It was the first time I've ever seen a vietnamese kid (Asian) playing football ever watching an Aggies game. This dude was a beast. He went on to play for the Cowboys and was their leading tackler for three seasons. His career was plagued with a neck and knee injuries and finally retired after seven seasons playing for the Dallas Cowboys
He was fun to watch. He won the Chuck Bednarik and Lombardi Awards plus the Jack Lambert Trophy. He was the all time leading tackler at Texas A&M University when he graduated and I think he still holds that record.
It isn't just fearlessness. His lack of hesitation is because he diagnoses plays so quickly. Dat is possibly the smartest, most studious linebacker to ever play the game. Had he been 6'2"/250 lbs. he'd be in the Hall of Fame.
He kinda reminds me of Bob Sanders in the way that both were undersized dudes who were great because they had 0 regard for their own safety but their bodies couldn’t handle that style long term.
I concur 100%, as Parcells coached more than a few Hall of Fame LBs in his day. So if Bill shares positive comments about Dat’s aggressive & fearless playing style, it is NOT because he has never witnessed some of THE best carry that same torch & performance on other teams he coached. While with Dallas, both as a player & coach, he suited up with Bradie James (& coached) Dexter Coakley; coached DeMarcus Ware, Bobby Carpenter, Greg Ellis, Anthony Spencer, and Zack Thomas, of which Coakley was the only player previously mentioned not on the 2009 Dallas roster. Let that soak on for minute. Dat also had the pleasure of coaching Von Miller at A&M, of which Miller was awarded the 2010 Butkus Award. 🍻🇺🇸✊🏻🇺🇸🍻
@@acp4567 I had a similar mindset in combat sports just not give a fuck about my body but boy does it sure take a toll on a human it is nice to see you respect it because it’s our soul and heart that drives us to this another thing a massage is so shocking to the body just because all of the scar tissue
Pound for pound, possibly THE Best LB to ever play for Texas A&M. His effort & performance in that Championship game against Kansas State was legendary, as NO ONE ever talks about that KSU season & they were undefeated going into that game, as they were on their way to the BCS Championship Game.
Played against Dat since 8th Grade all through HS. We made all-district teams together. I had never seen that level of athleticism before. He stood out dramatically. I remember cut blocking him on a sweep play - he was blocked, on his belly. He got up and made the tackle on a sweep play on the far sideline. First one there. He had incredible closing speed from a dead stop, on the friggin ground. I knew he was gonna be a pro.
I'm from Rockport, Tx. Dat is our hometown hero. We all knew that he was special and that not only would he play college football, but he would play pro ball. He is an incredibly nice guy too, who never forgot where he came from. He just spoke at a history center event in Rockport last year. My son and I got to chat with him a little bit, and my son got to take a picture with him and get him to sign a hat. What a great guy! What a role model.
@@santossingleterry2621 wow. It's been a minute lol yeah I played at Flour Bluff ISD and we would scrimmage RF back when they were a 3A school. My last game with Dat was a pre-season game - we were 4A. We made all-district and all-metro teams that year. I used to get grief because we looked similar in size and ethnicity. But I wasn't blessed with that extra talent gear lol If I recall, his brothers played too. He has lived the American dream. (I have too in my own path) Wish more kids nowadays realize how many opportunities they really have. You just gotta work hard and take it. Dat is the perfect example of that.
Crazy thing is Dat Nguyen would be considered an average athlete in the NFL. A lot of people don't realize how freaky of an athlete you have to be to be a pro. Then once you make it, you realize there are even more freaks in the league...
I love that you uploaded this. Thank you! Nguyen was a freaking beast! He laid the wood like nobody's business, and the hit against TCU is still my all-time favorite in the history of the game.
as an aggie, i ate food under a dat nguyen mural in the cafeteria everyday freshman year. as a lifelong cowboys fan, dude put his heart and soul into the cowboys D for a damn good 4 years.
Many of you need to realize that the "hardest hitter ever?" question thumbnail is only to drive video views. Just enjoy the highlights of one of the best college LBs ever
@@brianmyers4444 - 11/7/91 Texas A&M vs. TCU (thursday night college football). The hardest hit I have ever seen watching live football; Coryatt destroys a TCU receiver. It is on RU-vid.
@@brianmyers4444 - top three, i am not surprised...that cold thursday night, A&M knocked out two quarterbacks and three receivers; three of which left out on stretchers.
At 14:44 is the most destructive blowout of a blocker I have ever seen, Nguyen literally steam rolled that guy like a pancake then clobbered the QB as well. Incredible. He was a beast. Incredible awareness, explosive speed, what a LB.
