Southlake Style sitsbrdown with Russell Maryland
Exactly two decades ago Russell Maryland was considered bybrmany as one of the best defensive lineman in the country. A two time All-American defensive tackle atbrthe University of Miami, he completely dominated the competition at the highestbrcollegiate levels. Running a 4.8 second 40 yard dash at just under 300 pounds,brRussell was a shining example of immense power and speed. Perhaps his starbrshined no brighter than his senior year of 1990 when he compiled 10.5 sacks andbr96 tackles. The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) honored Russellbrthat season with the coveted Outland Trophy solidifying his place as collegebrfootball's best interior lineman.
That same year the #5 ranked Hurricanes faced off againstbrthe #3 Texas Longhorns in the 1991 Cotton Bowl. In an outstanding New Year'sbrDay performance, Russell tallied 9 tackles, including 3 sacks, as thebrHurricanes defense stifled the Longhorns in a 46-3 rout. The year was off to abrgreat start and only got better after Russell became the #1 draft pick of thebrDallas Cowboys in the ensuing 1991 NFL draft. He wasted no time acclimatingbrhimself to the NFL and immediately made an impact on the Cowboys defensebrplaying in all 16 games in his rookie season. By his second season, he was abrfull time starter wreaking havoc on the front lines and helping the Cowboys bringbrhome the first of three Super Bowl Championships in the 1990's.
1993 was another stellar year culminating in a second SuperbrBowl Championship. In arguably his best season as a Cowboy, Russell set abrcareer high in tackles en route to a Pro Bowl selection. More importantly, hebrand teammates; Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin set the tone for an eventual thirdbrchampionship in 1995 thus making NFL history and establishing the 1990's as abrdecade of dominance for the Dallas Cowboys.
Decorated and proven at the highest levels of competition RussellbrMaryland's collegiate and professional football career was nothing short ofbrimpressive. In addition to three Super Bowl rings, the former consensusbrAll-American and #1 draft pick played in 154 NFL games tallying 24.5 sacks andbr375 tackles. He retired in 2000 and was enshrined in the University of MiamibrHall of Fame in 2001.
Exactly two decades later…
It's 6:00 am in Southlake and Russell Maryland still gets upbrearly – except now-a-days it's to run down the school bus and not opposingbrquarterbacks. Today, Russell tows the line for his wife of 16 years Rose andbrtheir three children; Kyra (13), Iris (10) and R.J. (6). In honor of the bigbrgame coming to North Texas, I recently sat down with Russell to reminisce aboutbrhis Super Bowl experiences, life after football in Southlake, and what it takesbrto be a championship dad.
Southlake Style: What were your most memorable Super Bowl moments?
Russell Maryland: Notbrmany are fortunate enough to go to one Super Bowl, let alone three. I considerbrmyself very lucky to have played in three Super Bowls. The first one wasbrdefinitely the most memorable. It felt great to be there representing thebrCowboys. Back then we were a young team and everything just seemed to be in abrfog, but what I remember most are the practices the week leading up to thebrgame. We had great practices where we had to simulate the no huddle offense ofbrJim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills. In practice, Coach Johnson had two separatebrsquads on offense, so we would make one play then hustle over to the otherbrfield for the next play.
SS: Sounds like a lotbrof hard work in preparation?
RM: We feltbrgreat. The practices were crisp and we were focused.
SS: What else really sticks out?
RM: Having mybrmom, dad and wife-to-be there sharing the experience with me.
SS: Did they give youbrany words of advice?
RM: In Chicagobrgrowing up, both of my parents had a great work ethic and they passed it on tobrme. My dad worked for Chrysler Corp and really blazed a trail for AfricanbrAmericans in our area. My mom worked as an accountant for the city’s policebrdepartment. My dad said what he always said to us as kids, “Son… you’ve got tobrwork hard. You have to outwork everyone else.”
SS: And you took thatbrwith you as you ran out onto the field before kickoff? What did it feel like tobrrun out on the field for the Super Bowl?
RM: (laughing) The offensebralways gets introduced and runs onto the field. I really remember the fly overbrjust before kick-off. I said to myself, “It’s time. We’re ready. We’re here.” Itbrwould have been nice to be introduced, but I wouldn’t change a thing, we stillbrwon.
We were a team of 53 and everybrSuper Bowl team has its superstars. We had Troy [Aikman], Emmitt [Smith] andbrMike [Irvin]. I had the best seat in the house. It was a blessing to watchbrthose guys go to work. We had a nucleus on defense too. Tony Tolbert, JimbrJeffcoat and Leon Lett were some greats. I put myself in that category too. Ibrwas one of a great 53.
SS: How about standing victorious afterward?
RM: It wasbrunbelievable, grown men were crying and kissing the ground, there was lots ofbrelation. We were all congratulating each other and saying, “Let’s do it again!”brOh, then we poured Gatorade on Coach Johnson, we got to mess up his hair!
SS: It's been 20bryears since you were the #1 Draft pick of the Cowboys and 10 years since youbrhung up your cleats, how has the game changed from when you played?
