DALLAS, Texas – In lieu of the 2019 NFL Draft, former Dallas Cowboys’ star running back and Hall of Fame rusher, Emmitt Smith, launched his No. 22 Tequila Herradura Double Barrel Reposado. The evening was highlighted by a taste testing of the specialty tequila and a draft prediction and analysis discussion between Smith and the Ticket’s, Craig Miller. Proceeds from the event held at the Rustic in Dallas benefited Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities.
I spoke with the beloved Cowboy on the positional priorities for Dallas in the upcoming Draft. The current Cowboys team is similar in structure to the championship era teams in the 90’s that he was the centerpiece of; they are a young team with a strong running attack. What will it take for the Cowboys’ to get back to that level?
Smith remarked, “ Defensively, we need to bring in some depth; build that depth. Even with some of the suspensions we have had thus far, I think it would be great to bring in some other quality people who can sure up that defensive front. Put pressure on the quarterback and give more opportunities to put the ball in their hands (offense). The key for any team’s success through the course of the year is: consistency, great health, and chemistry plays such a big part in the success of any championship team. “
During his NFL career, he had a chance to be a part of an era of greatness and be the driving force behind the team’s triumph that changed the course of history for the Dallas Cowboys. He attained more honors than the average person can even wrap their head around during his Pro Football career: three-time Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl MVP (XXVII), Hall Of Famer, Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor Inductee, eight-time Pro Bowl player, the NFL’s All-Time Leading Rusher, to name a few. However grand his list of accomplishments is, Emmitt is a humble man that acknowledges there are things that happen in life that are not just happenstance. He credits his success and drive to God’s grace and mercy, along with his teammates.
“ I cannot tell anyone how I was singled out of Pensacola Florida and ended up with the team I have always wanted to play for: the Dallas Cowboys. Then to have this illustrious career that I have had along great players like Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, Daryl Johnston, Jay Novacek and on and on and on; Be coached by one of the greatest coaches and to play for the greatest organization in all of sports. To have had those experiences, I cannot tell you how, but I am so thankful that I was chosen to do that. I do say this; I was blessed with determination and relentlessness of being able to go out there. I was not going to be denied. I think that combination of God’s grace and mercy and that will to win, that is what helped me get to that place. I would not have been able to do it without my teammates. No doubt. “
No matter how famed his name became, Emmitt always cherished the way he was raised and what he persevered through. His mother was a driving force reminding him, “no matter how high you go son, do not ever forget where you come from. Always extend a helping hand.”
Thinking back to his childhood once he became the star rusher for America’s Team and a member of the iconic Triplets, is what inspired him and his wife Pat, to start a charity for underprivileged children that are being raised in situations where hope is an unfamiliar term. This idea to merge the two ideals: giving back with a specific focus on funds/ educational and enrichment opportunities for children less fortunate.
“ [Growing Up] I got to see what it would be like to be on the other side of the fence in a house that was 30 something square feet, and be around a family that ate as a family. I saw a lot of things, but I had a sense of hope, if it was even possible for a guy like myself. Then to be able to go along this process and to get to that place, that is what inspires me…my wife, she had something similar to me, so we put them both together and that is how we came up with Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities. That has been the emphasis behind our charity in terms of exposing kids to the boundaries that limit them and taking them places they otherwise might not go, or where their parents might not be able to afford to send them. Experiencing opportunities they might not otherwise see…. With that exposure, it transforms young people’s minds; gives them a sense of hope, where they can see how they fit in the world. “
The tenth annual Celebrity Gala is coming up next week on Friday, May 3rd and is a time of reflection on how Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities has blossomed over the years and the children’s lives it has impacted. A lot can happen in ten years and for No.22, it has not been an easy path. Emmitt lost his mother and father-in-law, as well as additional losses during that timeframe. But his life is a mirror image to his dedication on the football field. He never gave up and his relentless nature, his trust in God, and his family kept him going. His mother became the voice in his head pushing him to continue to make a difference. She has been his reason ‘why’ and the heart and soul of Emmitt Smith Charities, that has gone on to raise more than $8.2 million in support and has collaborated with over 150 charities in North Texas, including 10,000 DISD students and families through their annual back to school program.
Emmitt Smith has applied a motto from a former coach to his life, “ A dream is only a dream, until you write it down and then it becomes a goal.” Since he was drafted by the Cowboys and wrote down three lofty goals, that phrase has manifested itself in his life and is proof that writing a dream down, wills what others deem to be impossible, not only possible but to happen. Now that message is within the minds of thousands of kids throughout the DFW metroplex that have been touched by Emmitt Smith, as well as Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities.
