants podcast Network. Welcome to the 4 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,560 Speaker 1: Giants hontel on Paul to Tino. Today we speak with 5 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 1: former tight end Howard Cross to remember former Giants head 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,479 Speaker 1: coach Jim Fossil, who passed away June seventh at the 7 00:00:19,480 --> 00:00:23,200 Speaker 1: age of seventy one. He directed Big Blue from through 8 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: two thousand and three, including the most difficult circumstances following 9 00:00:27,400 --> 00:00:31,800 Speaker 1: nine eleven, two thousand one. Cross remembers it was overwhelming, 10 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: you know, coach coach had a lot more than what 11 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:36,400 Speaker 1: you know. I think the public kind of looks at 12 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: it as you know, a team of record and a 13 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: lot of great words there, but a lot to do 14 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: with if you think about like a brief canceling, trying 15 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: to have people how they how they're going to deal 16 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,400 Speaker 1: with this traumatic event, uh, having guys talk, you know, 17 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,479 Speaker 1: constantly having people come in and talk to us. There 18 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: was a lot more there than than you know. We 19 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: were dealing with a lot of the same things that 20 00:00:57,120 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: everybody else was. Donna went, but we were just there, 21 00:01:00,120 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 1: you know, on the practice field, smelling the smoke of 22 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: the buildings every day, trying to figure out like, oh 23 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 1: my god, is it really worth being here? How important 24 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:12,920 Speaker 1: do you think it was for you guys as players, 25 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: for Jim to step up in that particular moment to 26 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 1: show the leadership that he needed to do. I remember 27 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: he got the call, I guess from the government officials, 28 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: including Giuliani over in New York, could you guys come 29 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: over and visit with some of these people during the 30 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: most trying of times. And and Jim lead you guys 31 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:35,000 Speaker 1: over there to to do an appearance, to try to help, 32 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 1: to deliver supplies, to deliver handshakes and smiles and moments 33 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 1: of thank you. I mean, I don't think anybody's ever 34 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: going to forget that. I think it was more that, 35 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: you know, there are a lot of like first responders, 36 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: and I think that, you know, beyond the eyesight of 37 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 1: what we have or the media, we have people digging 38 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 1: and and and and grinding trying to find people who 39 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: are who trying to help anybody they can. And it's devastating, incredible, 40 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:09,840 Speaker 1: um disastrous moment. And and these guys are there working 41 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,920 Speaker 1: through people walked through the tunnels, walked over bridges just 42 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,639 Speaker 1: to get there to help. And we we did so 43 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: such a minimal thing by just going over there. You know, 44 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: we went out and spent as much money as we could, 45 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:24,919 Speaker 1: buying you know, masks and gloves and and and shields 46 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 1: and whatever else they could need. And if they needed 47 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,160 Speaker 1: extra boots, we bought and and brought stuff over. We 48 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: bought the Palace of Water and sandwiches and which. When 49 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: we sent as much stuff as possible, a big group 50 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 1: of guys went over and you know and delivered as 51 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: much as they possibly could. But it wasn't it wasn't 52 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: what we were doing that. You know, we were just 53 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:49,040 Speaker 1: trying to be you know, as supportive as possible. We 54 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:51,640 Speaker 1: weren't the professionals. They were the professionals at that moment. 55 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 1: They were the heroes getting trying to get it done, 56 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,000 Speaker 1: and we were just there to try to, like, you know, 57 00:02:56,120 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 1: make sure they didn't lose hope and lose lose faith 58 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: in the moment. So you guys go through all of 59 00:03:01,520 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: those things to try to offer whatever it is you 60 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: can to help the don't play that week. You come 61 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: back and you play in Kansas City. The f d 62 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: N Y hats, the police department hats, the port authority hats, 63 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: and all that emotion in Kansas City, and then of 64 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:20,800 Speaker 1: course when you had your home opener against the Saints 65 00:03:20,800 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 1: the following weekend, all the emotion there too as well. 66 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,400 Speaker 1: How How did Jim try to