Since joining the Cowboys six years ago, so much has changed for Tony Romo.
Once the unassuming third quarterback who spent time playing recreational basketball or even flag football, Romo barely has the time to fit in a round of golf anymore. And we all know the passion he has for the links.
Romo's life has certainly turned upside down and he wouldn't have it any other way.
But as a player's life changes, usually the people close to him change, too. But that's not exactly the case with Romo's parents. Ramiro and Joan Romo raised Tony and his two sisters in Burlington, Wis., about two hours from Lambeau Field in Green Bay where Romo will play Sunday, hoping to lead his team to a 7-2 record.
But come Sunday, Ramiro and Joan will be in the stands like they usually are for all of Tony's games. They'll probably drive back to Burlington, where they've lived for nearly 40 years. Ironically enough, not until this week - of all weeks - have the Romos moved into a new house they bought back in September. Until now, when Tony would come home, he'd stay in the same room in which he grew up.
"I think the good thing about my parents and my family in general is that they really haven't changed all that much," Romo said. "They still live in the same town, they do the same things. They enjoy seeing someone that they love be able to do something they love to do."
In fact, Ramiro said they take pride in living as similar lifestyle as ever.
"Nothing has really changed. We're proud of the fact that nothing really changed at all in the Romo household," he said. "We attend a lot of games, but that hasn't changed. We attended high school games and his college games and now we're attending his NFL games. That hasn't changed. Everything has pretty much stayed the same."
While Ramiro understands his son's life is different now, it's only when he's away from home. When Tony comes back to Wisconsin, and the family gets together, it's like "old times" again.
"It's not about what you do for a living when you get into the family and we all get together," Ramiro said. "With us, it's a good time to fellowship. There's nothing really that changes, no one is higher up than anyone else."
In fact, Tony said despite being thrust into the spotlight now as the starting quarterback of the Cowboys, his parents never show him any more interest than his two sisters.
"I'm lucky in the sense that they've always held their kids' best interests at heart," Tony said. "They always choose other people above themselves. People may talk about me because the position I play, but my parents never show any favoritism."
But they do show a lot of attention. His parents work directly with Tony and his business managers on the quarterback's off-the-field schedule.
"It's a lot of responsibility, but it's important so he can concentrate on football," Ramiro said. "He's got his mother and father taking care of everything off the field. I think that's really helped him."
More than anything, Tony said it's important to have someone he trusts handling his business affairs and schedule.
"They're just involved in things. My dad works directly with all the people that work with me. So he's the one who goes into a lot of the meetings with them," Tony said. "He's just involved so that way I don't have to deal with a lot of things. And it's someone I trust on top of that."
Another thing Ramiro has handled is organizing the tickets for Sunday's game. And there's been a high demand for sure. That's understandable, considering the small town they live in and with Tony and the Cowboys headed to Wisconsin to face the Packers in what has become a huge game for both teams.
"Up here, we've got a lot of friends and family, everyone wants to come see Tony and watch him play," Ramiro said. "There's a lot of ticket demands, but nothing that's out of the ordinary. It's nothing we haven't done before. It's a little stressful, but not that bad."
In all, Ramiro said he's responsible for about 50 tickets this weekend, but believes there will be close to 200 people in the stands, "who know Tony personally."
To many of them, it's exciting to see the Wisconsin kid come back to Green Bay. But even for his parents, who watch him every chance they get, it's still just as exciting to them.
"It never gets old. It's really one of the true joys that I have is to watch him compete," Ramiro said. "He's always trying to get better, trying to improve. We're very, very proud of Tony. But we're proud of all of our kids. It's just another step that he's going through in his life right now. He's worked very hard to achieve success and we're just happy that he's able to do something he loves to do."
So far, it's a been a fun year for the Cowboys. A fun year for Tony Romo, so that means a fun year for his parents as well.
Ramiro said this season has been enjoyable for a lot of reasons, and not just the 6-2 record at the halfway point.
"What's really fun is to watch the progress of the whole team, not only Tony. Watch the team progress mentally," he said. "We always get caught up in the physical aspect of the game - the ability to run, or catch and block, but the mental part of the game is just as important. I'm seeing that now. It's wonderful to see the guys bring that part of the game, along with the physical side."
Personally with Tony, his dad sees a more mature quarterback this year who is understanding when to play it safe and when to go all out.
"I think Tony has a better feel for the game as far as risk-taking," Ramiro said. "There're going to be times when he's got to make a play. No doubt about that. That's the part that makes Tony, Tony.
"There're other times I've noticed he's pulling it back and taking a sack, just to keep his team in the game. Those little things, you understand when it's time and when it's not time to take a chance. Also, I think he understands that a football team needs leaders. And he's doing a good job in that respect, too."
While Tony started his pro career with Bill Parcells and now Wade Phillips, and has worked with Sean Payton, Jason Garrett and Wade Wilson, he said his father has always helped him as well.
"He knows the game . . . we always talk football when we can," Romo said. "I've had a lot of good coaches along the way, but I'm always going to listen to him, too."
And like so many other things about Romo's parents, that's something that will likely never change either.
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Nick Eatman - 
