Larry Cole
Encyclopedia
Larry Rudolph Cole is a former American football
defensive lineman in the National Football League
who played his entire professional career with the Dallas Cowboys
. He played in five Super Bowl
s, winning Super Bowl VI
and XII
. Cole played college football
at the University of Hawaii
, Air Force
, and Houston
.
.
Although he finished playing at University of Hawaii
, Cole was a one-year transfer from the United States Air Force Academy
, where he started his college career. He later graduated from the University of Houston
.
by the Dallas Cowboys
as an offensive tackle, but was switched to the defensive line during training camp.
Dave Edwards nicknamed him "Bubber Frank", which later evolved into "Bubba". Cole made an immediate impact, playing in all 14 games and scoring 2 defensive touchdowns his rookie season. During the middle of the season, an injury to Willie Townes
moved him to the starting left defensive end
position. As a player, he was said to be as smart as they come, with a great work ethic. He was a versatile player, playing different positions along the defensive line during his career.
Cole was overshadowed as a defensive lineman by not one, but two generations of great players: first Bob Lilly
, Jethro Pugh
and George Andrie
; then Randy White
, Harvey Martin
and Ed "Too Tall" Jones. Cole started at left end for the Cowboys in their first two Super Bowls, Super Bowl V
(a loss to the Baltimore Colts
) and Super Bowl VI
(a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins
). In Super Bowl X
vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers
, Cole moved to right tackle to replace the retired Lilly and allow youngsters Martin and Jones to start at end.
White took over the starting position at right tackle in Super Bowl XII
, relegating Cole to a reserve role in the Cowboys' 27-10 victory over the Denver Broncos
. Cole returned to the starting lineup at left tackle alongside White for Super Bowl XIII
when age caught up with Pugh. During his career, he made some of the biggest defensive plays in the history of the Cowboys franchise. Probably his most famous play, was the tackle of hall of famer-to-be John Riggins
, that set up one of the most dramatic wins in Cowboys history on December 16, 1979
. As it turned out, it was the last of Roger Staubach
's comebacks.
Although he is recognized as a run specialist, he had the athletic ability to be unofficially credited with a career total of 60 sacks
, which ranks him 9th on the Cowboys all-time sacks
list. The NFL didn't start recognizing quarterback sack
s as an official stat until 1982
, however, the Cowboys have their own records, dating back before the 1982
season.
Cole was a member of the "Zero Club" which prided itself on performing behind the scenes. Their first rule, "Thou Shalt Not Seek Publicity", kept their members (Cole, Blaine Nye
and Pat Toomay
) out of the limelight.
He scored 4 touchdowns during his career (3 interception returns and 1 fumble
return), all coming against the rival Washington Redskins
. His 3 interceptions returns for touchdowns, is tied for second in the Cowboys career record book. His last season, he returned an interception for a touchdown
against the Redskins on 23 November 1980. When he retired after playing 13 seasons, asked about the 11-year hiatus between his third and fourth NFL touchdowns, he replied: "Anyone can have an off decade".
He retired at the end of the 1980 season
, becoming along with D.D. Lewis, the first three-decade players in franchise history. He is one of only eight NFL players who have played in five Super Bowl
s: (V
, VI
, X
, XII
and XIII
). Cole helped the Cowboys win 2 Super Bowl
s and 5 NFC
Championships. He played in 26 total playoff games, a record when he retired.
After Football he became a Real Estate Developer. http://www.larrycolecommunities.com/default.asp
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive lineman in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
who played his entire professional career with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. He played in five Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s, winning Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 regular season...
and XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
. Cole played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
, Air Force
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
, and Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
.
Early days
He attended Granite Falls High School in Minnesota. Granite Falls merged with other schools, creating a new one called Yellow Medicine East High SchoolYellow Medicine East High School
Yellow Medicine East High School is a small town high school located at 450 9th Avenue, Granite Falls, Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. As of the 2009-2010 academic year, the school had 263 students. The school mascot is the "Sting," which resembles the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket...
.
Although he finished playing at University of Hawaii
University of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
, Cole was a one-year transfer from the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
, where he started his college career. He later graduated from the University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
.
Professional career
He was drafted in the sixteenth round of the 1968 NFL Draft1968 NFL Draft
The 1968 National Football League Draft was part of the Common Draft, in the second year in which the NFL and AFL held a joint draft of college players on January 30–31.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
as an offensive tackle, but was switched to the defensive line during training camp.
