Upon approaching Cowboy Stadium on Saturday, it became obvious that this game would be unlike anything ACU faithful had ever experienced.
The massive stadium is home to “America’s team” and one of the most storied franchises in sports history. Yet for three hours, this hallowed ground became the setting for an Abilene Christian football game.
The largest TV in the world loomed over the field and served as an instant reminder that Cowboy Stadium is the eight wonder of the world. The jumbotron proved to be hard to ignore even for players, who could be seen gazing upward from the sidelines after every play. This just goes to prove that nobody is above the awe of Jerryworld.
One hundred thousand seats surrounded the modern day coliseum, complete with swanky amenities such as suites and press boxes near the top of the cavernous stadium.
After the initial shock of Cowboy Stadium wears off, students may have noticed they were extraordinarily close to the field. The sound of a physical tackle or a quarterback calling an audible could be heard clearly, which is a nearly impossible feat to accomplish in any NFL field.
Decent seats to a Cowboys game can cost several hundred dollars, but the lower level of the Lone Star showcase was only ten dollars. Hundreds of dollars in savings added a whole new dimension to the already unique circumstances ACU alumni and fans found themselves in last weekend.
As the game wore on, fans were able to settle into their padded seats complete with armrests and drink holder, which added yet another element of luxury to this football weekend. The roof served as protection from the late September sun, normally beating down on everyone from kick off until the clock hits triple zeros. So with no sun, no wind, and a built in replay system over the field, there cannot be a better place in the world to take in a football game.
Unfortunately, ACU suffered their first loss of the young season on Saturday night, which put a slight damper on the four-hour party in Jerryworld. However, players, students, coaches and alumni will forever remember this experience as a wonderful opportunity to showcase what Abilene Christian University has to offer as a football team and as institution in the house Jerry built.
