TD: Tony Dorsett

Some of the most amazing stories are those that defy all odds. Ones that if you weighed the possibility before they occurred most people would say, No way is that going to happen! Everyone forgot this though when watching the very talented Tony Dorsett.

Tony was the star University of Pittsburgh halfback from 1973 to 1976. The National Football Foundation shares that Tony set a Pitt Panthers record by becoming an All-America halfback three times! As a freshman in 1973 he set a NCAA single-game record with 265 yards on the ground against Northwestern. It was astounding to look back at where he ranked in the national echelon of collegiate rushers. As a freshman he was second, 20th in his sophomore season, as a junior he finished second but in his final year of college eligibility Dorsett was positioned first on the list. In his four seasons as a Panther he amassed 6,082 yards, setting an NCAA record. In the Heisman voting Tony was in the top 13 all four of his seasons winning the coveted trophy in 1976. The College Football Hall of Fame proudly placed a display in honor of TD Tony Dorsett into their legendary museum in 1994. The Dallas Cowboys used some clever trades to work themselves into the position to take Dorsett with the number one pick in the 1977 NFL Draft. Tony repaid the franchise with a splendid career where he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and 1981 first-team All-Pro. Doresett helped the Cowboys emerge as Super Bowl XII champions per an NFL.com article. His career rushing yards of 12,036 rush yards and 72 rushing touchdowns are both the second-most in Cowboys history behind Emmitt Smith. Tony was the 1977 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. He spent 11 seasons in the NFL with Dallas and a final year as a member of the Denver Broncos. Tony Dorsett was one of the newly enshrined honorees at the 1994 Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremonies.

 January 3, 1983, while the football game of the week was as it used to be Monday Night Football. The Dallas Cowboys were visiting the Minnesota Vikings.

America's Team was down 24-13 in the fourth quarter, and the Dallas Cowboys needed a spark to get back in this important NFC game. They were pinned down on the 1-yard line so getting some breathing room was the first order of business for head coach Tom Landry. Tony Dorsett though was dynamite and he was ready to explode!.

There was some miscommunication, though. Cowboys fullback Ron Springs misunderstood the play call, according to ESPN, and ran off to the sideline. Dorsett was without his lead blocker and Dallas only had 10 men on the field. I guess when you have the services of a star rusher, sometimes you don't need a fulback.

Dorsett took the handoff from quarterback Danny White, ran up the A-gap like he was shot out of a cannon through a big hole. The speedster then broke a couple of tackles and took off down the sideline. He nearly stepped out of bounds, too, but stayed in and used a big-time stiff-arm on Willie Teal before finding the end zone.

 Dorsett made history with a 99-yard touchdown run at the very moment his team needed him and did it shorthanded! This was the final game of the strike shortened season and the Cowboys were 6-2. and probably win or lose they were in the playoffs. The Vikings were teetering on the bubble at 4-4 and desperately needed the W to extend their season.

Ron Springs came back in the game on the next series and plunged in for another Cowboys TD to put Dallas up 27-24 late but veteran QB Tommy Kramer led the Viks on a game winning drive when he connected with Ricky Young on a 14 yard strike to seasl the deal for Minnesota in a 31-27 win.

The Cowboys finished with a record of 6 wins and 3 losses, placing them second in the NFC. After losing the season opener to the Pittsburgh Steelers (the first time the Cowboys lost a season opener in 17 years), the Cowboys won the next six, including five after the strike had ended. However, two losses at the end of the regular season cost them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. After beginning their playoff run with victories over the Buccaneers and the Packers, the Cowboys traveled to Washington, where they met defeat at the hands of their arch-rival, the Redskins. It was the third straight season that the Cowboys lost in the NFC championship game. 

The picture in the banner above was taken at the Dallas AT&T Stadium during my tour of the facility in 2021.