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Thursday, June 12, 1997

Jones says he expects Irvin at training camp

By Associated Press

AUSTIN (AP) - Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed confidence Wednesday that star receiver Michael Irvin, who announced last week that he was evaluating his future in football, will be at training camp.

"We expect Michael to be a part of this football team," Jones said. "I expect him to be in training camp. He knows the importance of being out there and the contribution he can make in training camp."

Irvin, who already has missed a Cowboys minicamp and quarterback school, announced last week that he has lost his "intensity and emotion" for the game and might retire.

In his annual pre-training camp press conference, Jones discussed sticking with what works as his team returns to Austin for the eighth straight season.

"Going on the eighth year, we're excited about being at St. Edward's and having our training camp here in Austin," Jones said. "Since we started coming here, we've had success beyond what any of us could have imagined."

Since moving training camp from Thousand Oaks, Calif., to Austin, the Cowboys have posted a record of 89-38, including five NFC Eastern Division titles, four NFC championship games and three Super Bowl titles.

Jones mentioned a few changes in this year's camp. In past years, the Cowboys have traveled frequently and have participated in five preseason games. This year, Jones and the Cowboys are looking to spend more time in Austin and have reduced the number of preseason games to four.

"We decided after we fell short against Carolina (in last season's NFC divisional playoff game) that we would really emphasize spending time in our training camp atmosphere rather than taking some of the trips we have taken in the past," Jones said. "If we do this, we're in a unique time with our team that we will be able to focus on our continuity."

The Cowboys' training camp begins Friday, July 18, and runs through Thursday, Aug. 14.

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