THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 2, 1995 TAG: 9510020140
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Bob Molinaro
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium: 74 lines
Nate Newton, the gabby, gargantuan Dallas guard, was the last Cowpoke to leave the locker room at RFK Stadium Sunday.
``It's a long way away, but it's coming,'' he said of the Redskins' trip to Texas Stadium in December. ``They're coming to the house. We'll be ready. You watch.''
Before the start of this post-rivalry Redskins-Cowboys game, very few could have imagined a scenario in which the visitors would leave plotting revenge. Or would have to endure the sight of the Redskins celebrating as if they had just won a trip to Disney World.
``You do that when you're rebuilding,'' said Newton. ``Every win is big. You gotta celebrate. You can't help yourself. I did the same thing when we were coming up.''
Now that Dallas has come up so far that it can afford to add Deion Sanders as a high-priced accessory, it takes more than a victory within the NFC East to move the Cowboys to cheers. The Dallas-San Francisco rivalry has eclipsed all others in the NFL, including the one between Dallas and Washington, recently considered deceased.
Then again, it's never too late to exhume the spirit of what used to be. Perhaps the Redskins' victory over the Cowboys is the first sign of the rivalry's renewal.
In any case, Newton thinks so.
``The rivalry's back on,'' he said. ``The rivalry's back on, baby. ---- the 49ers.''
Give Newton credit for trying to jump-start the '90s version of Cowboys and Indians. What comes of this may depend on how the Redskins do against Dallas when Troy Aikman is in the lineup.
``We wouldn't have beaten them if Troy Aikman had played today,'' insisted Cowboys coach Barry Switzer following his team's 27-23 loss.
That a lot of people buy this theory is a testament to the play of the Redskins on both offense and defense.
``I don't think it would have been any different with Troy,'' said Cowboys defensive tackle Russell Maryland. ``We didn't run the ball that well and we sure didn't stop them from running the ball.''
For a few of the Cowboys, the key to this game was not the absence of their injured quarterback, but the influence of the Redskins' head coach, a former Dallas assistant.
``Norv Turner did a great job,'' said safety Darren Woodson, who ran back a Gus Frerotte interception for a touchdown. ``He knows better than anyone how to stop us.''
Said Emmitt Smith: ``They came out with a great game plan on both offense and defense, and with the special teams, too. We didn't win one of the three phases.''
The Cowboys accepted the loss with cool professionalism, though one too many mentions of Aikman's calf problem sent Switzer on a rant.
``We're not a one-man football team,'' he said. ``We've got to be able to win without Troy or Emmitt or Michael (Irvin). There are 52 men on this team. Troy doesn't play defense, does he? Well, that's what I mean.''
Aikman's replacement is five months shy of his 37th birthday. Still, ancient Wade Wilson had the Cowboys on the 5-yard line when Switzer gave away his team's best chance to tie the game.
On fourth and goal, Switzer ordered a field goal, gambling that Dallas could get the ball back from the Redskins and score a touchdown. He expected the Cowboys to do all this in the final 4:20.
``Yeah, when you look back on it now, we know we should have (gone for it),'' he said. ``Go get 'em out of the locker room. We'll get out there and line up again.''
It comes to mind that Switzer may be totally ignorant of the old Redskins-Cowboys rivalry. No doubt, before the teams line up again at Texas Stadium, he'll hear more about it. by CNB