Sunday, July 27, 1997

Crowd smaller, but enthusiasm the same as Cowboys beat Chargers 9-3 in scrimage

By EDUARDO MONTES Associated Press Writer

EL PASO, Texas (AP) - While the crowd was noticeably smaller than the last time Dallas hit the city, the enthusiasm remained much the same as the Cowboys proved yet again that they have a firm grip on far West Texas.

More than 40,000 fans turned out on a stormy and muggy Saturday night at the Sun Bowl to the cheer the Cowboys through their scrimmage with the San Diego Chargers. There were some Chargers fans too, but there was no doubt this night belonged to the Cowboys, who won 9-3.

"It's a good atmosphere. We have some good, loyal Cowboy fans here," said John Molina, who counted himself among the faithful. "It's a scrimmage and everyone is screaming."

Most of the fans wore Cowboys shirts, jerseys, hats and some painted their faces. Cowboys banners were flying throughout the stadium. Even the sight of a blue and white jersey elicited cheers - no matter that sometimes the player wearing it probably won't be with the team come the season opener.

"It's fun just to see them," said another Cowboys fan, Julian Flores. "If the Cowboys came here to warm up I'd bet they'd fill half the stadium."

The real screams began when Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and most of the offensive starters took the field for their first series. They drove 65 yards for the game's only touchdown, a 1-yard run by Herschel Walker.

Walker did most of the running with the first team as Emmitt Smith rested. Smith was seen playing catch with Irvin before the game.

The rest of the night belonged mostly to the rookies and the subs.

"I thought it was a good effort and we got something out of this," Cowboys coach Barry Switzer said.

The scrimmage, billed as the Dallas Cowboys Showdown II, was projected to be one of the city's premier entertainment events this year and a boost for local charities. All proceeds will go to the United Way.

Showdown I was last year and featured the Oilers in what was then an all-Texas affair. The 1996 game sold out the Sun Bowl for the first time since it was expanded to 51,118 seats in the early 1980s.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said he wasn't disappointed with the smaller crowd, however.

"This is absolutely a phenomenal undertaking and a phenomenal success," Jones said. "There are some clubs around the NFL that didn't draw as many for regular-season games."

Event organizers have said they want the Cowboys to return and are trying to land an exhibition game and possibly even a week of training camp.

Jones would not say whether any of that is a possibility, but he seemed optimistic. "This is the beginning in my view," he said.