ARLINGTON, Texas -- The video board at the Cowboys' new stadium became a big part of the story for the first-ever NFL game played here on Friday night.
Following Dallas' 30-10 victory over the Titans in this $1.2 billion palace, there was a general sense that the gigantic video board is a problem -- but it depends on who you ask.
In the third quarter, Titans backup punter A.J. Trapasso drilled the giant board with a towering punt. He almost hit it again when, by rule, he had to re-kick the ball. Trapasso said the video board has to move, but Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said the punter tried to hit it on purpose.
The video board, which Cowboys officials are calling the crown jewel of video boards, is a four-board cluster that runs between the 20-yard lines, and is 160 feet in length and 72 feet in height.
Trapasso admitted to aiming for the board during pre-game warmups, when he nailed it three times, but maintained that he tried to avoid it during the game.
"We were peppering that thing during warmups," Trapasso said. "Mind you, they're good kicks that are going up there and hitting it. It's nothing that is going to happen every time, but it's got to be addressed. I don't know how much further up it can go, but it's in the way."
The video board currently sits 90 feet above the ground, while the two ads that accompany each side of it are 89 feet up. The NFL mandates video boards must be at least 85 feet above the ground.
"You don't need to [move it]," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "I mean this very much because most of your punts go to the sidelines, and you've got to be trying to hit it to bump it. You really do."
Phillips didn't seem happy that somebody hit the video board.
"I don't think that ball would have gone 30 yards," Phillips said of Trapasso's punt.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher is the co-chairman of the NFL competition committee and believes the video board is too low, despite what the measurements say. It's possible, if the video board doesn't move, that Fisher will ask the league to look into it. If things remain the same, Fisher most likely will bring it up again at a rules' committee meetings in the offseason.
"It is an issue," Fisher said. "It will be an issue. I shouldn't have to throw a flag out there because [the referees] didn't see the ball hit the scoreboard. It's not necessarily their responsibility. Once the fair catch signal is given, then there's no eyes on the ball anymore. They don't see it, so something has to get worked out."
Cowboys Stadium Photos
Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher, left, and Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, right, shake hands following their preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won 30-10. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) laughs on the sidelines in the final minutes of a preseason NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won 30-10. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)
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Dallas Cowboys running back Keon Lattimore (29) is gang tackled by Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Mitch King, front left, cornerback Demarcus Faggins, right front and linebacker Stanford Keglar, bottom left, in the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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Tennessee Titans guard Jake Scott, right, blocks as quarterback Vince Young (10) is sacked by Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears, rear, in the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Sharon Ellman)
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Dallas Cowboys center Andre Gurode (65) celebrates a touchdown by running back Felix Jones (28) against the Tennessee Titans during the first half a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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Football fans are seen in the end zone during preseason NFL football action between the Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys stadium, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
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Dallas Cowboys Kevin Ogletree catches a two-yard pass for a touchdown against Tennessee Titans Demarcus Faggins in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys defeated the Titans 30-10 in a preseason NFL game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Friday August 21, 2009. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
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Dallas Cowboys Kevin Ogletree catches a two-yard pass for a touchdown against Tennessee Titans Demarcus Faggins in the fourth quarter. The Cowboys defeated the Titans 30-10 in a preseason NFL game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Friday August 21, 2009. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
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Dallas Cowboys Felix Jones takes a hit from Tennessee Titans Chris Hope in the second quarter. The Cowboys faced the Titans in a preseason NFL game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Friday August 21, 2009. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
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Dallas Cowboys Marion Barber runs from Tennessee Titans David Thornton. The Cowboys faced the Titans in a preseason NFL game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Friday August 21, 2009. (Ron Jenkins/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/MCT)
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The official opening of the $1.2 billion Cowboys Stadium won't happen until Sept. 20 when the Cowboys face the Giants during Week 2 of the NFL's regular season
While the new stadium will hold concerts (Paul McCartney performed here on Wednesday), soccer matches and other events, this place was built, first and foremost, for football.
On Friday night, Cowboys' officials said they distributed 75,720 tickets for the game.
"The electricity that we felt just prior to the opening kickoff was really special," Jones said. "[Friday] confirmed what we were thinking all along: that this is a venue that can create a great atmosphere."
Fans and players alike were seen watching themselves on the video board before and during the game. Some fans in the upper levels of the stadium watched the video board instead of the live action on the field.
