FWST - Cowboys' new strength coach lost out to Deion in first go-round

[sbk92]

The return of Mike Woicik as Cowboys strength coach might be Jason Garrett's attempt to build a bridge to the team intensity the Cowboys had in their Super Bowl days. Or Garrett might be trying to right a wrong.

Wocik was with the Cowboys in the 1990-96 seasons. His firing was thought to be over an incident in which Wocik had a sideline confrontation with Barry Switzer over having Chris Boniol kick a seventh field goal against the Green Bay Packers in a 1996 game that the Cowboys already had won.

But in a 2000 column by the Star-Telegram's Randy Galloway, former Cowboys fullback Daryl Johnston said Woicik was fired mainly over the issue of whether Deion Sanders should be fined for missing conditioning work. Johnston said that Sanders' arrival in 1995 led to the erosion of the Cowboys locker room.

Jeff Pearlman's 2008 book, "Boys Will Be Boys," (HarperCollins) included the incident in which Woick's authority was undermined.

Pearlman wrote:

• When Mike Woicik, the team's gruff strength and conditioning coach, complained about Sanders' indifference, Switzer sided with his new star. "We're talking about Deion Sanders here," Switzer told Woicik. "If he doesn't want to do something, he doesn't have to."
  
  Woicik was speechless. Credited by many players as a key to the back-to-back Super Bowls, Woicik was a no-nonsense taskmaster who demanded maximum effort. "For Mike, anything short of a funeral was an unacceptable excuse to miss a session," says Kevin Smith. "Mike had the personality of a lamp, but if you had to bench press he knew exactly how many you were supposed to do." ...
  
  Throughout the locker room, Woicik was as respected as any Cowboy coach or official. And Deion Sanders had the nerve to treat him … like this?

Woicik back then was reported to come off as too abrasive to many players. But to the Troy Aikmans and Daryl Johnstons, he was a critical component to success.

 

[Cr122]

When Mike Woicik, the team's gruff strength and conditioning coach, complained about Sanders' indifference, Switzer sided with his new star. "We're talking about Deion Sanders here," Switzer told Woicik. "If he doesn't want to do something, he doesn't have to."

See, this is where Barry is wrong.

 

[sbk92]

This is why I waffle on Deion Sanders. No question he was a once in a lifetime talent that won us that 3rd Super Bowl but he also had superstar syndrome and really led to the circus the team ultimately became. Discipline went out the window with Switzer and Deion.

 

[Cr122]

This is why I waffle on Deion Sanders. No question he was a once in a lifetime talent that won us that 3rd Super Bowl but he also had superstar syndrome and really led to the circus the team ultimately became. Discipline went out the window with Switzer and Deion.

I couldn't agree more. Sorry.

 

[Midswat]

"We're talking about Deion Sanders here," Switzer told Woicik. "If he doesn't want to do something, he doesn't have to."

lol

Unbelievable.

 

[Cr122]

lol

Unbelievable.

Switzer is an idiot. He's just lucky Jimmy gave him a good team.

 

[DoomsdayDefense]

I don't like Switzer, but I side with him on kicking that field goal. If you have a chance to set an NFL record, then do it. That's a once in a lifetime opportunity Sportsmanship is for elementary school.

 

[sbk92]

I wonder what Irvin thought about all that.

He and Deion are like brothers. But Mike is about as dedicated and hard working a teammate as you'll ever find in any sport. We're not talking about a drug problem off the field. We're talking about being lazy and feeling entitled on it.

He had to be conflicted watching that going on.

 

[dbair1967]

I wonder what Irvin thought about all that.

He and Deion are like brothers. But Mike is about as dedicated and hard working a teammate as you'll ever find in any sport. We're not talking about a drug problem off the field. We're talking about being lazy and feeling entitled on it.

He had to be conflicted watching that going on.

Its funny, because there are stories that Irvin loved Switzer. Initially everyone remembers how upset he was about Jimmy leaving (throwing the trash cans) and it was Aikman who tried to get teammates to give Switzer a chance. Then after a short period of time it was Aikman who couldnt stand how Switzer was running the team, while several other players had bought into him (Switz).

Some still dont like him, but I'm firmly convinced had we been able to hand over the team to Norv instead of Switzer (Norv left right after the super bowl for Washington, not having any idea what would take place a month or so later between Jimmy and Jerry) we'd have probably won multiple super bowls instead of just one.

 

[Midswat]

My money says Jerry would've still hired Barry, regardless of whether or not Norv was here.

Guess we'll never know.

 

[dbair1967]

My money says Jerry would've still hired Barry, regardless of whether or not Norv was here.

Guess we'll never know.

I dont think so, but like you said we'll never know for sure.


Aikman would have been totally in Norv's camp on that and he obviously had Jerry's ear.

 

[sbk92]

I think a big reason why Switzer was named the coach was to stick it to Jimmy.

 

[Rock Slamdance]

I seem to remember that it was the black players that gravitated to Switzer. He just had a connection with them with his upbringing.

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

I seem to remember that it was the black players that gravitated to Switzer. He just had a connection with them with his upbringing.

I know Bozworth didn't like him. He accused Switzwer of making him take the steroids.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I seem to remember that it was the black players that gravitated to Switzer. He just had a connection with them with his upbringing.

That was back in Oklahoma because he gave them money. I don't think that happened in Dallas.

 

[sbk92]

Switzer quickly gained favor in the locker room with most of the players because he didn't make them work as hard. He was that "player's coach" that "treated them like men" and all that jazz.