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Wednesday, December 10, 1997

Is Barry on the way out?

By MIKE BALDWIN

The Daily Oklahoman

IRVING, Texas - It's not the first time Barry Switzer has dealt with rumors he will be fired. But it's the first time he's experienced a three-game losing streak and a non-winning season.

Now that the Dallas Cowboys are essentially eliminated from the NFC playoffs, the biggest question is whether Switzer has only two games remaining in his coaching career. Speculation is that owner Jerry Jones will make a change, but Switzer doesn't sound like a lame-duck coach.

"Yes, I want to be back, and I want to improve this football team," Switzer said. "It's what Jerry wants to do. I want to do what's best for this team and what's best for these players. I don't think changing coaches changes any thing."

Two years removed from a Super Bowl, Dallas is 6-8. Oddly enough, if Jones makes a change, Switzer will probably have some input on selecting his successor.

"When you talk about changes, you're talking about changing the staff. That's drastic changes," Switzer said. "Who does Jerry know out there? He has to rely on other people who have been around football all these years.

"If he ever gets in those areas, I would help him and talk with him openly and candidly. But (changing coaches) might not be what Jerry wants. Jerry might want me here another five years. This is all hypothetical. The bottom line is what Jerry wants is what I want, too."

After Monday night's 23-13 loss to Carolina, Jones said he won't deal with those issues "until way after the season is over." But most observers believe it would be a hard sell for Jones to keep Switzer.

"We certainly have not had the kind of play we're committed to. To be out of it and to not get into the playoffs is extremely disappointing," Jones said. "... I'm not going to address what we're going to do as far as the staff or player personnel is concerned, but we'll right this ship."

Switzer, 60, had to deal with "Bury Barry" bumper stickers in Oklahoma in the early 1980s when the Sooners finished 7-4-1, 8-4 and 8-4 from 1981 to '83. Two years later, he won his third national championship. He might not get an opportunity to help the Cowboys regroup.

Or will he?

"The only way I see improvement is there has to be some changes (on offense)," Switzer said. "I want to help us be successful. I want to help prepare for the draft and be part of the evaluation of talent whether I'm the head coach or not."

Ironically, it's the offense, the one area in which Switzer has minimal input, that could lead to his demise. The defense, which Switzer helps "game plan," is ranked No. 2 in the league. The offense is ranked 20th and is 26th scoring touchdowns.

"No way would I have believed we'd be where we are today," Switzer said. "Injuries have an effect, and so does how you play. Offensively, we've struggled all year. We haven't been close to where we need to be. We may need to make some changes, even change our philosophy."

Some have suggested Switzer no longer has the zeal to continue coaching, that he isn't disciplined enough, and he doesn't pay enough attention to detail. Switzer vehemently disagrees.

"I'm disappointed, I'm sick, I'm nauseated," Switzer said. "The other night I threw up I was so frustrated. ... In the passing game, we just haven't gotten it done. We're a vertical passing game. We run deeper routes. We've been successful doing that, but maybe we need to change."

Switzer has compiled a .788 career winning percentage (202-53-4) at OU and Dallas. Missing the playoffs will be a first for Switzer, who was a perfect 16-for-16 leading his team to a postseason game. The other three years were probation seasons at Oklahoma.

"I wasn't even aware of that," Switzer said. "I don't keep up with records or am even conscious of them unless someone mentions it to me. Maybe I took it for granted, but it's much more difficult at this level."

Since this could be his only losing season, Switzer was asked if he would be disappointed to end his career on such a down note.

"People picking the right time to go out, that's kind of theatrical, Hollywood," Switzer said. "I never think about that."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)