But the fan experience extends from the field as well. The stadium has two plazas with glass retractable doors so fans who pay for standing room-only tickets can watch the game.
In addition the video board drama, there were also a few empty seats, but it's certain the new stadium, which could expand to a capacity of 100,000, will be filled up when the Giants come to town.
"Actually, it's like playing in a big bowl with a bunch of people in it," Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware said. "Great atmosphere, I'm glad I'm playing here."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-22-2009 @ 4:53AM
slickrick1si said...
That stadium is like a sports car to most inadequate men of Jones age (eveyone should know, the pill to help out) All that money for a stadium, and he will still never see another ring for a long time, as long as my Steelers are dominant in this era! That scoreboard tv screen is really ridiculous! I mean come on, if normal punts get caught up in it, that is just ridiculous. But of course it is all about money, and status to Jerry Jones and his ridiculous Cowboys! I'm really surprised he hasn't paid off the NFL for another NFL Championship, but....doh I guess the Steelers are just waaaaay too good for them anyways, ahahahhaha! GO STEELERS!!!!!!! STEELERS 4 LIFE, STEELERS WILL ALWAYS RULE!!!
Reply
8-22-2009 @ 6:52AM
Jerry said...
Pittsburgh SUCKS.
8-22-2009 @ 9:45AM
steve said...
yes, they do. but they run their organization like grown ups and not like napoleon
8-22-2009 @ 1:55PM
samm said...
THATS Y PITTSBURGH has won 2 superbowls since 96 while dallas hasnt won a single playoff game...also
pittsburgh 6 rings vs dalls 5 rings
8-22-2009 @ 7:49AM
Commish said...
They should just put up mirrors all around the stadium for the egotistical NON-FOOTBALL playing drama queers.
Nobody wants to watch Dallas play anyway.
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8-22-2009 @ 9:21AM
greg said...
Why in the world would someone want to pay all that money to go to the game, just to watch it on a big screen?
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8-22-2009 @ 6:09PM
Chris said...
Because not everyone in the stadium is sitting at the sidelines. Get a clue.
8-22-2009 @ 9:42AM
steve said...
god, jones is an idiot. he and the cowboys are obviously in the wrong.
it doesn't matter if most punts go to the sideline, you shouldn't have a giant TV above the field that interferes with the game in any way.
he just looks like the biggest idiot in the world because he wasted all that money on something he's going to have to move or remove
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8-22-2009 @ 10:02AM
Chillie Willie said...
I wonder what the 'boys & their owner are going to say when the vids prove adverse to them. Plus what will Jerry say when the vids receive damage whether or not it's intentional.
The article seems to indicate that the height of the vids is adjustable, if this is true the NFL should make a rule that the vids should be at their max height during ANY possible kicking situation. The NFL invoke a new rule? Well, it is a new issue.
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8-22-2009 @ 10:12AM
dubbanehadel said...
arent u at a football game to watch the field. You didn't a lot of money to go to a game and watch it on a big screen when you could of done it at home for free
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8-22-2009 @ 10:27AM
BILL said...
True Steeler fans making making there comments that us Cowboys wont be reading anyway.Go home baby boys, we will be at the big game this year.Not little Beeny and the bits.Our new home is awsome and all others want to feel good about saying something stupid. Get a life.
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8-22-2009 @ 10:42AM
Robin said...
Wow! A lot of jealous folks out there. It's funny how they take the time to blog their trash on another teams blog. Steeler fans need to focus on their own team and keep telling Ben he's not a rapist!!! The stadium is beautiful! Good job Jerry!!! Go Cowboys!!!
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8-22-2009 @ 10:43AM
pawpaw said...
if the dumbass kicker wants to TRY and hit the screen..thats his problem..the scoreboard is legal under the rules..you buch of PA chaods are so jealous your owners do everything cheap..bunch of choads.
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8-22-2009 @ 10:55AM
Harry Smallwood said...
I had to laugh at ol' moneybags Jerry Jones.
He was bragging about his new wonder board HDTV screen, telling the press that the stupid thing cost more than the Cowboys last stadium - over forty million dollars! Now that is outright arrogance if I ever heard of it.
