Thursday, December 26, 1996

Are fans fighting back against Cowboys?

By JAIME ARON / Associated Press (Dec. 26, 1996)

IRVING - Are Dallas Cowboys fans beginning to lash back at their wayward team?

Fans may be showing their disapproval of Dallas' on- and off-field woes by taking their time buying tickets for Saturday's wild-card game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Under 1,000 seats remained when ticket windows closed Tuesday and none was sold Wednesday because of the holiday. If any tickets are unsold as of close of business Thursday, the game won't be televised locally - something that hasn't happened in years.

Team spokesman Rich Dalrymple blamed the slow sales on fans not being accustomed to a first-round playoff game. This is the first game Dallas has played in the wild-card round since 1991, and that one was on the road.

Players had their own theories:

"Maybe it's the Christmas holidays and maybe everybody wants to spend their money elsewhere," running back Emmitt Smith said.

"Maybe they're tired of us," deep snapper Dale Hellastrae said.

"I think the people in Dallas may be a little spoiled," said defensive end Tony Casillas.

Or, maybe the people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are just soured on the team.

Despite a fifth straight division title, the defending Super Bowl champions haven't given fans much to cheer this season. Disappointments have ranged from the drug-related suspensions of Michael Irvin, Shante Carver and Leon Lett to an offense that did not score a touchdown in three of its last six games.

At 10-6, the Cowboys have the worst record of the three division champions in the NFC, meaning this is likely to be the only playoff game at Texas Stadium this postseason.

The only way Dallas will play another game at Texas Stadium this season will be if both the Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers make it to the NFC championship game. As a wild-card team, the 49ers must travel to any game against a division champion, even though they have a better record than the Cowboys.

"It'd be one thing if it was a regular-season game at the end of the year and some of the guys weren't playing," running back Daryl Johnston said. "But to be the first round of the playoffs and to be the only playoff game in Texas Stadium this season, it's kind of surprising."

The Cowboys also have history on the line. Dallas has played its last 111 games - home and away - in sold-out stadiums.

"I cannot make them come to the game," Smith said, "but the ones who are there, we hope they cheer loud."