keep you guys together 67 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: in terms of your emotions understanding that, my goodness, it 68 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: would be so easy and and justifiably so, to lose 69 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: track of what it is that you're doing, because, let's 70 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 1: face it, Howard, football is a dangerous game and if 71 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: you're overcome with an emotions about other things, you could 72 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: get hurt. I think at the end of it, you know, 73 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: I can't keep saying this, but you know, having people 74 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: come in and talk to us, which probably the biggest 75 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: part of it. I don't think that, uh that you know, 76 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 1: in this day and age of mental awareness, where where 77 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: this is really where hypercentaive now to to mental your 78 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: mental health and your mental mental you know, state of being. 79 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:10,680 Speaker 1: It wasn't as big back then, but to have you know, 80 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 1: people coming in and talk to us about counseling and 81 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: what you're feeling, what you're thinking about their emotions, it 82 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: was big. And it wasn't like they came in. Once 83 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 1: they were there for a while, they came back and forth, 84 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: guys got together and talked about it, and Jim recognized that. 85 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 1: And you know, Jim was talking to them probably I 86 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: don't know, like we all had to you know, figure out, um, 87 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: I guess and and shure, we'd all had to figure 88 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: out like hey, what are we doing and why are 89 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: we doing it? And and and enjoying it like I 90 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: had just had kids, Like my kids were or babies 91 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: like like a couple of months old. So I was 92 00:04:47,720 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 1: like freaking out all around, thinking like, okay, is this 93 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: season you know where I want to be come and 94 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 1: put myself in a situation and you know, but to 95 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,480 Speaker 1: go out and to try to finish the season, to 96 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: go out and play as hard you can, and to 97 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: like I said, just let everybody know that, Hey, look 98 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: we are still here. We're still moving. Let's keep moving. 99 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: Pick up, Let's pick up and get started as quickly 100 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: as possible. That's all we could do. Fans, remember, Limited 101 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:17,840 Speaker 1: Giant season tickets are on sale now for the one season. 102 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 1: In addition to ticket savings, membership benefits include access to 103 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 1: exclusive events, experiences, pre sales, and more. You can lock 104 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: in your seats starting at just one hundred dollars. Call 105 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 1: eight n y G or visit Giants dot com tickets 106 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: for more information. Don't miss out on your chance to 107 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: experience a premier hospitality experience watching Giants games in world 108 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: class concerts. In one is a Giant Suite partner. Limited 109 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: full season locations are available. Will place a deposit for 110 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:52,279 Speaker 1: individual games called eight NYG ninety five or visit Giants 111 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: dot com slash suites for information. And finally, let's get vaccinated. 112 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: Go to COVID nineteen dot m J dot of slash 113 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:05,599 Speaker 1: vaccine to register. Let's talk about Jim Moore as a 114 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:10,919 Speaker 1: football guy. He comes in, Giants are kind of on 115 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: a rocky road. You're in the middle of your career 116 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: there and in and his first season, you guys win 117 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: the NFC East. It was George Young's last season as 118 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 1: the Giants general manager, and you guys wind up being 119 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:26,760 Speaker 1: a playoff team. What was the key in your mind 120 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:30,480 Speaker 1: to what Jim did to help that turn around? They 121 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,919 Speaker 1: came in and you know, I think people, you know, 122 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,159 Speaker 1: understand what it is when a new coach comes in. 123 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:38,880 Speaker 1: He came on a brand new system, came in on 124 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: a brand new energy and he wanted, you know, to 125 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:44,200 Speaker 1: throw the ball up and down the field and to 126 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 1: run the ball and pounded, and he he enjoyed the defense, 127 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 1: and you know, he had Foxy and then from the 128 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: coaching the defense, I think he had Paydon. It as 129 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: a coordinated offense. It just was a lot of energy 130 00:06:55,839 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 1: for for what was going on, trying to get guys 131 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: up and going and made it fun. So when you 132 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: go from um, you know, coach Rees was a great guy, 133 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: did a great job coaching, and then all of a 134 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: sudden we had his his bad years falling off. You 135 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 1: get a new guy coming in who's energetic, who was 136 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,920 Speaker 1: excited this is his opportunity to have a head coaching job. 137 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 1: I'm gonna do it my way. This is gonna be fun, 138 00:07:20,320 --> 00:07:23,239 Speaker 1: and all that energy kind of rolls over into the players. 