All "indications" are that the Cowboys "will move"
their training camp, beginning next summer, from Midwestern
State Univ. (MSU) in Wichita Falls, TX, to the "upscale"
Sharyland Plantation development in McAllen, TX, in the Rio
Grande Valley, according to Ray Buck of the FT. WORTH STAR-
TELEGRAM. A team source said the Cowboys "will be in
McAllen" next year, and an announcement "is expected on or
around" August 18. Buck: "It apparently is a matter of
'when,' not 'if' the Cowboys will decline to renew their
lease with MSU, which has been on a year-to-year basis."
Buck adds that moving to McAllen "would mean that virtually
all" of Owner Jerry Jones' training camp costs "would be
covered." Mission and McAllen city councils voted this week
to 'split" the $350,000 that Jones will receive each year
for three years to relocate (FT. WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/10).
GIANT LEAP FOR UPSTATE NY: In Albany, Alan Hart writes
that the Giants will "continue to hold" training camp at the
Univ. of Albany through "at least" 2003. Giants Exec VP
John Mara, on the decision to remain in Albany: "I think we
decided on an extension because of the quality of the
facilities and because of the quality of the staff here"
(Albany TIMES UNION, 8/10). In N.Y., John Harper notes that
the team "considered a return" to Fairleigh Dickinson Univ.
(FDU) in NJ, but FDU "couldn't match the facilities [at
Albany], primarily the quality of six different practice
fields" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/10). Also in N.Y., Paul
Schwartz notes that the deal "contains no options, meaning
the Giants are here for the full three years" (N.Y. POST,
8/10). Mara added that terms of the deal "will not change,
leaving" the Giants "responsible" for food, security and
special events costs (Bergen RECORD, 8/10).
