The Greggs 'Cowboy up' with fan cave
HEBRON - Jerry Jones, take note. More than 16 hours and 900 miles away from Dallas, there's a Cowboys Hall of Fame.
OK, it's one room in the home of Rusty and Allison Gregg, who live in the Lakewood School District. But it's a virtual shrine to "America's Team."
"Everything in here has a purpose," Rusty said. "We try to have something from the different eras."
The Greggs have the actual sketch from a cartoon for the 1961 Dallas Morning News, depicting the poor Cowboys going up against the mighty Green Bay Packers in the opener of just their second season. Dallas went winless in its first year. It was obtained through auction after one of the Cowboys' biggest fans died.
"A lot of the things we have were obtained through auction," Rusty said. "The Pro Football Hall of Fame wanted this, but we weren't giving it up."
They have a football signed by "The Triplets" — Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Troy Aikman — along with coach Jimmy Johnson after Dallas won the Super Bowl in 1993. A throwback Tony Dorsett No. 33 jersey hangs on the wall, signed by Dorsett, Randy White and Drew Pearson. There is a hat signed by LeeRoy Jordan and Super Bowl MVP Chuck Howley, and hats signed by the entire team in both seasons Bill Parcells coached. There's also a 1980s football signed by Danny White.
"I have every Dallas Topps rookie card since 1969, when Roger Staubach was drafted," Rusty said.
The Greggs also are Ohio State fans, and it's apparent through the Cowboys memorabilia: Joey Galloway's No. 84 jersey from the late 1990s, a football signed by Eddie George the one season he played for Dallas and a signed action shot of Michael Wiley running the ball for the Cowboys.
"We have a lot of other stuff stowed away, but this is the most valuable," Rusty said. "This is exactly the way it sits, the year around. Occasionally, we dust everything off."
So what started all this Dallas devotion?
"When I was a kid, I had Tony Dorsett pajamas," Rusty said. "Then No. 44, Robert Newhouse, still my favorite number."
Then came his wife, Allison.
"I was 18 when we met, and he converted me into it," she said. "He kind of looks like Troy Aikman, don't you think? He has those big blue eyes."
One of the Greggs' fondest memories comes from the 2010 Hall of Fame weekend in Canton, when Emmitt Smith was inducted.
"It was the perfect weekend for us," Allison said. "We got to see the induction, were at an autograph signing, had lunch and dinner with the Dallas greats like Bob Lilly and Mel Renfro. Plus, the Cowboys played in the game. It was hands on with all those players. Was it expensive? Yes, but it's one of the top three things we've ever done."
Maybe a not-so-fond memory came from a surprise by Allison's dad, Gary Wilking, who lives in Charlotte and worked for a company licensed to sell NFL, NBA and MLB memorabilia.
"He took us to a Monday Night Football game in Chicago," Allison said. "We were 17 seats from the field. But the problem was, they were in the middle of Bears' fans. I held up a sign that said, 'Aikman, beat Chicago,' and we kept getting harassed. But it was still worth it."
They've watched the Cowboys play several times in Cincinnati, and they have been to Charlotte and Chicago as well. But they've never been to a Dallas home game.
"We were in Dallas for a couple car audio shows, but they were out of town both times," Rusty said.
However, they own a piece of the old Texas Stadium, and they are part of Jones' glittering new AT&T Stadium as well.
Part of their Dallas room includes a piece of turf from Texas Stadium. And one of their most prized possessions is a replica of a brick they purchased that paves the way into AT&T Stadium.
"We payed to pave the place for them," Allison jokes. "It's part of the Legacy Walk."
The brick is inscribed with "Diehard Cowboys Fans From Ohio" - The Greggs.
They aren't inclined to go to many games any more. They have the perfect setting in their basement. With the help of Rusty's sister, Kim Baker, they built a theater room complete with movie-sized screen; vibrating, electric recliners; and movie posters in lights. While the Cowboys are on the main screen, there are three TVs behind the bar so they don't miss out on any NFL action.
"It was seven months of hard work, but it was worth it," Allison said. "We spend most of our time down here."
"It's so much easier to watch games down here," Rusty said. "We get pretty vocal during the games."
Still, they long for a pilgrimage to AT&T Stadium for a game.
"It's on our bucket list," Allison said.
Jerry Jones, are you listening?
dweidig@newarkadvocate.com.
740-328-8557
Twitter: @noz75
Show us your fan caves
Dave Weidig is doing a series of features on Licking County "fan caves," sports rooms and basements. They can involve any team, athlete or sport.
If you want to show off your passion and fandom, or know of someone who would like to, contact him at dweidig@newarkadvocate.com, 740-328-8557, or through Twitter at @noz75.