139 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,080 Speaker 1: Guys get excited about playing, Guys get excited about being there, 140 00:07:26,480 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 1: and guys get excited about that their roles and what 141 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: roles are gonna play with the new guys. So it's 142 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: it's fun. And all of a sudden you start having 143 00:07:33,800 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: some success and it looks even better to you. So 144 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,360 Speaker 1: Jim did a good job of you know, you rallying 145 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: the troops, bringing in a new mindset, making it enjoyable, 146 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: having fun with it, and he got it done. I 147 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: remember when when Phil Simms had worked under Jim, when 148 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: Jim was brought in as a staff assistant, took ourselves 149 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: after the nineties season, although Bill left shortly thereafter and 150 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: very Handley took over. I remember Phil saying he thought 151 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: that he learned more about quarterbacking from Jim Fossil in 152 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 1: those lotter stages of his career than he had ever 153 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 1: known earlier, and wish he had known more. What was 154 00:08:10,360 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: it about Jim as an offensive mind that allowed him 155 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: to kind of take things so we willy to the 156 00:08:16,280 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: next level. Well, you know every year that that that 157 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: every everything involves constantly so Jim. So Jim comes into 158 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:26,560 Speaker 1: the league or comes back, and then at that time fulfilled. 159 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: We were in the three yards in the Cloud invest team. 160 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: We were the old school football, right, sure we were. 161 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: We were just like ground and Town. Let's get it done. 162 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:38,480 Speaker 1: We're gonna, you know, suck the life out of the 163 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: ball and win the game. When Jim comes in, Jim's 164 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 1: kind of instituting the the air air offense. Let's put 165 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,040 Speaker 1: the ball in the air. Let's let's score, Let's get 166 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: big chunks, Let's let's move the ball. Quarterbacks love that. 167 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: Quarterbacks love the third the ball, and rightfully so. So 168 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:58,719 Speaker 1: it was it was basically the changing of an air 169 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 1: when when Jim finally started to come into the league, uh, 170 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: when he when he was coaching with Sims only came 171 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 1: back as the head coach. It just continued with that 172 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: with that's philosophy. Were things from when he wasn't assistant 173 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: that first time with the Giants that you kind of 174 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: had an inkling that you might see him again down 175 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:18,680 Speaker 1: the line and it might be at a higher level 176 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: on the coaching tree. Yeah, he didn't have the personality 177 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: for for the head coach. Some guys are just you know, 178 00:09:25,480 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 1: uh suit uh nswers and knows that they're sitting around 179 00:09:29,000 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: and they're talking and you kind of enjoy it. But 180 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: that's what there, that's what they're doing. They didn't and 181 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 1: it's not that they don't have aspirations at the head coaches, 182 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 1: I don't think. But Jim had the whole personality part 183 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 1: of it, as as you can see when he's talking 184 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: the way he was, his manners and stuff, and he's 185 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: like Okay, this guy's got he's got some things. He's 186 00:09:49,679 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 1: excited about this game, and you know you'll see him 187 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:53,959 Speaker 1: again down the road, and every whole every stop that 188 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:56,720 Speaker 1: I saw him, man, I'm like, Okay, he's moving along. 189 00:09:56,920 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: It looks like he's gonna get there some time later. 