I came across this article a few weeks ago and after dragging my feet on finishing a post about it, I now read it with a different perspective. The focus was the Paul Quinn College football program folding for financial reasons (a yearly savings of $600k for the school) and transforming the gridiron into a 6,300 square-yard...organic farm. The school even partnered with the Dallas Cowboys to provide 17,500 pounds of food for their concession stands during home games this year.
My immediate thought was, this is pretty cool. The trendy thing in Foodville is local, organic, and the idea of self-sustainability. Everyone likes a success story. Turning lemons into lemonade, or a football field into farmland, whichever you prefer. But when I started to look at the photos, a part of me couldn't ignore an eerie, Walking Dead-esque, feeling with the goal posts, scoreboard and bleachers still standing.
Is the once known "America's Team" showing signs of an apocalyptic collapse? From Owner Jerry Jones's iron-fist'd clubhouse rulings, to NFL's worst defensive squad, and the ups and downs of Tony Romo, Cowboy fans have every right to start building dooms-day shelters and stock up on canned beans and batteries.
Change comes from the top and until Jerry Jones lets go of the day-to-day football operations, the Cowboys are going to continue to be the Cowboys of late. There is no question Mr. Jones is a successful and savvy businessman. He is a pioneer for in-stadium experiences and with having more money than he knows what to do with, he can make pretty much anything happen...like hanging the equivalent of nearly 5,000, 52" plasma TV's (per sideline) from the ceiling of his $1.2 billion stadium. Who can blame him though? He is doing what an owner should do - find ways to get butts in the seats and increase revenue. What he shouldn't be doing his what he is paying the coaching staff to do.
There isn't much to write about regarding the Cowboy's defense...seriously. When you lead the league in; most first downs allowed, most passing first downs allowed, most total yards allowed, and most passing yards allowed, you're on the wrong side of the record books. If the first couple second-half collapses this season weren't bad enough, the recent 36-37 loss to the Packers after leading 26-3 in the third quarter solidifies talks of change. Needless to say, the only group benefiting from the Cowboy's defense is the opposing teams.
Tony Romo. You either respect his game or you think he is the worst QB ever. Is he the reason for the Cowboys disappearance in December? He gets the blame but that comes with the QB position, not necessarily him. Sure there are a few big-time plays that if Romo successfully completed their season would be different, or some timely interceptions not thrown that would shine brighter light on his career. Look up his stats, his numbers are pretty solid throughout his career, even approaching playoff time.
It will be interesting to see what happens in Dallas over this upcoming off-season. Are there coaching changes coming? Will Jerry let go of some football decisions making? Will the Cowboys just fold up and turn their stadium into a state-of-the-art eco-dome and feed the US when the zombies takeover? Only time will tell, but let's hope change doesn't come too late for this storied team.
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