Hogging spotlight in Texas

Cowboys' Jones: Game about UA

— FFor Saturday night, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones doesn't mind renaming his new $1.2 billion stadium in Arlington, Texas.

"My dream, when I was building Cowboys Stadium, was that the stadium could become Razorback Stadium West," Jones said. "And I think that's what it is."

Jones' viewpoint is understandable. He's a North Little Rock native and wasa senior offensive lineman on the Razorbacks' 11-0 team in 1964, and has been one of Arkansas' most generous boosters.

But Jones' beloved Razorbacks and the Texas A&M Aggies figure to have about equal numbers of fans at Cowboys Stadium on Saturdaynight when they renew their old Southwest Conference rivalry before a crowd expected to be in the 60,000 range.

Arkansas has sold about 28,400 of its allotment of 31,600, according to UA officials. The $85 and student tickets are sold out, with some $125 and $300 club seats remaining.

Texas A&M has sold most of its allotment but has some $300 tickets left, according to a school spokesman.

The Cowboys also had a ticket allotment.

"I'm so excited over our game that we have with Texas A&M, because I envision one end of our stadium ... to look just like Fayetteville, Ark.," Jones said. "I know A&M's got the other end planned to look like College Station."

Jones noted that Arkansas and Texas A&M set the ticket prices and that each is giving up a home gamefor the start of a 10-year series in Cowboys Stadium.

For the $300 club seats Arkansas sells, $175 is considered a donation to the Razorback Foundation.

"This is all about our school. This is all about the Razorbacks as far as I'm concerned," Jones said. "If there's a home game in Fayetteville, then you have the benefit of the financial support for the program.

"So all we're doing is transferring that financial support to the game in Dallas.

A&Mis doing exactly the same thing."

Jones said an annual appearance in Cowboys Stadium will boost the Razorbacks' recruiting efforts in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

"The Dallas Cowboys, if the NFL would draw a circle around north Texas and just let us have those players and nobody else could get them, we'd win a Super Bowl every year," he said. "That's the caliber of the players that are in the north Texas area."

Arkansas' roster lists 12 players from north Texas, but Jones wants to see the Razorbacks have a stronger presence. He said it's a " strategic move" for Arkansas to play Texas A&M in Cowboys Stadium.

"This game for the Razorbacks and for our fans is about creating that kind of atmosphere so that we can go in there and recruit heads up with Texas and Texas A&M and Oklahoma," Jones said. "That's what we're talking about, apart from, 'Let's have a good time, let's have a big time,' and the fact I want you to feel so at home in Razorback Stadium West."

Razorbacks Coach Bobby Petrino has said he considers the matchup with Texas A&M to be a home game because of Jones' connectionto Arkansas, and Jones was quick to agree.

"I do, I do, and I'm unabashed about that," Jones said. "We have many great Cowboy fans that are Aggies. ... That's beside the point.

"The Razorbacks need to annually be having a huge game in Dallas, Texas. That will get the job done.

"There's a lot of visibility for this game. We need that for the Razorbacks. I'm into visibility."

Jones said high school players also are attracted by the opportunity to play in an NFL stadium during their college careers.

"A lot of these kids todaywant to know they've got a touch with the NFL," he said. "It's big to them, and I'm going to put the touch to them with the Arkansas Razorbacks."

Playing Arkansas in Cowboys Stadium also figures to be good for Texas A&M's recruiting in north Texas.

Aggies Coach Mike Sherman said it's a "great opportunity" and that he appreciates Jones for opening up the stadium for the game.

"Certainly when Mr. Jones puts a fingerprint on something, it's going to be top of the line," Sherman said. "Our players are really excited about going up there."

Petrino said the Razorbacks are excited, too.

"Oh, we can't wait," Petrino said. "Never been in the Taj Mahal before."

Arkansas will be the home team and wear red jerseys against the Aggies, though the Razorbacks will be on the visitors' sideline.

Sherman attended a coach's event at Cowboys Stadium in August, so he's seen the facility in person.

"I think it really will be a fun experience for our kids to play in that venue," Sherman said. "It should be loud, and I do expect it to be a home game for us."

Just don't try telling Jerry Jones that.

Sports, Pages 19, 23 on 09/30/2009

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