FRISCO — The difference in Lucchese boots, company representatives will tell you, is the twisted cone last. It’s a mold with a patented design used in the shoemaking process to adapt to any curve of any foot.
“Everything dates back and starts with the fit,” a person with Lucchese said on Friday.
That goes for even the toughest and most unique of fits. Like Tyler Booker‘s size 15s, for example.
On Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours after he was selected 12th overall, Booker arrived at the Cowboys‘ headquarters in Frisco. The right guard from Alabama was instantly swept away to a side room where a Lucchese fitting was awaiting. He nestled his massive 6-foot-5, 325-pound frame into a wooden chair fit for a king. Or, in this case, a first round pick. They showed him a book from the 1960s — so old, that the pages had begun to yellow and harden — where former Cowboys head coach Tom Landry and many others first had their feet traced for new boots.
Then they showed Booker a new Lucchese book. This one is where his foot trace would go. Moving forward, the traces of Cowboys’ first round picks will follow — a tradition started with someone whose known for leading.
The moment inside the Lucchese’s section within the Cowboys headquarters was, conveniently, fitting. That’s because the selection of Booker wasn’t the most exciting to most. There were some that figured the Cowboys may grab a receiver with their first round pick. Some figured a defensive lineman could be on the way. Corner, on the first night, looked like a need.
But a third offensive line first round pick in four years? After the Cowboys elected to sign multiple offensive linemen in free agency? It wasn’t a perceived fit.
For the Cowboys, however, Booker was a perfect fit; the patented twisted cone last to a Cowboys playing style as classic as a pair of Luccheses.
“He’s an alpha,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said.
Clues left
Chris Kapilovic was simply trying to get to his first meeting. He strolled the halls of the Alabama football facility with a suitcase in hand. He was recently hired as the Crimson Tide’s new offensive line coach, and on his first day, he was tasked with meet and greets.
Faces blurred, names meshed, but one stuck out among the rest.
“I wasn’t going in there looking for it,” Kapilovic said, “but you could just feel it.”
That feeling was the overwhelming aura that the Alabama offensive line already had a player leader within it. They had an unspoken alpha — one that isn’t featured in every offensive line group across the sport. Then, when Kapilovic had the chance to talk with Booker, he learned how why the veteran offensive line had become that for the Crimson Tide. He then realized something else.
“When that first workout was over I brought him up to my office and we kind of just talked,” Kapilovic said. “It’s like everything else: it’s a two-way street. Those guys have to earn my respect, but I also had to earn their respect. So I knew my relationship with Tyler needed to be strong to be successful.”
From February through this past season, Kapilovic saw his relationship with Booker grow. He also saw further examples of Booker’s leadership.
It began with action. By the time Kapilovic arrived in Tuscaloosa, Booker had already accumulated many accolades. He starred at IMG Academy at Florida, earning consensus five-star status. He came to Alabama and played in 12 games as a true freshman, earning freshman all-conference and all-American status. He earned first-team all-conference honors his true sophomore season.
The accolades were a byproduct of the work.
“He was the hardest worker on our team,” Kapilovic said.
Which made his words so meaningful.
Kapilovic, 56, has been playing and coaching at the collegiate level for roughly 30 years. He’s noticed a phenomenon: players will often speak, but not everyone will listen. Some will talk too little. Many will talk too much.
“The team kind of starts to drain them out,” Kapilovic said, “but whenever [Booker] spoke, it was always on point, I felt.”
Booker was named a permanent team captain this year. He also won the award for most inspirational player at Alabama, Kapilovic said. That award is often reserved for people who have overcome adversity, or persevered through treacherous challenges. Booker didn’t win it despite the odds; he won it because of the standard he set through his work and his words.
“We always talk about in my [offensive line] room that success leaves clues,” Kapilovic said. “And he’s leaving a lot of clues.”
So much so, that in hindsight, maybe we should’ve seen the fit for the Cowboys and Booker in the first round.
Stealer of Love
Since he was hired, Schottenheimer has been adamant about the importance of culture. He’s talked about the standard for his players: a love for the game, and a commitment to win, no matter the cost.
The words are not uncommon.
“I wouldn’t say that saying it is unique,” new Cowboys offensive coordinator Klayton Adams said on the Cowboys’ draft show on Saturday. “I think there’s a lot of places that say it. What’s unique is being able to stick with it, and having the consistent day-by-day philosophy of how we do something is more important than what we do, and [Schottenheimer] has been great in that way.”
Included in that is finding players who embody the culture they aspire to possess; players who love the game.
Or, in the case of Booker, players who love to steal that love from their opponents.
Booker did an interview with Bleacher Report shortly after he was selected. On the panel was his new teammate, Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons. It was a unique chance for a first impression with one of Dallas’ leaders. Booker didn’t miss it.
In one answer, Booker detailed a favorite pastime of his. He’ll notice opponents getting excited to play, whether it’s worth spine-tingling pre-workout, or hype up music. He’ll see opponents ready for battle.
