Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 31, 1994                   TAG: 9403310045
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: IRVING, TEXAS                                LENGTH: Medium

FORMER OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL COACH BARRY SWITZER,

Switzer replaces Jimmy Johnson, whose differences with owner Jerry Jones led to his departure Tuesday from the team he led to consecutive Super Bowl championships.

"This is the happiest day of my professional career," Switzer, sitting beside Jones, said at a news conference at Valley Ranch. "I give my commitment of loyalty, excellence and commitment to make it the best. I look forward to making this a great tenure with the Cowboys."

Jones said: "I feel we have one of the most talented teams that there is in the NFL, if not the most talented team, and one of the best that has ever been put together. I feel very confident that the continuity can be kept in place and be motivated with the new head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Barry Switzer."

Switzer, 56, has never coached in the NFL. He led the Sooners to 12 Big Eight Conference championships in 16 seasons at Oklahoma. He finished with a 157-29-4 record, the best among all active coaches, and he ranks fourth in career winning percentage at .837.

Switzer left Oklahoma in 1989 amid several scandals involving arrests of his players.

Jones and Switzer met all morning Wednesday at Valley Ranch to hammer out details of the contract. Switzer later met with quarterback Troy Aikman and all assistant coaches.

It was Jones' mention of Switzer's name in a barroom conversation in Orlando, Fla., that infuriated Johnson to the point of wanting to leave the Cowboys.

Switzer, a native of Crossett, Ark., has not coached since June 1989, when he said coaching was "no fun anymore."

Aikman and Switzer have had a rocky relationship. Switzer recruited Aikman out of Henryetta, Okla., to come to the Sooners, telling him that they were going to a passing offense. However, Oklahoma stayed in the ground-bound wishbone. Aikman played one game as a freshman in 1984, then started as a sophomore until he broke an ankle against Miami in the fourth game of the season. He transferred at the end of 1985 to UCLA and became the Cowboys' No. 1 draft pick in 1989.