190 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,440 Speaker 1: He gets to be named the Giants head coach at 191 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 1: ninety seven, and of course now his quarterback turns out 192 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 1: to be over the course of time, Kerry Collins, who 193 00:10:09,640 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: was a reclamation project who had had some rough times 194 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: with the Saints and with the Panthers, but Carry foraged 195 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: and really took his game to the next level under 196 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,440 Speaker 1: Jim Fossil. Could you tell us if there's something there 197 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:24,760 Speaker 1: that you think Fossil did to help bring out the 198 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: best and Carry as well and your offense. Quite frankly, 199 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:31,480 Speaker 1: I mean, look, you guys went to a Super Bowl. Yeah, 200 00:10:31,480 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 1: but we had to know yet I kill you had 201 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: Monty comer um myself planning in the game. You had 202 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: to keep uh, to keep Barber running the ball. You 203 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,719 Speaker 1: had an office for Lindo was a lot better than 204 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 1: people would even imagine, and you had a really really 205 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: good defense. Uh, we had all the makings to to 206 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:52,719 Speaker 1: put up to bring your team together and to get 207 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 1: us in the super Bowl, and and best what you know, 208 00:10:55,320 --> 00:10:57,440 Speaker 1: carry got into the right situation with the right group 209 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,160 Speaker 1: of guys, guys that were willing to you know, fight 210 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: in battle, and you have guys like that in this 211 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 1: high energy, high energy coach tell me the whole time, 212 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:09,400 Speaker 1: let's get it done. We're gonna get it done and 213 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,719 Speaker 1: keep fighting. You know. That's that's kind of what it was. 214 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: And then Gym, it's kind of like and I guess 215 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,600 Speaker 1: you would say one of those times when the coaches 216 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 1: kind of have that, uh, this might be might be 217 00:11:20,520 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: my last year. I gotta get it going. But I 218 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:24,800 Speaker 1: have a good enough team to like turn it around. 219 00:11:25,280 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 1: That's the whole I'm pushing all my chips to the 220 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:32,040 Speaker 1: center of the table. So that's that whole speech. And 221 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:35,400 Speaker 1: and it's like, hey, look, guys, we're a good enough 222 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 1: team to to to be in this thing, working enough 223 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: team to get into the playoffs. We're good enough team 224 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 1: to like go a long way. But if we don't go, 225 00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: you know, I'm gone. And let me tell you something, 226 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 1: if I'm gone, probably gonna get a lot of it. 227 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: Because it worked enough team and you're not doing it. 228 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 1: It's not just me not doing it. If you're not 229 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: doing it, people look at that. People remember that let's 230 00:11:57,000 --> 00:11:59,439 Speaker 1: get let's get it going through you. You're in or 231 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: you're out. Who's in, Let's go, And people basically showed up. 232 00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,840 Speaker 1: I remember the pushing the chips to the middle of 233 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: the table, and this team will make the playoffs. He 234 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: was very insistent about it in the press conference that week. 235 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 1: You guys were seven and two at the beginning of 236 00:12:14,400 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: that season, had some rough losses to the Rams and 237 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: the Lions at home, and then Jim makes that proclamation 238 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,559 Speaker 1: and the whole press room was a buzz. Now, look, 239 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 1: it makes for a great sound bite and a great 240 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: TV clip. Did he talk to you guys about that 241 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:33,319 Speaker 1: before he talked to the media or were you guys 242 00:12:33,360 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: as stunned when that came out in the media as 243 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: we were when he delivered it to us. No, he 244 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: had talked to us about me. He was you know, 245 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: that was the mantra of what was going on that 246 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,640 Speaker 1: was that was a big moment that that was happily 247 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 1: was the team. Like I said, if we if we 248 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: were failing, if we had not have made it, I 249 00:12:53,400 --> 00:12:55,880 Speaker 1: don't think Jim would have made it through the season, Like, 250 00:12:56,120 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: you know, we were seven and two, we looked promising. 251 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 1: All of a sudden, you just look bad, like and 252 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: I looked really bad. And when you say bad losses, 253 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,920 Speaker 1: like the press was killing and the presses killing all 254 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,959 Speaker 1: of us, like you know, maybe the gym's lost a 255 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 1: team kind of conversation and then all of a sudden 256 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,079 Speaker 1: zooms like you know that that's crazy. Don't read that stuff. 