04/18/24
September 19, 2011
Cowboys Fans Fill Candlestick Park: As much as 25 percent of the crowd in San Francisco was rooting for the Dallas Cowboys over the 49ers Sunday, much to the chagrin of the local players and media. Chants of "Let's Go Cowboys" and "De-Fense" during 49ers drives could be heard on the broadcast in the fourth quarter. "I don't know where I have been on a road game where the chants of defense we so loud," said Cowboys tight end Jason Witten. "It felt like kind of an away game," said 49ers left tackle Joe Staley.
Can remember the years when this game would have been relevant for something other than draft order determination.
posted by cixelsyd at 02:09 PM on September 19, 2011
Half the teams in the playoffs each year weren't there the year before, so I don't think we can dismiss the game as irrelevant. The Cowboys avoided an 0-2 hole, quieted the anti-Romo talk and have a lot of talent on that team.
posted by rcade at 02:21 PM on September 19, 2011
And helped the good people of Texas cope with the previous day's offering of North Texas on the altar of sacrifice to the minions of Saban.
posted by beaverboard at 04:09 PM on September 19, 2011
I spoke with a few people who were at the game and they said there was a solid one-third of Cowboy fans at the stadium. That's incredible. Turn it around, I just couldn't imagine a solid one-third of 49 er fans filling up Texas Stadium.
On a similar note, this past Saturday, I was at the Rose Bowl watching UCLA play Texas -- and virtually the same thing was happening there.
I almost couldn't believe that nearly one-third of the stadium was Longhorn fans. When I was walking up through the vast golf course-like grass parking area, there were tens of thousands of burnt orange clad fans. I even over heard a Texas fan talking on his cell phone saying that he felt like he was at a "home" game!
Seems those Texas fans are unbelievably passionate and supportive of their teams.
I don't know if Dallas is really "America's Team", but I did hear a statistic last night on NFL radio that the Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable sports franchise in the world -- ahead of the New York Yankees -- and that their merchandise sales are No. 1.
Dallas sure hasn't won much of anything lately, but for some reason the fans around the USA and world just love those Texas teams -- the University of Texas is also No. 1 in merchandise sales as well. Go figure . . .
posted by naturalpro at 04:21 PM on September 19, 2011
You speak too rashly, Beaverboard. My alma mater was in that Alabama game through the opening kickoff.
posted by rcade at 04:31 PM on September 19, 2011
Sad to remember the days when Candlestick (or whatever it's called these days) was filled with cheering Niners fans.
posted by Bonkers at 09:42 PM on September 19, 2011
Turn it around, I just couldn't imagine a solid one-third of 49 er fans filling up Texas Stadium.
Maybe not Niners fans, but one of the two games I attended at the old Cowboys Stadium in Irving happened to be on a Sunday afternoon when Pittsburgh was in town and it was at least 40% Black and Gold in there.
posted by Ufez Jones at 09:50 PM on September 19, 2011
I absolutely loved this!! I was watching the game and had to do a double take to see where the 'Boys were playing.
I can still remember the heated rivalry between the 'Boys and 49ers back in the 90's and knew that I was going to see a great game.
Romo showed true leadership by coming back into the game with a fractured rib and leading the 'Boys to overtime and into victory.