Cowboys go to silent count because of opponent crowd noise … in Dallas
You’ll find Cowboys fans in every corner of the country, in Alaska and Key West, Maine and San Diego. You’ll find them loud and proud despite the team’s definition-of-mediocrity last two decades. One place you won’t find them, however, is Dallas’ own AT&T Stadium.
Dallas was playing in-state rival Houston on Sunday in one of many outstanding games this weekend. Unfortunately for Dallas, Houston’s fans made the trip:
Other reports indicated that Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett was not amused by the Texans’ fans. A crowd loud enough to force a team into a silent snap count is a crowd loud enough to affect the outcome of the game, since so much of a gameplan can be shifted at the quarterback’s whim in the final seconds before a snap. The fact that the Cowboys had their own game altered by a visiting crowd is stunning.
It’s the second time in recent weeks that opposing fans are doing to Dallas what Cowboys fans generally do to opposing stadiums. Earlier in the season, 49ers fans descended on Jerry Jones’ palace to an embarrassing degree.
While you could certainly blame Cowboys fans for not showing up, it’s worth looking a few tax brackets up the ladder. Jerry Jones may not have expressly intended to price loyal Cowboys fans out of AT&T Stadium, but that’s exactly what happened. Team Marketing Inc.’s Fan Cost Index ranks Dallas as the most expensive stadium to watch a game, as of September 2013, with a family of four spending more than $630 for tickets, souvenirs, drinks and parking. The NFL average is $460, and the Cleveland Browns cost only about $344 for the same services.
The shame of it is, Dallas finally has a team really worth cheering; they’re balanced, effective and sitting atop the NFC. Too bad those Blue Star-wearing hordes won’t, or can’t, show up.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Reach him at [email protected] or find him on Facebook or on Twitter.
