A Brief History of Preseason Pointlessness

SI Staff | Aug 22, 2013

A Brief History of Preseason Pointlessness

1972 COLLEGE ALL-STAR GAME The traditional kickoff to the preseason, played at Soldier Field in Chicago, pitted the reigning NFL champions against a team of former collegiate stars from the previous season. In ’72 Roger Staubach and the Cowboys upheld the league’s honor against the upstarts. SI photographers Walter Iooss Jr. and Heinz Kluetmeier were there. (Walter Iooss Jr./SI)

1972 COLLEGE ALL-STAR GAME The traditional kickoff to the preseason, played at Soldier Field in Chicago, pitted the reigning NFL champions against a team of former collegiate stars from the previous season. In ’72 Roger Staubach and the Cowboys upheld the

JUST A PINCH Fullback Walt Garrison, who would go on to have his only Pro Bowl season in ’72, carried for the Boys. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

JUST A PINCH Fullback Walt Garrison, who would go on to have his only Pro Bowl season in ’72, carried for the Boys. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

DON’T DO IT Staubach was his typical scrambling self . . . (Walter Iooss Jr./SI)

DON’T DO IT Staubach was his typical scrambling self . . . (Walter Iooss Jr./SI)

WE TOLD YOU . . . and took a shot that knocked him out of the game in the second quarter. (Walter Iooss Jr./SI)

WE TOLD YOU . . . and took a shot that knocked him out of the game in the second quarter. (Walter Iooss Jr./SI)

REMIND ME, WHY ARE WE PLAYING? Bob Lilly and Tom Landry appeared less than thrilled with a game that would cost them their No. 1 quarterback. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

REMIND ME, WHY ARE WE PLAYING? Bob Lilly and Tom Landry appeared less than thrilled with a game that would cost them their No. 1 quarterback. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

TAGGE TEAM Lilly took out his frustration on former Nebraska QB Jerry Tagge. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

TAGGE TEAM Lilly took out his frustration on former Nebraska QB Jerry Tagge. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

FUTURE STAR Robert Newhouse of Houston, the Cowboys’ second-round pick that year, carried against the team for which he would play for 12 seasons. (Walter Iooss Jr./SI)

FUTURE STAR Robert Newhouse of Houston, the Cowboys’ second-round pick that year, carried against the team for which he would play for 12 seasons. (Walter Iooss Jr./SI)

FILL-IN Craig Morton took over for Staubach that night, and would end up playing most of the ’72 season after Staubach separated his shoulder two weeks later. (Walter Iooss Jr.)

FILL-IN Craig Morton took over for Staubach that night, and would end up playing most of the ’72 season after Staubach separated his shoulder two weeks later. (Walter Iooss Jr.)

OUT FRONT Penn State’s Lydell Mitchell (24) led the way for Newhouse. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

OUT FRONT Penn State’s Lydell Mitchell (24) led the way for Newhouse. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

CLOSING NIGHT The game was the last in a Cowboys uniform for moody Super Bowl VI star Duane Thomas (33); he would be traded to the Chargers four days later and never play a down in the ’72 season. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

CLOSING NIGHT The game was the last in a Cowboys uniform for moody Super Bowl VI star Duane Thomas (33); he would be traded to the Chargers four days later and never play a down in the ’72 season. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

EVERYBODY CHEER Morton hit Ron Sellers (88) late in the first half to put Dallas up 10-0. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

EVERYBODY CHEER Morton hit Ron Sellers (88) late in the first half to put Dallas up 10-0. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

GOING FOR GOLD Olympic sprint champ and future Hall-of-famer Bob Hayes sped past the kids for a TD catch to give the Boys a 17–0 third-quarter lead. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

GOING FOR GOLD Olympic sprint champ and future Hall-of-famer Bob Hayes sped past the kids for a TD catch to give the Boys a 17–0 third-quarter lead. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

THE WAY TO 1K Calvin Hill got the jump on his first 1,000-yard season in that July ’72 game. (Walter Iooss Jr./SI)

THE WAY TO 1K Calvin Hill got the jump on his first 1,000-yard season in that July ’72 game. (Walter Iooss Jr./SI)

EXPECTING Hill’s son, future NBA star Grant Hill, would be born a little more than two months after Dad faced the collegians. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

EXPECTING Hill’s son, future NBA star Grant Hill, would be born a little more than two months after Dad faced the collegians. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

CONSOLATION Heisman winner Pat Sullivan (7), soon to be a Falcons flop, celebrated the late TD that made the final 20–7 Cowboys. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

CONSOLATION Heisman winner Pat Sullivan (7), soon to be a Falcons flop, celebrated the late TD that made the final 20–7 Cowboys. (Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)