Troy Aikman

Troy Kenneth Aikman ( born November 21, 1966 in West Covina, California ) Nickname: " Roy " or " The Godfather " is a former American professional American football player at the position of quarterback. He played in the National Football League ( NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys, which he led to three Super Bowl victories, and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Playing career

High School

Aikman family moved from California to Henryetta, Oklahoma. With twelve years Aikman played there in high school football, but first came to the position of a Full Backs to use, even though he had already played quarterback in California. Then in the second year he was able to change the position of the quarterbacks, because he was able to throw a football 65 yards far from the state. Aikman in the game was the calm in person and was therefore called by his coach as " Iceman". Even in high school he was appointed to the national team.

College

Troy Aikman had to decide at an early age between baseball and American football. Immediately after high school, to which he had played baseball, an offer of the New York Mets in front of him. However, Aikman decided on a career as a football player, as was offered a scholarship in 1984 for a training camp of his later Head Coach Barry Switzer him.

Aikman played in 1985 and 1986, first two years of college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, the college team from the University of Oklahoma. In Oklahoma Aikman ran as a starting quarterback, but lost this position due to an injury but to Jamelle Holieway. The Sooners were able to win with Holieway 1985 NCAA Championship. As the head coach of the Sooners, Barry Switzer, was forced with Holieway as a quarterback to change the game system - there was more emphasis on the running game - and Holieway klarkam well with the new system, Aikman looked at the Sooners no future and changed in 1986 for three years to the UCLA Bruins, the team from the University of California, Los Angeles, after he had knocked out an offer from the University of Miami.

The Bruins put on their game system more emphasis on the passing game, which Aikman came to meet. After he was due to his move still locked in the first year and thereby extended his college studies at five years, 1987 and 1988, he could play for the Bruins as a starting quarterback. In 1987 he won with his team the Aloha Bowl with 20:16 against the team from the University of Florida. On January 2, 1989, he again won a Bowl game, this time the Bruins played in Dallas at the Cotton Bowl and won against the University of Arkansas with 17:3. During his college days in California threw Aikman, who attracted attention through his sovereign game design, a total of 41 touchdown passes and had the third-highest quarterback rating in the history of American College Sport Association ( NCAA).

NFL

1989 Aikman was selected in 1989 by the then worst team in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys as the first player in the NFL Draft. The new owner of the Cowboys, Jerry Jones, who had dismissed the legendary coach Tom Landry shortly after the signing of Aikman, Jimmy Johnson established as the new head coach of the team. You succeeded by a clever purchasing policy and by the release of older players, such as the running back Herschel Walker, in exchange for draft rights of other teams, to reinforce the Cowboys successively by young, success- hungry players. As rookies drafted, or is required by other clubs were among other things the running back Emmitt Smith, wide receiver Alvin Harper, the fullback Daryl Johnston, Jay Novacek the tight end or offensive tackle Erik Williams. Furthermore, the succeeded already played at the Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin to overcome a torn ACL. He developed into one of the best pass receivers NFL history. The quarterback Aikman, who had not sustained a serious shoulder injury in the first season and at times had to be replaced by Steve Walsh, so were a great offensive line and several outstanding ball carrier and pass receiver. After the defense has been greatly improved, the foundation was laid for the success of the team. It developed into one of the most dominant football team of the 90s and had Troy Aikman one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history.

Aikman won with his team three times in the Super Bowl - in the final game of the 1992 season in Super Bowl XXVII against the Buffalo Bills at 52:17, in the final game of the 1993 season in Super Bowl XXVIII again against the team from Buffalo to 30:13 and in the final game of the 1995 season in Super Bowl XXX with his new head coach and former coach in college, Barry Switzer, against the Pittsburgh Steelers at 27:17. Alone in this game, get him four touchdowns without a single interception.

1994 was also a very financially successful year for Aikman. With an annual salary of one million dollars, he was one of the worst paid ordinary quarterbacks in the league. The owner of the Cowboys, Jerry Jones, who planned on a long time with Aikman, then extended the contract until the end of the millennium and guaranteed Aikman an income of 50 million U.S. dollars. Eleven million of which was paid to him immediately as earnest money.

Despite his outstanding athletic achievements Aikman was not career undisturbed. Thus, the accumulated injuries. In particular, concussions made ​​him a hard time. Ultimately, it was also such a violation that contributed to the premature end of the career quarterbacks in 2000. LaVar Arrington, Linebacker of the Washington Redskins had hit him so hard that he had violated the playing field. After this last concussion he ended his career.

In his professional career Aikman reach 165 touchdown passes during the regular season with 141 interceptions. He thus achieved a space gain of 32 942 yards. There are also nine touchdowns, he could Walk itself. In the play-offs He scored 24 touchdowns on 17 interceptions. 63.7 % of his passes could be in play-off games caught by their own players. At the time of his resignation Troy Aikman held a total of 47 Passport records of the Dallas Cowboys (partly together with other players ).

Awards (selection)

In the years 1991-1996 Aikman played six times in the Pro Bowl and was elected three times to the All- Pro. Aikman was elected to his first Super Bowl to the Super Bowl MVP. He was named after his career in the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor was added. For his achievements he was in the Pro Football Hall of Fame elected in 2006. He was appointed to the UCLA Hall of Fame in 1999. From the newspaper, The Sporting News, he was voted one of the top 100 football players of all time. Aikman received numerous awards as a football player in high school and college. 2008 Aikman was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. He is a member of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

After the career

Aikman remained true to his sport after his pro career. So moderated and analyzing the radio, as well as in several TV sports programs. In addition, he was until 2009 with Roger Staubach owner of the NASCAR teams Hall of Fame Racing. Since 2009, Aikman is co-owner of the San Diego Padres.

The country music fan Aikman is married and has three children, including a step-daughter from his first marriage to his wife. Aikman is socially engaged, trying to hold children through lectures from smoking and has its own foundation, the promotion of children and young people dedicated to.

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