A TEXAS-SIZED CELEBRATION

The Golden Anniversary season of “America’s Team” kicks off with a star-studded concert event on September 10 and will conclude with North Texas’ first-ever Super Bowl

By Steve Pate

Thursday, September 9, 2010 - 1:34am

As the Dallas Cowboys crank up their 2010 training camp Friday, one of the NFL’s great franchises will also take time this season to look back on a rich, 50-year history.

The North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee will help celebrate that half-century of memories with its grand XLV Countdown Live From Cowboys Stadium presented by Frito-Lay on the evening of Friday, Sept. 10 — two days before the Cowboys kick off the regular season against the Redskins in Washington, D.C.

That extravaganza will include, among other things, a concert by Tim McGraw, a celebration of running back Emmitt Smith’s Hall of Fame career, and 50 years of Cowboys highlights produced by NFL Films accompanied live, by the 90-piece UNT Symphony Orchestra.

Cowboys spokesman Brett Daniels says the franchise will be commemorating its 50 years throughout the 2010 season, but concedes there’ll be nothing quite as spectacular as the Host Committee’s September 10 countdown to Super Bowl XLV at the 
season’s end.

“It’ll be an exciting way for Cowboys fans to get to see the stadium,” Daniels says. “The experience should really be great, with NFL Films highlights and Emmitt. We’ve never had anything like this. We’ve had pep rallies and some Super Bowl celebrations in the past, but nothing quite like this.”

This year’s Cowboys season tickets (for two pre-season and eight regular season games) have been designed to feature 10 great moments in team history. Examples are: Dallas being awarded an NFL franchise, Bob Lilly becoming the first Cowboy inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Emmitt breaking the NFL all-time rushing record, and highlights from each of the franchise’s five Super Bowl victories.

In November, the weekend prior to Thanksgiving, the Cowboys will stage their own celebration of Emmitt Smith’s Hall of Fame career. And the December home game against Philadelphia will include yet another special celebration honoring numerous Cowboys greats.

Also, as they did for the final season at Texas Stadium (2008), the Cowboys will present Honorary Captains for each game built around the 50-year celebration. Different alumni will participate in the coin toss ceremony prior to each kickoff.

In other words, look for an extremely unusual season in the annals of North Texas football history, all culminating with the region’s first-ever Super Bowl next February.

“I think we’re looking at one of the most exciting years all around,” Daniels says. “Kicking off our 50 years with the Concert Series at Cowboys Stadium, including a yearlong celebration, and finishing by hosting the biggest sports spectacle on Earth.”