Local Ford dealer accompanies Cowboys to 9-11 Jets game
Susan Harrison
Monitor Staff Writer
MABANK–Despite the Dallas Cowboys loss to the New York Jets 24-27 in the last 27 seconds of the football game at new MetLife Stadium (Meadowlands Stadium) in New Jersey, Andrea Pickens and son, Chris, enjoyed their trip with the Cowboys to the game.
Yes, that is “with” the Cowboys to the game.

Courtesy Photo
Owner of Tri-County Ford in Mabank Andrea Pickens stands with her son, Chris Pickens, Tri-County Ford’s parts and service director, Sept. 11 at MetLife Stadium (Meadowlands Stadium) in New Jersey prior to the start of the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets football game.

Andrea Pickens, as a Dallas Area Ford Dealer Advertising Board Member, was the winner of a drawing for two to attend the Cowboys – Jets game Sept. 11.
The Ford Company is an advertising sponsor of the Dallas Cowboys.
Andrea Pickens is also the owner of Tri-County Ford in Mabank and her son, Chris Pickens is Tri-County Ford’s parts and service director.
They flew with the Cowboys on a plane to Newark, N.J., stayed at the same hotel, went on the field with the Cowboys during their game practice, watched the game and flew home with them after the game.

Courtesy Photo
The view of the game from Andrea and Chris Pickens’ seats at the MetLife Stadium Sept. 11 as they watch the Dallas Cowboys take on the New York Jets.

Pickens left Dallas-Fort Worth Airport Saturday, Sept. 10 about 1 p.m. in a chartered American Airlines plane. The plane was on the tarmac and passengers boarded the plane by steps either to the back or front of the plane.
“There wasn’t anything different about the plane, but drinks and snacks were available as you entered the plane. There were very accommodating,” Andrea explained.
When asked if the seating was different, Andrea said “no, but some of the veteran players had empty seats between themselves.”
“This was a business trip for them,” Andrea explained that team owner Jerry Jones met with the coaches and staff when they arrived and on Sunday before the game.
“We were not allowed to take pictures or ask for autographs,” Andrea said.
She visited briefly with Cowboys game radio announcers Babe Laufenberg and Brad Sham. “I did have my picture taken with Babe prior to going into the stadium,” Andrea shared.
“We stayed with the Cowboys at the Renaissance Hotel at the airport (Newark) and the Cowboys were on the floor above us,” Andrea said.
“We were taken by buses from the airport to the hotel, to the game and back to the airport along with multiple police escorts,” Andrea explained about transportation.
Chris and Andrea visited Times Square in New York City Saturday night. “There were lots of police and out-of-town firemen and policemen in town for the dedication of the memorial,” Andrea shared.
“It was amazing on the field. I had the opportunity to watch up close warm-ups and practice. Many times I could have reached out and touched the players,” Andrea said about arriving at the game on Sunday. Players would sometimes respond to someone in the stands calling their name.
“We saw Bon Jovi visit with Jerry Jones on the sidelines,” Andrea said when asked about seeing any celebrities at the game.
“Our seats were in the upper section at a corner of an end zone,” Andrea explained that this was where Cowboys seat visiting guests at Cowboy Stadium.
“We were in the middle of a lot of Jets fans but also military personnel,” Andrea said and also shared that the Jets had given over 300 tickets to many who were stationed in the area over the weekend. “Most of those by us were in the Navy,” Andrea added.
“It was impressive to be in New York on 9-11 watching the Jets play ‘America’s’ team, the Dallas Cowboys,” Andrea explained.

Courtesy Photo
Half-time tribute to the victims of 9-11 terrorist attack against the United States during the Dallas Cowboys–New York Jets game at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The small lights outline footprints and the square lights are the ghosts of the Twin Towers.

Tributes were taking place everywhere and during the halftime performance, victims or members of their families made an outline of the footprint of the twin towers.
The United States was attacked by terrorist flying planes into the twin towers in New York City. The attack collapsed the buildings and killed thousands of people.
Each person in the half-time performance, had a hand-held light and in the center of each footprint there were four floodlights. They formed a square to give the illusion of ghost towers, Andrea explained.
“Many of the chants in the stadium were not for the Jets or the Cowboys, but for U-S-A, over and over, louder and louder,” Andrea said.
From the beginning of the singing of the National Anthem to the song’s end, there was a roar of cheering and clapping, she added.
After the game, we had dinner on the plane with the team. “We left for DFW at 2 a.m. and arrived in Dallas at 4:15 a.m.,” Andrea said which was about two hours after the game was over and everyone had been checked for security at the stadium.
“The flight was very quiet all the way home,” Andrea said.
“We did have a really good time but it was just a very quick turnaround,” Andrea said.