“Until they come across Tyler Booker,” he said.
He then talked about the wear and tear of facing him. About the love for the game “leave their eyes” after going up against Booker over and over again. The answer got Parsons so fired up, that he jumped out of his seat yelling and screaming.
“You just got me hyped,” Parsons yelled.
The answer was so good, that it sparked another question from DLLS after Booker’s opening press conference: if everyone else’s pre-game routine includes pump-up music and pre-workout, what does yours look like?
The answer could’ve been short. Instead, it extended for over five minutes with immense detail. Here’s Booker’s pre-game guide to stealing the love of the game from others.
Step 1: Wake up and listen to gospel music. “I feel like that’s a great way to connect with God and get my day right.”
Step 2: More music. Either something smooth, like Marvin Gaye, to calm him down, or something fast, like Jadakiss or 50 Cent, to get him amped.
Step 3: Put on workout clothes and jog around the field to “claim my space and essentially mark my territory.”
Step 4: Call his great-grandmother and say a quick prayer.
Step 5: Visualization. He closes his eyes and runs thought specific plays and specific opponents. Of inside zones, duos and play actions, against odd fronts, stunts and everything this specific defense may throw at him. “I’m just thinking about all the variables I’m just checking off every checklist in my head before the game, so that I’m essentially playing the first quarter of the game already. A lot of people feel like they need that first hit; well that’s how I get my first hit.”
Step 6: Take the love away from his opponents. Over and over again.
Those words also come with examples. He mentioned that he loved to go into Death Valley, one of the toughest places to play, and to see a nearly empty stadium after they beat LSU so badly. He also pointed to Alabama’s unbelievable win over Auburn this past season, sparked by a 4th and 31 conversion that would’ve ended things if it didn’t go their way.
“We saw everybody coming down getting ready to storm the field,” Booker said of that 2023 game. “You see everybody’s flashlights on. Then when Jalen [Milroe] throws that ball and [Isaiah] Bond catches it, everybody’s flashlights went off and they just start leaving the stadium. That was the best feeling ever.”
Throughout this roughly five minute explanation, Schottenheimer could be seen smiling. There were moments where he was beaming. At some points you could see him almost hold back his excitement, seemingly knowing that he could’ve had the same reaction Parsons did the night before hearing Booker talk.
Schottenheimer was later asked it.
“I’m just excited for the fans to get a sense of the young man that we’ve brought into our family,” Schottenheimer said. “The upbringing. But it’s not even beginning to resonate just because of the type of competitor he is. To hear his routine before the game that he took you guys all through that was so eloquent, that’s all real. And that’s what this guy is – a competitor. So I’m just I’m really happy for him. I’m happy for us. I’m happy for his family.”
A calculated path
Heading into the draft, the Cowboys wanted to ensure that they covered their bases. They wanted to fill holes, adding players to places where they needed them. They believed they did that, providing them confidence that they could get the best player available on their board.
Sources indicated to DLLS that Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan would’ve been their selection if he was there at No. 12, but the Carolina Panthers took him eighth overall.
The Cowboys could’ve forced a wide receiver when they were on the clock. They had Texas wide receiver Mathew Golden and Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in for visits. Both ended up being first round picks. They even said they had some offers to trade back to places where they could’ve potentially added more picks and added one of those receivers.
Instead, the Cowboys decided to stick and take the top player on their board.
“I feel that he’s an immediate starter. A guy that’s gonna play for a long time at a very high level. He’s a guy that can impose his will,” Schottenheimer said. “He’s a guy that’s gonna impact not just the offensive line, but the team. When you meet the young man and you’re around him, the type of competitor he is, his personality. Again you lose a guy like Zack (Martin), you don’t have to replace him, but we felt like this is a guy that comes in immediately and fills a big void for us. We’re just beyond excited that we were able to get him.”
Will McClay, the Cowboys’ vice president of player personnel, later pointed out that the grades they had for Booker are similar for Martin, who will have a chance to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer five years from now.
Booker is not only starting at a similar place, in the eyes of the Cowboys’, but he’s long had ambitions to have the same ending as Martin, too.
During his meetings with Booker at Alabama, Kapilovic learned about the plan that Booker has had since he was a middle schooler in the New England area. He had aspirations of becoming a NFL Hall of Famer one day, so his family bought in, as well. His mom had to change work schedules to help him go to middle school in New Canaan — about an hour away from their home in New Haven. His dad helped him attend Bergan Catholic High School in New Jersey — about an hour and a half away — so that he could be on the best football path. Eventually, the family helped him move to Bradenton, Florida, so he could play at IMG Academy — one of the best football programs in the entire country.
From early on, Booker proved he would do whatever, and go wherever, to accomplish his goals. He said there were moments where he as uncomfortable. Moments where he questioned how much he really loved football. Moments where he’d call his family and ask to come home. Those points along the path required reminders of his goals and what he was chasing.
“It was tough, but it molded me into where I am today,” Booker said.
Just like a pair of Lucchese boots.
