Quick Hits with Jason Witten (Elizabethton Star 5/11/05)

Quick Hits with Jason Witten
By Bill Palmer/ Contributor

There were probably many times in the life of a young Jason Witten when he dreamed of being a player in the NFL. Most young athletes try to emulate some of their favorite players and want to play like them. Whether it be Joe Montana or Emmitt Smith or Jerry Rice, they picture themselves doing great things on Sunday afternoons and hearing the crowds cheer them on. For most, however, they will never see that dream come true. The odds of becoming a professional football player are roughly the same as becoming the President. For Jason, he is living his dream every day.

I had a chance to talk with Jason between practice and position meetings in Oxnard during a particularly tough stretch of training camp this summer. Here are some of his thoughts going into his third season as a Dallas Cowboy.

Jason on football

ES - I know a lot of professional athlete’s will use the off season to work on something about their game that they feel may be able to take them to the next level. Anything specific that you worked on this off-season?
JW - Well, I mean really it’s just being more consistent. I was able to have a good season last year and I’m really just trying to build off that and play more consistently.

ES - How has a veteran like Dan Campbell been able to help you?
JW - Well, he really helped me a lot my first year and now we’re great teammates and he still helps me and it’s really paid off for me.

Jason outside of football

ES - What’s a car that’s not in your garage right now, but one you’ve had your eye on?
JW - Oh man, I don’t know (laughing). I have been looking at some of these Harley-Davidson’s lately. That’d be nice.

ES - Is there anything about Dallas that reminds you of home?
JW - You know, the friendly people are a lot like home. I haven’t found any of the restaurants like in east Tennessee, you know, with home cooked cornbread and all, but it’s really nice though.

Jason on home

ES - I understand your grandfather who coached you in high school recently retired. How special was it for you to play for him before he retired?
JW - It was really special. My brothers and I were fortunate enough to play for him and it’s amazing now looking back how he taught me so many lessons about the game that I still use today, you know. It was an honor to get to play for him and, he basically taught me the game.

ES - Finish this sentence for me, “Oxnard’s great but right about now I sure could go for some of mom’s famous _____”?
JW - Oh, steak and gravy, for sure!

ES - Can you tell me what kind of advantage it may be for you to come from a small town, compared to some of these guys from larger cities?
JW - Well, I mean, I just understand what family is and I think when you’re trying to play on a football team, team unity is huge and that’s kind of the same thing. And coming from a small town, I just have so much support from everyone that it’s always helped me in my career.

ES - Finally, what’s it like when you go back home now? Do you still see any of your high school buddies?
JW – Yea, I do. We just kind of hang out. They’re a bunch of good guys and they really are true friends. Be sure to tell everybody back home hi.

Then, just like that, he was off to another meeting, followed by practice, then another meeting….well…,you get the idea.

This whole NFL thing may not be everything that a young Jason Witten thought it would be. Then again, it may be all that and even more. Coming off a Pro Bowl season and being seen as possibly the biggest threat on a team coached by one of the games best coaches, Jason certainly has got a bright future ahead of him and appears to be up to any challenges that may come his way. He has shown that practice and persistence really can pay off if you have the desire and commitment to follow your dreams. Even in the face of heavy odds.

Hmmmm,… Witten for President? Stay tuned.

By Bill Palmer
b.palmer@dallassportsinsighter.com