OXNARD, Calif. \u2013 Training camp officially kicked off for the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday with the team\u2019s opening ceremony.<\/p>\n
Pro Football Hall of Fame member, and former Cowboys great, Charles Haley addressed the crowd at the beginning of the ceremony.<\/p>\n
During media availability, Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer was asked about whether he felt the energy surrounding the ceremony.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, I feel it,\u201d Schottenheimer said. \u201cI think it\u2019s a big day. We try to throw great practices every day whether we\u2019re by ourselves or no one\u2019s out here \u2014 that\u2019s where the music helps. The coaches should always drive the energy. This is pretty special because we love having the fans come out here in Oxnard, California. We feel like this is really our second home. It should be a great day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Compared to the first two days of camp, fans will get to see the Cowboys be more physical.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe say play on the edge without going over the edge,\u201d Schottenheimer told the media. \u201cWe\u2019ll be in shells (wearing helmets and shoulder pads instead of full pads) today, which is different. It\u2019s part of the NFL-mandated ramp-up. First two days you\u2019re in helmets, and now you\u2019re in shells.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the coach wants the players to get after it, he also wants to see them come out of practice healthy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe biggest thing we emphasize is run your feet. You got to run your feet \u2014 once your feet stop, then guess what happens: guys coming from your left or right or front or behind get tangled up. I think that\u2019s where we can get better,\u201d Schottenheimer told the media.<\/p>\n
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones presented the mayor of Oxnard, Luis A. McArthur with a $25,000 check, an annual donation celebrating the partnership between the Cowboys and Oxnard.<\/p>\n