The new $1.15 billion dollar home of the Arlington Cowchips has every bell and whistle you could want as a fan. Climate controlled comfort, retractable roof, great site lines and those world famous Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders shaking what their mamas gave them. For owner Jerry Jones, the things he likes about the 100,000 seat Cowboys Stadium is that his new football playpen has more seats and luxury boxes than Texas Stadium did. He can also host other revenue producing events like Super Bowls, major concerts such as the upcoming U2 one October 12, Big 12 Championship games and NCAA Final Fours.
But every new stadium when it opens for business (as Yankees fans can tell you) has some glitch or unforseen flaw in it that has to be corrected.
The Jerrydome's flaw is is hanging right over the football field.
The flaw is the 1.2-million pound, four-sided video board hanging from the rafters exactly 90 feet above the field. It's a 160 foot wide, 90 foot tall $40 million HD video screen that stretches from twenty yard line to twenty yard line.
In their debut game in their new stadium, during the third quarter of the Cowboys 30-10 win, reserve punter A.J. Trapasso hit the gargantuan screen.
Jones doesn't think it's a problem being 90 feet above the field, despite the fact that two years ago, while conducting tests in San Antonio's Alamodome one of his own punters kicked balls more than 100 feet into the air.The NFL signed off on the board and Jones said he does not plan to alter it.
Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher disagrees. It's worth noting that Fisher was not happy about the board getting in the way of one of his team's punts and he's the co-chair of the NFL's Competition Committee.
Translation, he has the power to do something about it.
He thinks it needs to be raised, and the competition committee could order that to happen."It's an issue, yeah. I'm sure the Cowboys or the league will tell you, I shouldn't have to throw a flag out there because [the officiating crew] didn't see the ball hit the scoreboard. Now, it's not necessarily their responsibility. Once a fair catch signal is given, then there are no eyes on the ball anymore. So they don't see it. So something has to get worked out. It can become a problem."
So how will this latest chapter of the ongoing sports soap opera known as the Cowchips turn out? Will Jerry raise the HD board? Will the NFL order him to do it? Will Vegas establish a sports betting line on how many NFL punters hit it this season?
Stay tuned to this latest episode of As The Cowchips Turn.
