Earlier this morning, the NFL said goodbye to Texas Stadium. It was the first stadium I ever attended to watch a professional football game. The first game I ever attended in person at Texas Stadium was a preseason game between the Cowboys and the then, Houston Oilers. It was a Saturday night and only my second weekend at school as I was a freshmen at the University of Dallas. Which coincidentally just happened to be across the expressway from Texas Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Her name was Jeanette DeVloo and you can say she was my first college crush. Jeanette and I had heard that during preseason games, one could just walk up during half time and be let into the stadium to watch the second half of the game. So with 7 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, Jeanette and I took a stroll down across the 114 freeway in Irvin, Texas to catch the second half. We were misled!
Fortunately for me, I was with Jeanette. With her beauty and charm, she was able to talk someone who was leaving the game at halftime to give us their ticket stubs so that we could go in and watch the game. We had a blast, dancing in the north end zone, watching the Cowboys play a meaningless game. That was my first game there.
I spent several seasons working for the Cowboys in various positions during the ’90s and I got to see many Cowboys games in that great stadium. I got to meet several of the Cowboys Hall of Famers, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith. Stood next to Roger Staubach and Tony Dorsett when they would come to games to be honored during some half time shows. PrimeTime Deon Sanders, Nate Newton, Charles Haley and the list goes on and on.
My final game at Texas Stadium, was on Christmas Day, Monday, December 25, 2006. This time I was with my wife, Tricia, and 5 year-old daughter, Elena. It was a fantastic way to spend Christmas Night, watching live Monday Night Football at Texas Stadium.
“Daddy,” Elena asked, “Why is there a hole in the stadium?”
I replied, “Mija, so that God can watch his favorite team play football!”
The Eagles and QB Jeff Garcia caught the Cowboys by surprise and Bill Parcells never had an answer for the Eagles defense. The Eagles kept the Cowboys out of the end zone for most of the game and my final memory of that place is a 23-7 beat down of my beloved Cowboys at the hands of one of their biggest rivals. The Cowboys went on to lose their final game of the season at home, 39-31, to the lowly Detroit Lions. I’m just glad I was not there to watch that one.
Goodbye Texas Stadium! With Jerry Jones’ newest stadium, you sure may not be missed, but you will certainly never be forgotten.
Great Great article/post/blog. Very dissapointed i never got the chance to visit or even see. Didn’t get to see the Great times there either, being a newish Cowboys Fan. But 1 thing i am hoping 4 is Just as good if not better memories in the new Stadium.
Really sweet article there, I love the thought of teenagers blagging their way in by getting some ticket stubs off someone outside the stadium, and they were really nice photos there of your family. At least you won the first game you saw, I saw my beloved Spurs lose at home to Leicester City (oh the indignity …) the first time I went to White Hart Lane as a seven year old with my Dad. Nonetheless with Dallas’ new stadium being the gargantuan beast it is, you have plenty to look forward to.
I just have one thing to say CHEAP!!!
Richard, what do you mean CHEAP? What’s cheap? ‘splain Lucy!
Love when stuff blows up!
The only game I attended there was a thanksgiving game when I was 10, so do not really remember it
Great Article Steven, would be cool to hear more of your time working for the Cowboys. How you got into there etc.
Sorry to hear that your last game was a loss, still though must of been a great Xmas there :)
and Finally wouldn’t it of been amusing if the people demolishing it took a wrong turn and blew up the wrong stadium DOH!
@ Richard caffery:
He wanted to see a big explosion.
The cowboys have always been the big, in your face, ‘America’s Team’, I just expected the demilition to be more of a dramatic explosion, rather than it just fall down, :(
more dramatic explosion? c’mon guys… you’ve been watching to many movies. I attended a few games there with my father (Oiler Fan) and my uncle (Cowgirl fan), the trips up to Dallas will always be memorable, especially the Thanksgiving Day game we attended.
As a Houston Sports Fan, I have always disliked Dallas Teams. They have followed me everywhere in my life since I am originally from Mexico City (the band wagon country for the Cowgirls) and the short 3 to 4 hour drive to Dallas from Houston.
And now my sister married a Dallas Native who supports there prissy team. Ugh. However, my sister was smart enough not to go into the dark side and stay a TEXAN fan. They attended the new stadium season opener against the Giants and she did wear Cowboy t-shirt, but she rooted for the Giants.
as a side note i would like to restate my facebook post:
i look forward to seeing Texans beat the Cowgirls twice this upcoming season (that includes preseason) and I am glad Steven now has faith in our team. It’s just going to be sad for Steven to see the Texans Win the SuperBowl on his turf.
bumblebeetuna
@ Ramón – and all I have to say to you regarding your comments is bumblebeetuna back at ya! No way the other team in Texas beats the Cowboys this year. NO WAY!
I am pretty sure Richard was calling u cheap for taking your date to the game with no tickets. LOL
I would call it being thrifty.
Cheap for taking your girlfriend to a game without any tickets