Lions learn about Troy Aikman
By LESTER MURRAY news2@kilgorenewsherald.com

GREGG COLLINS

The Kilgore Lions Club was treated to a little personal history about retired quarterback, Troy Aikman.

Gregg Collins, the first sports writer to cover Aikman when Aikman was still in his infancy as an athlete and who has become very good friends with the quarterback.

Collins said he first met the young athlete on August 6, 1981 when Aikman transferred to Henrieta, Ok. as a seventh grader.

Aikman's first love at that time was baseball according to Collins. "He played all sports as he grew through high school, but in his senior year he was offered a contract with the Cincinnati Reds Baseball organization to play right out of high school," said Collins.

Aikman has already developed into quite the football player as well, even though his high school records, playing for the Henrieta Fighting Hens, was not that impressive, his play was said Collins.

Aikman's father, Kenneth, felt Troy should go to college and that playing football would be more lucrative then baseball said Collins. "Once Troy decided to go football the recruiting wars begin in Henrieta for the 17 year old quarterback," said Collins.

Collins said it was quite exciting in those times as editor of the Henrieta paper, coaches like Barry Switzer and Heisman Trophy winning players would come to see Troy and stop by the newspaper.

When it was all said and done, Troy decided to go to the University of Oklahoma and play for Switzer, but in his sophomore year Troy broke his leg in a game which ultimately decided his career in Oklahoma said Collins. "After a change in the offense when Troy was replaced, Troy decided to transfer to another college, and the final decision was UCLA," said Collins. "Troy had two good years there and was picked up in the draft by the Dallas Cowboys," said Collins.

Collins said everyone knows about Troy as an athlete with the Cowboys, but what they don't know is how caring and giving Troy is in real life. "On a personal note, my sister drove to a Dallas Cowboy training camp with her two sons to hopefully meet Troy, but the crowds were loud and enormous, so the family made a sign which read 'Gregg Collins is my uncle and we would like to meet you'," said Collins. "As Troy was walking off the field he noticed the sign, stopped what he was doing, came over to my family and invited them inside, got them autographs of some of the biggest players on the Cowboys and gave them free passes in his personal box to two games."

Gregg said on August 1 of this year, Troy will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and myself and my family have been invited to attend.