257 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: Like we're in this thing together, like we got we 258 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 1: want seven games, guys, we want seven games, like we 259 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,559 Speaker 1: are in this together, Like I'm putting it all on it, 260 00:13:23,640 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: I'm putting it online, like I'm gonna say it out loud, 261 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:28,160 Speaker 1: like I'm not. I'm not hiding from it, don't too 262 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 1: high from it. Basically, it's it's kind of how it 263 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:32,840 Speaker 1: was coming across to us. So yeah, it was pretty cool. 264 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,199 Speaker 1: So you guys go out and you thrash the Cardinals 265 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,080 Speaker 1: to to end the two games, skid wind up wanting 266 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 1: five in a row to finish out the regular season, 267 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,760 Speaker 1: to go twelve and four, And you know, was there 268 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: anything besides the emotional temperature change that he was able 269 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 1: to execute in the media or were there things that 270 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: you guys did on the field differently during that home 271 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 1: stretch now you know, just you have to remember that 272 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:03,320 Speaker 1: that remember a little the carnival in our division back 273 00:14:03,360 --> 00:14:07,520 Speaker 1: then that that's how far back? Yeah, yeah, So like 274 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: you're you're seeing different teams, and like I said, it 275 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,840 Speaker 1: just we just had a better lot offensive line, a 276 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: better defense when when you need be. We could run 277 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 1: the ball better than anybody in the league. You know, 278 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:23,800 Speaker 1: we could rush over to two fifty yards in a game. 279 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:26,880 Speaker 1: We could do a lot of different things. I think, 280 00:14:27,000 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: Uh we had like a carry swinging the ball down 281 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 1: the field with money, like I think even Mitchell was 282 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: probably team and even coach Campbell, who's those now about? 283 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: Uh the Troy Company. We had like a lot of 284 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 1: a lot of good players, a lot of talent to guys, 285 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,640 Speaker 1: and we made a lot of plays. So you guys 286 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 1: go twelve and four, you go into the playoffs, and 287 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:53,160 Speaker 1: then what happens, Oh my goodness, you take care of 288 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: the Eagles and then you wipe out the Vikings forty 289 00:14:55,880 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: one nothing in the NFC championship team at Giant Stadium. Alread. Look, 290 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: I've been to many of big games. I've been too 291 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: many places that rocked. That place rocked in that win 292 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: over Sanding of of Minnesota when you destroyed them right 293 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: from the from the opening get go. How much does 294 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,120 Speaker 1: that game kind of you know, come back to you 295 00:15:16,120 --> 00:15:18,000 Speaker 1: every once in a while, because it was certainly one 296 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: of the greatest moments in Meadowlands history. Well, you know, 297 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:26,000 Speaker 1: sometimes when you watch things and was lost to the 298 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 1: to the public and stuff is you don't really understand 299 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,680 Speaker 1: like like why things happen where they do. The Vikings 300 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 1: were a super explosive team that they were. You know, 301 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,000 Speaker 1: Chris Carter said they were a foot running team. They 302 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:39,080 Speaker 1: would get out early and score some points and all 303 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: of a sudden, uh, their defense would would rip you 304 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:45,240 Speaker 1: apart because you were like stopping back the third ball 305 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 1: every down. There was nothing you could do to catch 306 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 1: up with that. You know. The Randy Moss and Chris 307 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:54,720 Speaker 1: Carter duo Dante called Pepper back there and they're flinging 308 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:56,800 Speaker 1: the ball and people were just you were just some 309 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: chase mode the whole time. You can never keep up 310 00:15:58,880 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: with them. What Coach pointed out to us and in 311 00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: in in from sessions, like just watch the defense. I'm like, okay, Well, 312 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: you know, we were just watch the defense and we 313 00:16:10,080 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: watched clips where you know, because they were so far 314 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,800 Speaker 1: ahead that that they were just rushing to pass it 315 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: that the secondary was just like they weren't even we 316 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: were near the right position. He showed us like three 317 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: or four clips and he goes, like, what are they doing? 