RM: The numberbrone thing is the money. As a number one pick myself I can’t complain, butbrnumber ones in 2011 will see dozens of millions more. When guys make that muchbrmoney they wield a lot of power in a franchise and that doesn’t always bodebrwell for working relationships. It remains to be seen if all the money willbrhave an ill effect on the game. Even though most players still come to work andbrwork hard each day, some guys make a lot of money and refuse to get better…itbrhurts teams and coaches. I definitely sympathize with today’s coaches.
SS: But with the moneybralso comes a lot of attention and scrutiny, wouldn't you agree? Today's playersbrhave even more to deal with outside the lines than ever before.
RM: True. When Ibrwas coming up the February combines were more like a meat market. Players werebrphysically checked from head to toe. Now-a-days a players emotional andbrpsychological background play a very important role in their future. Teams nowbrdelve into their draft picks backgrounds to find out what makes them tick. Makebra wrong decision and the media will be all over them.
That's another thing, the amount media has blown up and theybrall want to have their take on the game. There is immediacy for informationbramongst the “cyber-instigators”. Nobody needs to know what players are doingbr24/7.
SS: I agree, but withbrmoney comes celebrity. I could live without knowing whether or not Dez Bryantbrwas carrying someone's pads at practice though.
RM: That whole situation was overanalyzed andbrblown way out of proportion. In 1991 something like that would have beenbrhandled in house. Today it’s done in the media.
SS: We can all agreebrthat the Super Bowl coming to Texas is a great thing. What are you looking forward to most aboutbrSuper Bowl week in your backyard?
RM: I am looking forward to many of thebrevents. It’s been a great pleasure of mine to work with the Super Bowl HostbrCommittee. Working alongside those who have been planning this year’s SuperbrBowl has given me a whole new perspective. As a player it was only my job tobrshow up at certain events and the game itself, now I have seen what goes intobrmaking it all happen and it gives me a new respect for what is done behind thebrscenes. I’ve worked with the Super Bowl Legends Action Team and SLANT-45 andbrI’m also looking forward to the Super Bowl Breakfast, the Host Committee Partybrand the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration and the Taste of the NFL.
SS: Will you be goingbrto the game or watching from your home in Southlake?
RM: We’ll bebrgoing to the game. I have little choice, my oldest daughter is in love withbrJustin Bieber and she is hoping he will be there too! Seriously, we’re lookingbrforward to the game and all the excitement.
SS: So the wholebrfamily is going, that's a table for…?
RM: Five. My wife Rose and my three children Kyra (13), Irisbr(10) and R.J. (6).
SS: What's a typicalbrday like in the Maryland homestead?
RM: Family is big with me and my wife and webrlove watching our kids grow up. With one at Eubanks, one at Dawson, and one atbrRockenbaugh we have a wide array of teachers and extracurricular activitiesbrthat keep us busy.
Typically, I get up around 6:00 am and get the kids readybrfor school. We like to start the day with good food. My wife says I make a meanbrbreakfast and keep a mean kitchen. The kids enjoy pancakes, biscuits and mybrspecial chicken, egg and cheese pannini. Then it's off to the bus stop withbrR.J. and driving the girls to their schools.
SS: And while thebrkids are at school?
RM: It's a bigbrchallenge keeping my weight off. I love to eat and luckily I love to work outbrtoo. At 41 years old the body starts to break down a little and for footballbrplayers it can be exponentially faster. I hit the weights with a trainer threebrtimes a week and five days a week I take a one hour walk.
After that I'm usually fielding phone calls and emails at mybroffice. There are always many opportunities to be involved with the community.brI do my best to take part in charitable organizations where I can do more thanbrjust be a “pretty face” (laughing). Ibrdon’t just like to lend my name, I want to be hands on and have an affinity forbrwhat they are doing.
SS: We've seen youbraround quite a bit. What organizations have you been involved with locally?
RM: Locally, Ibrserved as a founding member of Digging for Dragons, a grass roots organizationbrthat aims to expand educational opportunities for our kids. Since we startedbrwe’ve made remarkable strides and have distributed hundreds of thousands ofbrdollars to the CISD. I’ve also been involved with Southlake Youth Football, ThebrCowboys of Color Museum in Fort Worth and Summer Santa to name a few.
SS: And when the kidsbrcome back home?
RM: I’m busierbrthan I ever thought I would be. When the kids get back home I completely shutbrdown whatever I’m doing. I get lots of questions and lots of attention from thebrkids. Then it’s off to one of our manybractivities. For the girls, it has been cross country, track, dance andbrcheerleading. I know all the cheers! Forbrmy son R.J.; football, soccer, tae, kwon do, tennis and basketball are hisbrfavorites. I’ve even done some assistant coaching to help out.
Contrary to what many believe his demeanor maybrhave been on the field, Rose says of Russell, “He is both gentle and kind. He'sbrpatient with the kids and has a tender way. I got lucky and couldn't havebrpicked a better father for my children.” Together he and Rose share strongbrfamily values and during my visits it was easy to see what a warm and welcomingbrhome they have created. From Super Bowl Champion to Super Dad, Russell Marylandbrpassionately takes it all in with a smile as big as Cowboys Stadium