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OXNARD, Calif. - Decked out in full Cowboys garb, plastic helmet and all, 5-year-old Jeremiah Collis posed for his father in front of the five Cowboys' Super Bowl trophies. The two had just finished touring the Cowboys Hall of Fame Truck and had their sights set on the Cowboys' moon bounce just 20 yards away.
One problem stood in their way, though - the throng of an estimated 3,800 fans blocking the path here on Friday afternoon as the Dallas Cowboys opened their 2008 training camp at the River Ridge Sports Complex once again.
"I thought, 'Oh we're going to be here an hour and a half early. We'll probably be one of the first ones," Jason Collis, an Oxnard native, said. "But it's a great turnout right now. It's so cool that they came back here. It's great to have them back here. The fans love them, and the town loves them here. They're America's football team, so we're glad to have them back here."
A proposed housing development forced the Cowboys to search for a new training camp home after spending three years here from 2004 to 2006. The project sent them back to San Antonio, where they signed a five-year deal with the city to hold training camp at The Alamodome. But, a previously booked Church of God convention interrupted the stay at their news digs following last year, and Oxnard welcomed the Cowboys back with arms wide open with the adjacent field used for parking still wide open.
"We are just so excited to have them back here in Oxnard," said Mayor Thomas Holden at the opening ceremony press conference just before the start of this summer's first training camp practice. "Two years ago we welcomed (the Cowboys) and when we said 'goodbye,' we said we weren't saying 'goodbye' forever."
Even after the one year hiatus, it was clear that there was no excitement lost. Every Jerry Jones pause was filled with a tremendous cheer, and when the team owner was presented with a mock Super Bowl trophy, the fans exploded.
"This isn't quite as big, and it's not quite as gold as what you're going to get at the end of this season," Holden said of the trophy. "I know Mr. Jones is not making any predictions, but we can make those predictions for him."
But the Cowboys team owner didn't come empty handed either. After presenting the mayor and the city with a No. 08 Oxnard jersey, the team owner thanked the fans and the city.
"I've had a chance this morning to be out around the area, and I've never felt so welcome," said the owner, who addressed the thousands of fans with the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and team mascot Rowdy on hand. "I want to personally thank you. On behalf of Tony Romo and on behalf of coach Phillips, I want to personally thank you for your support and your interest in what we're doing."
As the ceremony concluded, the players began trickling on the field, prompting one fan to scream, "Welcome back!"
He may very well have spoken for the entire city.
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