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BY CLARENCE E. HILL JR. Do-or-die situation1This is it for the Cowboys. It’s do or die. It’s win or go home. Pick a cliché, because it all applies. A season that began with a Super Bowl-or-bust mantra can find new life and a chance to realize those dreams with a win today. A loss, however, and the Cowboys miss out on the playoffs and might be remembered as the most disappointing and underachieving team in franchise history.Final-game woes2To make the playoffs, the Cowboys must do something they haven’t done since 1999 — win their regular-season finale. The Cowboys beat the New York Giants 26-18 in the final regular-season game in 1999 to clinch a playoff spot. It also must be noted that the Cowboys last won a season finale on the road in 1995 when they beat the Cardinals 37-13 en route to the fifth and most recent Super Bowl title in franchise history.No Romo turnovers3It’s real simple. If quarterback Tony Romo takes care of the football and avoids

RANDY GALLOWAY PHILADELPHIA — What we’ve got here today is a football club with a head coach who’s been demoted to doofus status by fans and media. Plus, a high-profile quarterback with an approval rating that’s slipped lower than Washington politicians. Plus, there’s the gutless-team tag that was attached after last week’s spot-light game collapse.But enough already about the Eagles.How ’bout them Dallas Cowboys?Week 17, Game 16 of the NFL’s regular-season finale bring us the irony of two bitter old rivals who have almost carbon-copied each other in 2008 futility.I said almost.The Cowboys are better off in postseason hope, having only to win today to make the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Eagles’ chances of advancing involve a complicated process of banking a pass off the Rocky statue, swimming the Schuylkill River, beating Ben Franklin off the perimeter dribble, then slam-dunking over all-time favorite son, Wilt Chamberlain.Translatio

CHAREAN WILLIAMS Vince Young hasn’t given up on himself. For the first time since the season opener, Young goes to work knowing he will play. Young won’t start, but Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher said Young will play in a meaningless game against the Indianapolis Colts, and Chris Simms might get some playing time as well.'This is definitely big for me,' Young told The Tennessean. 'It is like a résumé for me, to go out there and show I can still play football at this level, to show my coaches and teammates as well.'Any time you get a chance to get out there on the football field, you are not only showing your teammates, you are showing a lot of people around the league your talent. ... I am in the shadows right now, and I am learning a lot.'Young began this season as the starter, but, after throwing two interceptions and being booed, he initially refused to re-enter the game. After being coaxed back in by Fisher, Young was injured. Kerry Collins took

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Rimington Trophy winner Shipley eager to test his skills against Trojans.

A physical running back, a two-way scrapper, an emotional quarterback who also excelled at linebacker, and a signal caller in the mold of Brett Favre are The Chronicle's 2008 Regional Players of the Year: San Francisco - Dasarte Yarnway (Sacred Heart...

When Usua Amanam's coach considers the most impressive carry of his running back's season, he doesn't point to the obvious choices. Amanam had touchdown runs of 88 and 95 yards that helped Bellarmine beat Valley Christian 21-0 in the CCS Open Division title...

Rob Ambrose was hired as the football coach at Towson on Saturday, signing a five-year contract with his alma mater after serving ...

In football, as in life, it's usually better to keep it simple, stupid - a dictum that often goes by the acronym KISS. Under head coach Mike Singletary, the 49ers put that premise to work on defense, with encouraging results. They look to continue their...

Former New England Patriots offensive lineman and high school football coach Danny Villa surrendered to police in his native Arizona on Saturday, one day after a court in Massachusetts issued a warrant for his arrest on charges that he raped a child.

In the 41st year of his coaching career, Frank Busch swept the NCAA men's and women's swimming championships, was named to the USA Olympic coaching staff, was inducted into the American Swimming Coaches Hall of Fame and was invited to the White House to meet President Bush.