Governor's Cup (Texas)

The Texas Governor's Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner of the football game between the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans. The two teams meet in the pre-season in years they do not play in the regular season. The trophy really doesn't signify anything but bragging rights in the state of Texas. The Governors Cup history dates back to the days of the Houston Oilers. In 1991, after 13 straight games at Texas Stadium, the two teams went to a home-and-away format for the preseason. The two teams currently meet every fourth year in the regular season through 2009 also rotating home field advantage. [ [http://www.footballinjuries.com/rotation.htm NFL Schedule Rotation ] ] [ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAD8B7B04CB1E13&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Archives | Austin American-Statesman | Statesman.com ] ]

History

In 1965 the AFL Houston Oilers the NFL Dallas Cowboys both drafted Oklahoma tackle Ralph Neely. The Cowboys sued and won the services of Neely. [http://www.houstonprofootball.com/log/log2.html] In return, the Oilers got three draft picks, some cash - and the chance to play the Cowboys for the first time.The agreement called for three exhibition games, beginning in 1967. So began the Governor's Cup series, a Texas tradition created by franchise free agency. [ [http://www.texnews.com/texsports97/oilers063097.html Texas Sports News ] ]

When the Oilers left for Tennessee after the 1996 season the Governor's Cup was put away until the Houston Texans launched their inaugural campaign on September 8, 2002 against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium. Rookie David Carr hooked up with tight end Billy Miller on the third play from scrimmage for a touchdown and shocked their intrastate rivals 19-10, becoming just the second expansion team ever to win their first regular season game.

Governor's Cup win/loss to 1996

Up to the 1996 season the Dallas Cowboys had won 18 of 31 Governor's Cup meetings leaving the Houston Oilers with 13 Governor's Cup wins. [ [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB03D89A84D306D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Express-News Archives : MySA.com ] ]

Governor's Cup results since 2002

As of 2008, the series is 4-3, in favor of Dallas. 1-1 in regular season, 3-2 in pre-season.

Notes and references