Tony Romo - A Legend In The Making?

The consistent high performance of the Dallasconsensus All-America honors. He was also
Cowboys, over a span of more than 30 years,selected All-Ohio Valley Conference and was
has made the team a fan favorite not only in thenamed OVC Player of the Year for the three
state of Texas and the United States butstraight years.
internationally, as well. The Dallas Cowboys of theDespite intriguing some scouts, Tony Romo went
NFL, "America's Team", have also tasted successundrafted during the 2003 NFL draft and was
off the field and are considered one of the mostsigned by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted
valuable sports teams in North America. It is therookie free agent. Romo entered the 2003
play on the field, and the individuals who havetraining camp, third on the Cowboys' depth chart.
contributed to that play, that is at the heart ofIn 2004, the Cowboys signed veteran
the Cowboys great success.quarterback Vinny Testaverde and Romo faced
Numerous players have donned the single star,being cut until another quarterback was released
blue and white jerseys of the Dallas Cowboys,following allegations of substance abuse.
taken to the field at Texas Stadium, and left theirTestaverde's tenure in Dallas would end in 2005,
mark on the team, the fans, the NFL, the state,at which time the Cowboys signed their 8th
the country and far beyond. Indeed, the NFLstarting Dallas Cowboys quarterback since 2000,
Dallas Cowboys are an exceptional team with aveteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
formidable past and countless all-stars such asRomo had strong showings in the 2005 and 2006
Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Roger Staubach,pre-seasons and in October of 2006 he took over
to name just a few. The skill and achievementsthe starting Dallas Cowboys quarterback role at
of these all-stars have created legends and Dallasthe beginning of the second half on Monday Night
Cowboys history. Thanks to these players andFootball. Two days following that game it was
countless others over the years, the Dallasannounced by Cowboys head coach, Bill Parcells,
Cowboys are one of the most successful teamsthat Romo would be the starting quarterback for
in the history of the NFL and hold numerousthe next game on October 29 on NBC Sunday
league records. They hold the league record forNight Football. Romo led the Cowboys to victory
most consecutive winning seasons - 20 in all -in his first game as a starter, 35-14 and was
from 1966 to 1985, as well as the record fornamed Sunday Night Football's "Rock Star of the
most seasons with at least 10 wins (24). As well,Game." Wins at Texas Stadium against the
they have been Super Bowl Champions five timesIndianapolis Colts, the NFL's last unbeaten team,
a record they share with the San Francisco 49ersand the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on Thanksgiving
and Pittsburgh Steelers.The list of team recordsDay, followed. In the Thanksgiving Day game
which are part of the Dallas Cowboys history isRomo went 22-29 with 306 yards and five
numerous.touchdown passes without an interception,
The Dallas Cowboys are looking to return to theirbecoming the highest rated quarterback in the
glory days and it is hoped that the leadership ofleague and tying a franchise record for touchdown
the current Dallas Cowboys quarterback, Tonypasses in a game set by others, most recently
Romo, will take them there. Romo attendedTroy Aikman. For his efforts, Romo was named
college at Eastern Illinois Universtiy in CharlestonFOX's Thanksgiving Day MVP. He finished out the
where he had a stellar career. In 2002 he was theregular season by helping the Cowboys clinch a
first player in Eastern Illinois and Ohio Valleyplayoff berth, the second since Bill Parcells
Conference to win the Walter Payton Award,became the coach in 2003. On December 19,
given annually to the nation's top player at the2006, it was announced that in just his first year
NCAA Division I-AA level. He finished his careeras a starter, Romo would be attending the 2007
holding school and conference records and alongPro Bowl.
with the Walter Payton Award, Romo earned