318 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: Then he goes, yet they're getting a sack. But what 319 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: if they didn't get the sack? What would happen? So 320 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: be a touchdown? He goes, we could score a hundred 321 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,680 Speaker 1: points on these guys. He literally said that, and I 322 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: never heard of co say that in in a football 323 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,880 Speaker 1: park and a football mean And then he walked out 324 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:45,120 Speaker 1: and then Coach Fossil started smiling and walked out of 325 00:16:45,120 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: the room and we sit there looked at each other, 326 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: like a hundred points And that's kind of like the 327 00:16:51,360 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: kind of feeling we had for the entire game. When 328 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 1: we walked in. The defense was fired up, like, hey, yeah, 329 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: you have to start scoring. They'll never get they'll never 330 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,640 Speaker 1: catch a ball, they'll never make a play, and thinking, okay, 331 00:17:01,680 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: you're gonna stop Randy Monson from making plays. Like the 332 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,399 Speaker 1: field is kind of cold back the end, like the 333 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: field still frozen like I think just couldn't handle it. 334 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: They were in duld team be just couldn't handle it. 335 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: It was freezing were their defense wasn't prepared. In the secondary. 336 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: We were like torching him left and right. And if 337 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: krowd was going crazy and the the allowed the crowd got 338 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:25,560 Speaker 1: it seemed like the more players were scored, it was 339 00:17:25,600 --> 00:17:29,480 Speaker 1: just crazy. I remember Carrie Collins telling us after that 340 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,600 Speaker 1: game how he remembered in those days it was a 341 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: fax machine, right, and he remembered getting the game plan 342 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: from Sean Payton that that him and Coach Fossil had designed, 343 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: coming over his fax machine early in the week, looking 344 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 1: at it understanding that, oh my god, this game is 345 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: really gonna be on my shoulders because we're gonna go 346 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 1: out and an attack and wing it. So so so, 347 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:54,880 Speaker 1: I think I think the game plan worked pretty well. 348 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:58,800 Speaker 1: It was It was pretty It was pretty lockdown. I 349 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,400 Speaker 1: think I think that be one of Coach Fossil's great 350 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,720 Speaker 1: this moment with the Giants that game specifically, because it 351 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,680 Speaker 1: was just all the stuff that that that could go right, 352 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:11,560 Speaker 1: being the last probably the game in the stadium, Everything 353 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: that that could go right went right. It was perfect. 354 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:18,800 Speaker 1: Could you compare and contrast the feelings of what you 355 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 1: guys felt at seven and four after the two games 356 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:26,440 Speaker 1: skid compared to the feeling of raising the NFC Championship 357 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: trophy at the end of that Minnesota game. I mean, 358 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,160 Speaker 1: is there any way you could have imagined, Howard? Maybe 359 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:33,439 Speaker 1: you guys knew that you were good enough and you 360 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,200 Speaker 1: could turn it around, But certainly you were getting beaten 361 00:18:36,280 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 1: up outside the walls of the stadium at that point 362 00:18:39,160 --> 00:18:42,679 Speaker 1: to then have the ultimate prize in your building that 363 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: you're going to go to the Super Bowl. Yeah, you know, 364 00:18:46,040 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 1: I think that. You know, again, it's hard because we're 365 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 1: That's part of the job. You gotta talked to the media, 366 00:18:52,440 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 1: you gotta I gotta share information, you gotta do what 367 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:57,439 Speaker 1: we're doing now and talk about inside the walls is 368 00:18:57,480 --> 00:19:00,000 Speaker 1: what doesn't matter. Do you guys believe in each other? 369 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 1: Are you are you supporting each other? Are you willing 370 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: to fight for each other? Like what's going on? Like 371 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:07,200 Speaker 1: I think a big group of us would go out 372 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,119 Speaker 1: the dinner every Thursday night and have dinner together just 373 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,359 Speaker 1: so we could all try to, you know, break bread together, 374 00:19:13,359 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: to keep our mindsets in the set in the right direction, 375 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,720 Speaker 1: pointing in the in the right direction the entire time, 376 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:21,240 Speaker 1: and it kind of and I think it was a 377 00:19:21,240 --> 00:19:23,919 Speaker 1: group and it wasn't just groups or like offensive liarnment. 