Stadium makes debut

Former Dallas Cowboys halfback Calvin Hill recalls stepping onto the field for the first time at Texas Stadium in 1971.

The sun shone through the hole in the roof, casting a metallic glow on the blue seats. As Hill and defensive tackle Bob Lilly gazed at the spongy plastic turf under their cleats, they were struck by the pristine conditions of their new surroundings.

“I wonder if we can spit on this stuff,” Lilly said.

Players from that 1971 team took much pride in protecting their turf. As the first tenants of Texas Stadium, many felt responsible for staging a show worthy of their new home. They did not want to be the first to lose a game there.

Thirty-eight years later, the Cowboys officially begin a new era tonight at Cowboys Stadium. They play the New York Giants in the first regular-season game at the $1.15 billion palace.

“That stadium is unbelievable,” said Hill, who played with Dallas from 1969-74. “I would just hope that history repeats itself in protecting home field. If you consider these guys as artists, I would hope they would be inspired by the stadium like a poet is to something unique in nature.”

Jerry Jones’ 3 million-square-foot playhouse features the longest retractable roof constructed and an HD video screen that hangs from one 20-yard line to the other. A crowd of about 100,000 is expected.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event for our team and our fans playing in the greatest stadium in the world,” coach Wade Phillips said.

Notes

The San Diego Chargers have placed defensive tackle Jamal Williams on injured reserve with a triceps injury, meaning he’ll miss the rest of the season. … The New England Patriots have downgraded three players for today’s game against the New York Jets. Offensive lineman Dan Connolly, who had a back injury, wideout Matt Slater, who injured his elbow, and cornerback Terrence Wheatley, who has a knee injury, also are out.