The big, ugly thing blocks punts, the view to the field of play from the upper seats including the view to the other side of the stadium. Maybe the only good thing is showing the butts up close of the Dallas cheerleaders. Even that could be a hazard if your wife is sitting next to you and some cutie's sweet fanny gets shown on the screen. You're more than likely to get a cup of beer poured over your head.
Then there's those high priced apartment suites on the lower level which are at field level. How the heck are you going to see the game with all the idiots running around including the cheerleaders? I suppose from the multitude of TV screens hanging from the walls, but hell, if I have to look at TV screens while at the stadium, I might as well keep my money in my wallet, and stay home.
Geez, Jone's palatial palace is a cool 72 degrees, no rain, no heat, no snow, nothing but boredom considering the caliber of the cowboys. I'll take the old Detroit Tiger stadium in late November. It's mostly cold and snowy in the Northeast that time of year, and for me, the best part of football.
The huge monster TV needs to be raised or removed. It will become the laughing stock of Texas in just a few games as the refs, in all their brilliant ignorance, have to decide on a replay of the kicking down and the chance the kick will again smash into Jerry's miraculous mistake.
Soon, there will be sport bets on who will hit the damn thing on every punt. Maybe the coming thing is to take the punt out of football so all stadiums can have an HDTV even bigger than the one that hangs ominously in Dallas.
Maybe there can be an Obama bailout for those stadiums unable to pay for it.
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8-22-2009 @ 10:58AM
toddsworld05 said...
Wow! awesome stadium!! i would love to see a game there
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8-22-2009 @ 12:14PM
billyp01 said...
"We were peppering that thing during warmups," Trapasso said.
- hahahah
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8-22-2009 @ 1:08PM
BIG Blue said...
New Stadium but will be same OLD results. Now the fans can see Romo and the Cowboys choke again in High Def. They can get to see close up's of Wade Phillips face when they go down again. Only way the Cowboys will win another title is if Texas finally does leave the rest of the country like IDIOT Gov Perry said they were gonna do. They can then play the Texans for their own National Championship. A Tea party at the new stadium would work and you'd be allowed to bring your own guns....Yeee Haaaaa rednecks...
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8-22-2009 @ 2:01PM
samm said...
jerry jones is a dumb redneck who wastes his money on a giant hd screen 4 evry1 to watch the cowboys f*** it up again...but i will say its a really nice stadium its a shame a team like the cowboys gets 2 play there...cant wait til november when i get to go 2 the new stadium n watch my skins beat up on ur boys
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8-22-2009 @ 4:22PM
deitrade said...
....thank you Samm(y) for announcing you are a Redskin fan. You dare come here and put down the Cowboys when you own Skins have a worse history. And speaking of Owners, I am sure you are in love with yours truely, Dannyboy Synder.
As for you Pitts(burgh) fans. Go on ahead and think that your Team is the best. I would advise all of you Stealer fans who are not old enough to have watched your Steelers of the 70s, to pick up a book written by your AllPro/all world Mike Webster admitting to how the Steelers used steriods when they were so dominating in the 70s. Back in the 70s the Steelers looked so dominating compared to all the other NFL Teams but I never could place a finger on why. It was not until the 80s that wide spread use of steriods was beginning to surface. I began to suspect that the Steelers were one of the first teams to use steriods and later on, Webster's book comfirmed it. Packers, Kings of the 60s, Stealers, Kings of the 70s, Niners, Kings of the 80's, ( Cowboys, right behind all 3 in the 60s,70s and 80s ) and then finally Kings of the 90s.
All you Cowboy haters, do y'll really believe in all the idiotic comments you make about the Cowboys being losers. Frankly, I am not enjoying this 12 year drought without a playoff victory but hey, I have been blessed in watching a winner far longer than your Team's droughts.
Ohhhh and as for you Patriot fans, sure winning 4 Superbowls is special but all 4 victories were by a 3 point margin. Pittsburgh fans, you have won 2 this decade but both could have easily been losses. I don't call that Dominating!
8-22-2009 @ 8:08PM
chris said...
only reason steelers won was because brady messed his knee up. You will be lucky if big ben is not in prison for rape during the playoffs. Redskins suck SAMM. If you had any balls at all you would talk crap when you go to the new stadium and see how fast you get your ass kicked by some big TEXAN, But i do not think you are man enough to do that you internet tough guy. Go cowboys FA QU REDSKINS!!!!