Post by prossman on Jan 7, 2009 11:44:19 GMT -7
IRVING, Texas - Depending on Thursday's outcome, the defending national champions could be participating in the first college football game at the Dallas Cowboys' $1.1 billion stadium in Arlington, Texas.
On Sept. 5, the University of Oklahoma - a finalist in Thursday's Bowl Championship Series title game - will face Brigham Young University in its 2009 season opener. The Labor Day weekend contest will kick off in primetime on ABC or ESPN as part of the second annual ESPN Kickoff Week, presented by Gillette.
Oklahoma-BYU will mark the first in a five-year agreement between the Cowboys and ESPN to host a prominent college football game at their new stadium each year during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Details on the exact kickoff time and ticket information will be released at a later date.
"We are excited to host such strong traditional college football programs as those at the University of Oklahoma and Brigham Young University in our first-ever college football game at our new stadium," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said. "I don't think there is a better place than Texas to celebrate the kickoff of the 2009 college football season, and I don't think you will find a better stadium for watching that football action than our new home in Arlington."
The match-up - only the second all time between the two schools - should offer tradition and star power. BYU and Oklahoma are two of only seven teams to have at least 32 victories over the past three seasons. The Cougars are 32-8 over that span. The Sooners are 34-7 entering Thursday's national championship game against the University of Florida.
And their starting quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, is expected to return for the 2009 season.
"The Cowboys have achieved amazing stature in our area and we are flattered that Jerry Jones and his organization would include our program in this way," Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops said. "We understand that the stadium is a showplace so it is an honor to play the first college game there, and I know the thousands of alumni and fans we have in the Metroplex will be excited to support Oklahoma in another game there. In bringing in BYU, the game will feature two schools with great traditions."
Oklahoma (12-1) and BYU (10-3) finished the 2008 regular season ranked No. 1 and No. 16, respectively, in the BCS standings.
BYU lost to Arizona, 31-21, in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 20. The Cougars, members of the Mountain West Conference, have played TCU in the Dallas-Fort Worth area two of the last three years.
"We appreciate the unique opportunity of being part of the first college game played in the new home of the Dallas Cowboys," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Given the strong football traditions of Oklahoma, BYU and the Dallas Cowboys, it's a fitting matchup and a perfect venue for what should be a great football game."
The Cowboys' new stadium, scheduled to open in time for the 2009-10 NFL season, also has been selected to host the 2009 and 2010 Dr. Pepper Big 12 football championships, the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, the annual Cotton Bowl starting in 2010, Super Bowl XLV in 2011 and the 2014 NCAA men's basketball Final Four. In March, the Cowboys announced that the stadium would host an annual Arkansas-Texas A&M football game for at least 10 years. Home | Email | Print | Register for New Alerts | RSS