Happens all the time
Cowboys' Switzer arrested
Airport security guards find loaded gun in carry-on bag
Barry Switzer
Associated Press
Dallas Cowboys head coach Barry Switzer faces reporters Monday in Austin to explain the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 1997 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
AUSTIN -- The Dallas Cowboys' personnel and legal troubles grew Monday as security guards arrested coach Barry Switzer for carrying a loaded revolver in his carry-on bag at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
"I wanted to say I've embarrassed (owner) Jerry Jones and the Cowboy organization for an innocent, honest mistake that I made," Switzer said afterward.
Switzer said he threw the gun into his travel bag to hide it from three small children who had been visiting his home Saturday night. He said he forgot about it until airport personnel arrested him Monday morning.
Switzer appeared to fight back tears as he discussed the incident during a news conference at the Dallas Cowboys training camp at St. Edwards University. But he refused to take questions and snapped angrily at those who tried.
Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels said Jones was in meetings in Dallas and was unavailable for comment. Switzer's arrest comes at a time when Jones is trying to clean up the team's "bad boy" image with everything from rules on off-limits bars to cameras in the summer camp dorms.
The coach was arrested at about 9 a.m., his .38-caliber revolver confiscated. He was released under his own recognizance about two hours later, said airport spokeswoman Angel Biasatti.
"There was no criminal intent," Biasatti told The Associated Press, pointing out that 38 handguns have been confiscated at the airport this year. "We have to arrest individuals. It's the law. Most of the time they forget that they have them at the airport. It's an unfortunate situation for Barry Switzer."
"And I look up and there are two police officers standing beside me. And I look at them and they look at me with a serious look, and all of a sudden I realize, `My God, I didn't take that pistol out of my bag.' "
Carrying a weapon into an airport is a third-degree felony, punishable by two to 10 years in jail and up to a $10,000 fine.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said Switzer is not licensed to carry a gun. State law says carrying a handgun without a permit is a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.
Security personnel discovered the weapon in Switzer's canvas bag as he went through a Terminal 3E checkpoint, Biasatti said.
Switzer and the Cowboys were in Dallas for an exhibition game Sunday night against the Oakland Raiders, which they lost 34-27. The team had Monday off before returning to practice on Tuesday in Austin.
Switzer, 59, said he arrived at his Dallas home on Saturday to discover that he had nine house guests, three of those ages 2, 10 and 11.
"Walked into my bedroom with them all present there," Switzer said. "Saw my gun lying on the bed and couldn't understand why it was out at that time."
He said he later learned that his son, Doug, had left the gun out. Switzer said he normally keeps the gun in a drawer beside his bed.
But with the children present, he said he decided to hide the gun in his travel bag. He said he intended to put the bag in the closet, but when he was interrupted by a telephone call, he put the bag down on the bathroom counter.
"And from that moment on, I totally forgot my intentions. What I intended to do was hide the gun in the closet somewhere, while the children were home this weekend," Switzer said. He did not explain his relationship to the children.
He said he got up at 8 a.m. Monday and tried to rush to catch a 9 a.m. flight to Austin. He said he threw his toiletries into the bag.
"Put my bag in security. Went through security. Wondered why my bag had stopped," Switzer said.
"And I look up and there are two police officers standing beside me. And I look at them and they look at me with a serious look, and all of a sudden I realize, `My God, I didn't take that pistol out of my bag.' "
Switzer said he was glad to "have to live" with what happened instead of one of the children grabbing the gun. "I was more concerned about the safety of those children."
When reporters tried to question Switzer, he became visibly angry.
"I said I am embarrassed. It's an unfortunate incident. There's no need to talk about the details here," he said. "I said, we'll talk about football."
Switzer's arrest comes at a time when the Cowboys are trying to restore their image as "America's Team" and rid themselves of the jokes about being "America's Most Wanted."
Five players have been suspended for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy, including two of the team's biggest stars, wide receiver Michael Irvin and defensive tackle Leon Lett. Lett currently is serving a year's suspension, his second, for drug use.
Last year, Irvin was sentenced to four years probation after pleading no contest to cocaine possession. Earlier this year, he and Erik Williams were stung by a woman's false accusations that they had assaulted her.
Williams had just completed two years probation on a drunken driving charge.
Tales of sexual improprieties by players led conservatives such as former Education Secretary William Bennett to denounce the team's "morals."
When backup wide receiver Cory Fleming pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge just days before the 1995 season opener, Switzer said, "He's lucky this didn't happen last week, because he wouldn't be here if it had." But since the season had already begun, Switzer said Fleming was too important to the team to cut.
Switzer, whose autobiography is titled Bootlegger's Boy, has for years had his own reputation for playing fast and loose with the rules. He resigned as coach of the University of Oklahoma somewhat in disgrace after a 16-year career that included three national titles and many off-field controversies, especially in his final few seasons.
In 1994, he became the third head coach in Cowboys history and won the Super Bowl the next season. He has a 34-14 record in three years.
Team owner Jones has tried focusing attention on the field and has made headlines for his efforts.
In recent months, Jones has placed several Dallas nightclubs off-limits, reportedly released a player who violated that edict and installed security cameras in the dorms at St. Edward's to discourage curfew violations. He also hired former Cowboys star Calvin Hill as a consultant to help players deal with the fame and fortune of professional athletics.