I would agree if I didnt see that this year from, i believe, chris jones. Blew past the line like they werent there then blew up both guys that tried to pick up the block and made the stop. Dude beat everybody on his side of the field in a matter of seconds I was shook fr lmao
Dat learned a lesson from getting pancaked by U. Nebraska Fullback, Joel Makovicka, early in Dat's college career. After that Dat, learn how to take on Blocks really well, or just explode past them
Dat was an amazing LB in college and pro. It's a shame that his career was affected by his injuries. He's by far one of the most complete LB's that I've ever seen play. He was a great sure tackler with force, took great angles in pursuit avoiding getting bogged down in the line of scrimmage, lightning quick, great turnover creator stripping the ball and played with passion and enthusiasm. He didn't get enough recognition. Nothing but respect from me... Love watching him play!
This guy was fun to watch in college. I remember this was right around when Katzenmoyer was playing at Ohio State. Both were fun to watch. Not sure if he was one of the hardest hitters, but it seems like he was in on every play. His speed was awesome, and unheard of at that time for that position.
The Big Cat was a fuckin maniac! Katzenmoyer was an alien I loved watching him play. I also loved watching Dat was a treat also he was on a different level sideline to sideline the best I seen in college football still to this day. He wasn't just sideline to sideline he his read and react was second to none! I think it's safe to say he was a force/freak of nature!!!!!
1983 Mercy Cross High School. We had a little defensive tackle named Hoi Nguyen. Didn't weigh 140 pounds but he was tough as nails. I will never forget him.
I watched Dat Nguyen both in college and in the NFL, and I have great respect for him and his fierce style of play. He really was an explosive hitter. But hardest hitter ever? While there is not "correct" answer, I would have to put Ray Lewis, Lawrence Taylor, Dick Butkus, Wilbur Marshall, Doug Plank, Ronnie Lott, Zach Thomas and some others at least at the same level as Dat, if not higher. Having written that, I still am grateful that you have made a video to feature this very underrated player who deserves to be remembered for his achievements.
He was a beast, great sideline to sideline speed and nasty tackler. He obviously put in a lot of work in the film room since he seemed to know what plays were coming. No surprise that he ended up having a fine NFL career. His induction into the College Football Hall of Fame was well deserved
Lived across the hall from Dat in 96-97, and he was a really nice guy in addition to being a bad ass on the football field. Fun times back in the 90’s.
Saw him play when I was a young one and pretty much was my role model growing up. I played MLB in High School because of the guy. No matter the situation, the tenacious the guy has for going after the football is unreal.
Tough as nails, yes. Talented, absolutely. But that can be said about a great many linebackers. This guy, however, had some of the most incredible instincts I’ve seen in a player. That, is truly special.
Dude was a BEAST!!! My uncles played at BYU and they talked about him. I was in 1st grade during this season. Now I'm 33 years old. Crazy how fast time flies.
He is a joy to watch, whether it was during his college days at A&M, during his days as a Dallas Cowboys, and now as an owner of a Chick Fil-A near downtown Fort Worth. His crew does their jobs like Dat hustled on the field, with incredible energy.
He was someone who I looked up to. I also played mlb in high school as an undersized Asian kid, watching Dat gave me confidence I could do well. Wasn’t good as him but I managed to play in college.
A lot of people don’t know: 1. He also never lost a dunk competition 2. He also has the record for blocked field goals. I want to say it’s 5 or 7. 3. Yes I played with him in HS.
Thanks for sharing this. I hadn't heard of this guy before. I'm not a huge college football fan, I watch casually bowl games and just a few teams, like Navy, etc. I used to watch a ton of college football in the early 80's when my farming grandparents from Nebraska were big Husker fans. This guys story is great.
thank you for bringing back great memories of watching college football from my childhood. this man was scary to watch. his instincts were on par with anyone. absolutely incredible!!!!!
@Titodatruth you see what San Fran has been doing for the last 3 or 4 years with smash mouth, the Jets had their best season in a while, Tennessee the proof is in the pudding
As a Long Horn I have nothing but love and respect for Dat. He was everything a Mike LB should be and he's an American underdog story that should inspire anyone who hears about him. Horns Up!
Hey Rob, sorry no disrespect and it's not you but for years it always irks me when people say Nguyen is pronounced "Win". It's not. It should be "N-Win". If the NG in Nguyen is said with a "Wh" sound, by that logic the Vietnamese surname Ngo should be pronounced "Whoa"? My Mother's maiden name is Huynh but that sounds more like "Win" than Nguyen. I met Dat last year in Ft Worth. Super nice guy and gave him a customized McFarlane figure of himself. He signed a jersey for me. Sooooo wanted to correct him about how he pronounced his last name. ha ha
My kids will be the most memorable Nguyen’s to ever play the game of football. They are 1/4 viet and they should be 6ft3 to 6ft 5. Remember these names Dylan Knox Nguyen and Drew Matic Nguyen Their dad is dedicating the rest of his life to their training and nutrition. Only 11.5 months separate our boys so we’re excited to see them light it up both from the linebacker position
