Cowboys envision divided training camps
By Tom Orsborn - SAEN
OXNARD, Calif. — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday he hopes to someday split training camp between Oxnard and San Antonio in the same year.
“The bottom line, the ideal thing, is to have a presence here in California — we have a great tradition of it — and have a presence in San Antonio,” Jones said. “That really is a goal. That is not impractical to think we can do that.”
The Cowboys signed a five-year contract in March 2006 to practice in the Alamodome. A scheduling conflict that both the Cowboys and the city were aware of when they entered into the deal forced the team to practice in Oxnard this year.
Despite his allegiance to Southern California, Jones said he has no reservations about returning to San Antonio next summer.
“None at all,” Jones said. “We are committed (to San Antonio), and I am disappointed we are not getting to spend some time there.”
The Cowboys trained in Oxnard from 2004-2006. Jones said the team returned to San Antonio, where they practiced in 2002-2003, because they were told plans were under way to develop the practice fields in Oxnard and because of San Antonio's abundance of Cowboys fans.
Jones said it wouldn't be difficult to split camp between San Antonio and Oxnard, especially when the team has a preseason game scheduled in California or a nearby state.
Receiver Patrick Crayton said there are pluses and minuses to either site.
“We loved the city of San Antonio, but practicing in the Alamodome every day, dude, you never know when it's daytime and when it's night,” Crayton said. “We go in and it would be the crack of morning, you come out and it's night. It's like, damn, you never get to see any beautiful sky.
“Out here, you get to enjoy this weather and it's fresh air. And you are on natural grass, which is great on your body.”
Crayton also said the Alamodome needs to do a better job of keeping the facility free of insects and stray animals.
“Here's what they have to do with the Alamodome: Clean up the cricket infestation,” he said. “And we saw some cat droppings there, too. We've got to get that out of there.”
But Crayton said Oxnard isn't without its flaws.
“The field is starting to get beat up,” he said. “I know the beach is a couple of miles down the street, but somehow it came in and landed on the field. That's what it feels like we are running on right now.”
OXNARD, Calif. — Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Tuesday he hopes to someday split training camp between Oxnard and San Antonio in the same year.
“The bottom line, the ideal thing, is to have a presence here in California — we have a great tradition of it — and have a presence in San Antonio,” Jones said. “That really is a goal. That is not impractical to think we can do that.”
The Cowboys signed a five-year contract in March 2006 to practice in the Alamodome. A scheduling conflict that both the Cowboys and the city were aware of when they entered into the deal forced the team to practice in Oxnard this year.
Despite his allegiance to Southern California, Jones said he has no reservations about returning to San Antonio next summer.
“None at all,” Jones said. “We are committed (to San Antonio), and I am disappointed we are not getting to spend some time there.”
The Cowboys trained in Oxnard from 2004-2006. Jones said the team returned to San Antonio, where they practiced in 2002-2003, because they were told plans were under way to develop the practice fields in Oxnard and because of San Antonio's abundance of Cowboys fans.
Jones said it wouldn't be difficult to split camp between San Antonio and Oxnard, especially when the team has a preseason game scheduled in California or a nearby state.
Receiver Patrick Crayton said there are pluses and minuses to either site.
“We loved the city of San Antonio, but practicing in the Alamodome every day, dude, you never know when it's daytime and when it's night,” Crayton said. “We go in and it would be the crack of morning, you come out and it's night. It's like, damn, you never get to see any beautiful sky.
“Out here, you get to enjoy this weather and it's fresh air. And you are on natural grass, which is great on your body.”
Crayton also said the Alamodome needs to do a better job of keeping the facility free of insects and stray animals.
“Here's what they have to do with the Alamodome: Clean up the cricket infestation,” he said. “And we saw some cat droppings there, too. We've got to get that out of there.”
But Crayton said Oxnard isn't without its flaws.
“The field is starting to get beat up,” he said. “I know the beach is a couple of miles down the street, but somehow it came in and landed on the field. That's what it feels like we are running on right now.”
posted by The Gryphon at 5:42 PM
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