378 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:27,080 Speaker 1: It wasn't groups or offensive players. It was mixed groups 379 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: of guys that would go out to hang out so 380 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: they the camaraderie was there, that hey, we're gonna get 381 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: it done was there, and it got done. It was fun. 382 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: So when people talk about Jim as a player's coach, 383 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: you would define that more as he said, a good 384 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: environment for you guys, understood how to handle the media 385 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: and understood how to make sure you guys jelled. Is 386 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,800 Speaker 1: that like more of where his strengths lied, although we 387 00:19:51,840 --> 00:19:54,439 Speaker 1: do know he was a very creative, offensive mind with 388 00:19:54,520 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 1: the XS and the os. I think the term player 389 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: coaches is unless hus earned. I think all coaches are 390 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,520 Speaker 1: player coaches. I just think that they're the way they 391 00:20:04,520 --> 00:20:08,480 Speaker 1: go about it. It makes makes some employers happier than others. 392 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:10,919 Speaker 1: I think some guys are tasks and maskers, and some 393 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 1: guys are like higher energy, you know, like a like 394 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:17,960 Speaker 1: Pete Carroll out there in Seattle. High energy guys, guys 395 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:19,919 Speaker 1: like a hundred years old, he's still running up and 396 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 1: down the field spring and yell and clap on his hands, 397 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:25,439 Speaker 1: and people say that's a that's a players coach. But 398 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:27,520 Speaker 1: at the same time, you have players on this team like, man, 399 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:29,640 Speaker 1: this guy is crazy, Like but you have Bill Belichick 400 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 1: who was one a billion Super Bowls, and and and 401 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 1: and Saban who's hey, just do your job. Their player 402 00:20:37,280 --> 00:20:40,439 Speaker 1: coaches too, so like you don't get the idea of 403 00:20:40,440 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: the player coach. I think that the environment that Jim 404 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,960 Speaker 1: creator was a fun, like more lighthearted environment. Uh of 405 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: the environment built on you know, a lot of trust 406 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 1: and being adults and let's get it done and let's 407 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 1: let's keep the energy up. And he was more than 408 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 1: let's keep the energy up guy when it comes down 409 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,879 Speaker 1: to like players coaches kind of at the spirit. He 410 00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:04,560 Speaker 1: made it exciting and fun to come into the locker 411 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:07,240 Speaker 1: room and get it done. It wasn't always Okay, we're 412 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: gonna sure, there's gonna be some rough work today. It 413 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 1: was more, okay, let's go through this. What what what 414 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 1: did he cook up today? What did what did the 415 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:16,400 Speaker 1: cook up today? For us? Today, let's let's go try 416 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:18,880 Speaker 1: to figure it out and have fun work. So so 417 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: if that's what Jim meant to the players and to 418 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: your locker room. What would you say to people outside 419 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: who say, okay, Jim Fossil was the Giants coach for 420 00:21:28,320 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 1: seven years. What was his major contribution to the organization. 421 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,680 Speaker 1: He was the guy who probably ushered in more than 422 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: anybody else the passing game. I think that you know 423 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: that if you watch the Giants through the years and 424 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:48,000 Speaker 1: what's happened and Howard kind of developed. He was a 425 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:54,760 Speaker 1: guy who was the transition from the devastating, tumultuous run 426 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 1: game to like moving it into the passing era. He 427 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: kind of helped us shore us us and that moment 428 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:04,360 Speaker 1: you're you gotta think about coming up with you lose Sims, 429 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: You've got Hosteller, We're still basically running the ball, Hosteler, 430 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: Cavity gets uh ki't Graham, Dave Brown, um, Danny Canal, 431 00:22:13,960 --> 00:22:15,640 Speaker 1: and you know, we had a couple of passes here 432 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:19,040 Speaker 1: and there, but nothing really crazy. Then all of a sudden, 433 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:21,760 Speaker 1: we have Carrie Collins and were slinging the ball, slinging 434 00:22:21,800 --> 00:22:24,119 Speaker 1: the ball, slinging the ball, and then you bring in 435 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,920 Speaker 1: the Kurt Wearing for a hot second, and you got Eli. 436 00:22:27,440 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 1: The passing games is here, like you can see like 437 00:22:31,960 --> 00:22:35,119 Speaker 1: like really, he is the the person that kind of 438 00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: help the transition. Our thanks to Howard Cross for his 439 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:40,720 Speaker 1: memories of Jim Fossil. You can find this show in 440 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 1: our entire podcast network on podcast platforms everywhere at the 441 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:49,080 Speaker 1: giants dot com slash podcasts. Until next time, I'm Paul 442 00:22:49,119 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 1: to Tino. So long, everybody,