Tom Orsborn reports that the president of Summit Structures flew to Dallas to survey his company's collapsed practice facility and to offer support to the organization.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and their families," said Nathan Stobbe of Summit Structures. "This is obviously a very difficult time for each of them and for the Cowboys organization. "
[snip]
"I have flown to Texas along with other representatives of our company to assist in anyway possible," Stobbe said. "We will be working with the Cowboy's organization and local professionals and officials to fully assess this severe weather event."
Stobbe on the building of this particular facility:
"As some basic background: Summit Structures installed this facility in 2003, which was manufactured at our manufacturing plant in Saskatoon, Canada. The engineering, and related approvals for the facility were managed by professional engineers licensed to practice engineering in Texas, both in 2003 and again in 2008 when the building was upgraded and a new roof covering was installed on the facility.
"We understand there is a great deal of concern and curiosity about what happened on Saturday, but rather than speculate, we are focused on being part of the effort to find answers and assist the team."
The company also released an official statement on the matter.
More after the jump.
The Cowboys' organization is finding ways to move on from the accident.
Other options for an indoor facility are easily attainable.
Before the construction of their facility in 2003, the team had used Southlake Carroll as an option.
Now, all three Plano high schools have indoor practice facilities. Other possibilities can be found in McKinney and Prosper. Allen offers an air-conditioned building that might be the equal of some college facilities.
The offseason conditioning program will continue.
The program will resume today. Almost all of the veterans have been regular participants in the voluntary program that started March 30 and included some sessions in the training facility.
Players have been working out four times a week in three separate groups. Rookies are not permitted, per league rules, to return until the middle of the month.
Coach Joe DeCamillis is scheduled for surgery today. Marc Colombo praised the coach's courage.
"He was in good spirits," said right tackle Marc Colombo, who visited DeCamillis at Parkland Hospital. "He's a tough SOB. I think he'll be all right."
Many other Dallas players including Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Cory Proctor, and Mat McBriar expressed their support to the families of the injured staff.
The Class of 2009 already boasted some friendships that were reunited when the players were drafted by the Cowboys. Tim MacMahon suggests that this weekend's tragedy will only bring them closer together.
There were already several friendships among the rookies. Mike Mickens and DeAngelo Smith roomed together at Cincinnati. Victor Butler and Jason Williams roomed together at the East-West Shrine Game. Tatum's Stephen Hodge and Gilmer's Manuel Johnson have been friendly rivals since their days as middle schoolers in East Texas.
Now, all the rookies have something in common besides an employer. They went through a crisis together, and the players handled themselves with poise and dignity as they did whatever possible to help during the emergency.
The Oregonian caught news of rookie LB and former Beaver Victor Butler's heroic deeds this weekend.
In the Associated Press photo that moved yesterday, it was noted that Butler - and this would surprise no one at OSU who knew him - was among the players who was helping people get ou[t] of the facility.
On a much lighter note, Vanity Fair gave Jessica's spin on #9 and the pressure of dating the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.
When I asked Jessica about the controversy-her place in the psyche of certain fans-she said, "That's how the story goes. Can't help it. But we don't let it affect our relationship. If we did, we wouldn't be together, because it happened at the very beginning. Dating the Cowboys quarterback comes with hype, the fans, the bloggers, but I've never dated a guy that was more simple. I'm always there for him after a game, and he knows he has me to come home to."
Jess can't be referring to BTBers-hehe! There's definitely a fair share of anti-YokoRomoism here.
Hat tip to Boundforbeach for his post.