On my 16^th birthday, Nov. 16, I received tickets to the  Nov. 21 Lions vs. Cowboys game. This was the first time I had ever gone to an NFL game, and though I had expectations, the game was nowhere near what I ever imagined.

The evening before the game, my dad, cousin and I checked into an Arlington motel where we got a clear view of the new Cowboys Stadium. We could see half of the roof from a mile away.

The next day we made it into the dome after coming from a $40 parking lot, and as we stepped into the stadium, its sheer size became real. I had to bend back to see the ceiling’s highest point. You could probably fit the Statue of Liberty in there. We wandered around as much of the stadium as our tickets allowed, seeing lines at concession stands and crowds in the pro shops. Even at this point, when Dallas was 2-7, personnel still served mass after mass of fans.

While I did not mind much since I had a great view of the game, our tickets were in Section 417, near the top of the stadium. The only cheaper seats were not seats, but places in the standing-room-only section. Being as high up as we were meant sitting eye-level with the 60-yard-wide Jumbotron/Jerrytron. I do not think my pictures of it even captured the entire screen.

The fans at the stadium did not just talk trash, they talked something worse–something I will not mention. Expletives flew all around in our section. Curses streamed back and forth between Lions fans and Cowboys fans. At least the game and rest of the stadium distracted me enough to not think too much of it.

The game itself made the 12-hour round trip and money worth the time. If you hear stories about how loud the fans are at Cowboys games, believe them. Their noise was deafening whenever the opponent had the ball. When Dallas turned it over, made a great play or scored, I could not hear myself think. I do not even remember thinking. I went about as crazy as the other 90,000+ patrons, more so when Bryan McCann scored on a 97-yard punt return in the third quarter and Jon Kitna ran a touchdown in from 29 yards out in the fourth.

By the half, Detroit led 10-7.   The halftime show was unique and a relief from the action. The Cowboys featured Emmitt Smith, who received his Hall of Fame ring, the final token of confirmation into the Canton, Ohio shrine. Smith gave a thankful speech for what he had, how he ended up as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher and encouraged the crowd to stay loud during the second half.

Overall, the experience of being right there and watching my favorite team in the NFL play well and win was thrilling and fun. I loved every second I was in that gigantic stadium. I would suggest going to a season game when you have the chance.