Dave Edwards nicknamed him "Bubber Frank", which later evolved into "Bubba". Cole made an immediate impact, playing in all 14 games and scoring 2 defensive touchdowns his rookie season. During the middle of the season, an injury to Willie Townes
Willie Townes
Willie Carroll Townes is a former professional American football defensive end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1966 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Tulsa.-Early years:Willie Townes was born on July 21, 1943...
moved him to the starting left defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
position. As a player, he was said to be as smart as they come, with a great work ethic. He was a versatile player, playing different positions along the defensive line during his career.
Cole was overshadowed as a defensive lineman by not one, but two generations of great players: first Bob Lilly
Bob Lilly
Robert Lewis Lilly is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League and photographer. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.-College career:...
, Jethro Pugh
Jethro Pugh
Jethro Pugh, Jr. is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys.-College career:...
and George Andrie
George Andrie
George Joseph Andrie is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. Andrie prepped at Catholic Central High School.-College career:...
; then Randy White
Randy White
Randy White may refer to:*Randy White , American football player*Randy White , American basketball player*Randy White , Canadian politician and accountant...
, Harvey Martin
Harvey Martin
Harvey Banks Martin was an American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys from 1973 until 1983. He started playing football in high school, only because he overheard his father tell his mother that he was ashamed that his son did not play like his friends'...
and Ed "Too Tall" Jones. Cole started at left end for the Cowboys in their first two Super Bowls, Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V was an American football game played on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1970 regular season...
(a loss to the Baltimore Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
) and Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 regular season...
(a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
). In Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X was an American football game played on January 18, 1976 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1975 regular season....
vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, Cole moved to right tackle to replace the retired Lilly and allow youngsters Martin and Jones to start at end.
White took over the starting position at right tackle in Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
, relegating Cole to a reserve role in the Cowboys' 27-10 victory over the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Cole returned to the starting lineup at left tackle alongside White for Super Bowl XIII
Super Bowl XIII
Super Bowl XIII was an American football game played on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1978 regular season...
when age caught up with Pugh. During his career, he made some of the biggest defensive plays in the history of the Cowboys franchise. Probably his most famous play, was the tackle of hall of famer-to-be John Riggins
John Riggins
Robert John Riggins, nicknamed "The Diesel", is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992....
, that set up one of the most dramatic wins in Cowboys history on December 16, 1979
1979 NFL season
The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...
. As it turned out, it was the last of Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
's comebacks.
Although he is recognized as a run specialist, he had the athletic ability to be unofficially credited with a career total of 60 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, which ranks him 9th on the Cowboys all-time sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
list. The NFL didn't start recognizing quarterback sack
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
s as an official stat until 1982
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
, however, the Cowboys have their own records, dating back before the 1982
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
season.
Cole was a member of the "Zero Club" which prided itself on performing behind the scenes. Their first rule, "Thou Shalt Not Seek Publicity", kept their members (Cole, Blaine Nye
Blaine Nye
Blaine Francis Nye is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League and founder and president of Stanford Consulting Group, Inc...
and Pat Toomay
Pat Toomay
Patrick Jay Toomay was an American football defensive end who played 10 years in the National Football League for four different teams: the Dallas Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Oakland Raiders...
) out of the limelight.
He scored 4 touchdowns during his career (3 interception returns and 1 fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
return), all coming against the rival Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. His 3 interceptions returns for touchdowns, is tied for second in the Cowboys career record book. His last season, he returned an interception for a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
against the Redskins on 23 November 1980. When he retired after playing 13 seasons, asked about the 11-year hiatus between his third and fourth NFL touchdowns, he replied: "Anyone can have an off decade".
He retired at the end of the 1980 season
1980 NFL season
The 1980 NFL season was the 61st regular season of the National Football League.After the league declined to approve the proposed move by the Raiders from Oakland, California to Los Angeles, the team along with the Los Angeles Coliseum sued the NFL for violating antitrust laws...
, becoming along with D.D. Lewis, the first three-decade players in franchise history. He is one of only eight NFL players who have played in five Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s: (V
Super Bowl V
Super Bowl V was an American football game played on January 17, 1971, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1970 regular season...
, VI
Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 regular season...
, X
Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X was an American football game played on January 18, 1976 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1975 regular season....
, XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
and XIII
Super Bowl XIII
Super Bowl XIII was an American football game played on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1978 regular season...
). Cole helped the Cowboys win 2 Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s and 5 NFC
NFC
NFC may refer to:* Nagacorp FC, a Cambodian sporting club* National Finance Center, a division of the United States Department of Agriculture* National Football Conference, a constituent conference of the National Football League...
Championships. He played in 26 total playoff games, a record when he retired.
After Football he became a Real Estate Developer. http://www.larrycolecommunities.com/default.asp