Letters to the Editor are typed word for word, comma for comma, as sent to this newspaper.
Fan Concerned About Handicap Accessibility At Cowboys Games
I am a fan. I’m a fan of both the Cowboys and our community. So the spirit of this letter is more of concern than complaint. After traveling to both Moultrie and Monticello, I was impressed with the priority given to handicap access and seating. The Trinity game was my first home game since breaking my leg. I was dismayed at the fact that we offer no visible aid for handicapped fans.
I was told I could park closer only after walking a long way to the gate. Getting into the stands was sadly a bit of a spectacle. There are no ramps except for the band, and no access to that ramp from the gate side of the stadium. I had to put the majority of my weight on a leg that is still healing and pull myself up the steps in a manner that was both painful and embarrassing. I had the pleasure of repeating this process on the way down. One fan even commented that, “this isn’t right!” I wholeheartedly agree.
I am not a wuss, and I can take me some pain. Discomfort is not the issue. But I believe that football in this town represents this town. I want the love and compassion that I know are a huge part of our community to be obvious to fans on both sides of the field. And frankly, I would like to attend future home games. As it now stands, I’ll have to sit them out until I recover fully. There is no room in the Cowboy inn for me. I’m still a fan, and I still love my town. But the celebrating will have to wait for the evening news. I know we can do better than this, and I hope we do soon. Go Cowboys!
Sincerely, Mickey Starling
Editor’s Note: I spoke with Cowboy Head Coach Mike Coe and he said that there is a wheelchair ramp at the south end of the stadium next to the field house. After examining the ramp, Mickey wrote, “The band ramp is a long way off, saw no signs permitting its use, and it’s near the end zone, with a fence preventing you from picking your own seat. As I said we can do better!”
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