Schottenheimer looks to have already won over the Cowboys players, not to mention the Joneses. Oh, and Cowboys Nation seems juiced by it all as well. And now even the national media is coming into the fold.
FRISCO - All offseason, we have heard Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer discuss relationships and the connection he wants to establish with everyone in the building. ... and his goal of overseeing "the greatest culture in sports.''
Now we've been inside The Star, multiple times, to talk to the first-time head coach and to watch his practices and his players.
And everybody who talked the talk is now walking the walk. ... and this goes well beyond buying everybody Whataburger to sending champagne at Osa Odigihizuwa's contract dinner, to going Greek dancing with the QBs.
“I don't know if you ever get it all accomplished, but I feel really good about the offseason program,” Schottenheimer said. “The connection of the guys, offense, defense, special teams, coaches, players, new faces, new personalities, feel really good about that.
"I feel like we've just spent time doing things in the building, away from the building, getting to know each other.
"I think there's been multiple events, all the coaches in different sides of the ball have gotten together away from the building, I think every position group has done that, and that's so important, so I think that's been amazing.”
Yes, and the "amazing'' feel-good extends all the way from here in Frisco to New York City.
Wait ... what?
Schottenheimer looks to have already won over the Cowboys players, not to mention the Joneses.
Oh, and Cowboys Nation seems juiced by it all as well.
And now even the national media is coming into the fold.
ESPN's ‘Get Up’ on Friday reacted to some comments from Schottenheimer at minicamp, and the fellas lined up in support of him and his message.
“That’s Brian Schottenheimer,'' said former GM Mike Tannenbaum. I worked with him for a while. I love him. And you can see why he has the job he has, which is he is confident, he’s relatable.
From reporter Dan Graziano: “Not just Dak Prescott, but I think a lot of players were excited about that hire. My understanding is it went over pretty well in the building, so he’s a guy that is very well-liked and well-respected by the players there.
"Obviously, he’s bringing some level of confidence to this that I’m sure they’re all feeding off of.
"So, it seems to me that the vibes are pretty high in Dallas right now.”
Want to be a skeptic here? There is room for that, as two guys sitting in a studio in Manhattan or Bristol or Los Angeles can't really have a feel for what's happening here in Frisco.
But ...
That doesn't mean the "Get Up'' guys are wrong.
Said Schotty to close the minicamp: "I called the guys up today and I told them, 'Hey, a couple things. No. 1: Take care of yourself, take care of your families. Hang with the ones you love,' and then I told them I love them. And I got a little emotional. These guys gave us everything that we've asked for this spring and I think they'll do that when we get started out in Oxnard.''
It's extremely early in Schottenheimer's tenure as head coach; if he doesn't win in Week 1 at Philadelphia, the "vibes'' might feel a bit different. And if he doesn't lead Dallas to the playoffs?
The "high vibes'' become a "hot seat.''
But right now? Schotty feels good about the offseason program, and based on everything we've seen and heard, so should Cowboys watchers ... from here to New York City.
