Apart from some freakish possible scores involving other teams and play-off rankings, this is it. The last ever game for the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium will be against the Baltimore Ravens and the way the season has progressed, it's turned into a must-win game as well. The Cowboys really need a victory to keep their chances of playing in the post-season alive.
I've been three times to the old place, the first time in 1997 for an amazing game against the Washington Redskins. Aikman, Smith and Irvin were all playing - but not playing well! With just minutes remaining the Cowboys has scored just 2 field goals and had to start a drive on their own 3 yard line.
People started to leave, fans gave up - knowing a team that had played so badly would never do it. We held on and stayed having travelled this far we wouldn't leave before the end - Troy Aikman then led the team the 97 yards before converting the 2 point conversion as well. 14-14 - the Cowboys stopped Washington instantly and got the ball back and with 4 seconds remaining Chris Boniol kicked the winning field goal!
Crowd erupts - those who left couldn't believe it!
The other two games were against the Reskins again, and the Buffalo Bills in 2003, both resulting in wins but a bit less exciting. 21-14 over the Skins and 10-6 over the Bills where Drew Bledsoe got pounded time and again by the Dallas defence!
The day after we went on the fantastic Stadium tour where my proud moment came when I kicked two field goals on the hallowed turf.
Time has caught up with the old place, even at only 37 years old. Even five years ago you knew it needed a facelift or replacing. The hole in the roof and probably the wealth of superstars that played there gave it an edge it otherwise wouldn't have had. Of course, it used to feature on the opening credits of the soap opera Dallas too!
I hope I see the new Stadium one day - it looks incredible (with incredible ticket prices no doubt too) - well, maybe one day.
There's plenty of nostalgia here too at the Farewell To Texas Stadium website.
As for the amazing new Stadium - Check this out! Wow! Ready for the start of next season, where has the time gone?!
Aston Villa v CSKA Moscow
What a tough draw.
I still feel it was a huge mistake for M.O.N to play such a weak team against Zilina at Villa Park in the third game. With 3 or 4 more experienced players we could have got into a winning position and started taking them off but ended up chasing the game and obviously losing.
That's what cost us this ultra-hard draw - not fielding the even weaker side against Hamburg which I could understand.
Anyway, I have bad memories when I was a kid of seeing the other side from Moscow (Spartak) getting a last minute winner at Villa Park and knocking us out after we'd drawn 2-2 over there. Anyone remember Mark Walters fantastic strike in the away leg?
Oh well, we'll worry about it more in February!
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