Los Angeles has the Rams, and the Chargers. San Francisco has the 49ers. But, for two weeks, Oxnard once again is home to its very own pro football team, the Dallas Cowboys, as the community hosts the team’s annual summer training camp.
Fans shout out encouragement to their favorite players as they literally stand on the practice field sidelines, or sit in nearby bleachers during team practices.
Die-hard fans of the team, from all over the country, travel for the chance to attend the practices, which are open to the public. Eileen Enpeagian from Arlington, Texas, is here with her friend Monique Paine from Los Angeles.
The fact that Southern California is home to the World Champion Rams doesn't bother the duo.
"This is America's team... everywhere in America is our territory," said Enpeagian.
Danny Bertran on the sidelines of the practice field with his wife, Yvonne. He said win or lose, he will always be a Cowboys fan.
"My whole life... my whole life... nothing better," said Bertran. "Coming here to watch them practice... we're die-hard fans."
The El Segundo couple is so die-hard that instead of hosting a traditional family Thanksgiving dinner, they travel to Dallas every Thanksgiving week for the game, and whoever wants to come can join them.
Joey and Gavin Burns from Lakeland, Florida are at the Cowboys camp for the very first time. Their father brought them. Joey is a huge fan of Micah Parson, and has been waving a homemade sign at the outside linebacker.
"We're the biggest Dallas Cowboys fans here," said Burns.
When asked if he was always a Cowboys fan, he said he dad brought him up right.
But, not everyone is exactly excited to be here.
"Uh, I was kind of forced to come," said Emma Madison, from Albuquerque, New Mexico She's here because her mother Karen is a huge Cowboys fan.
The Madisons' friend, Trish Sing, calls coming to California for the training camp a perfect vacation… well, at least a perfect vacation for a Cowboys fan.
"This is like the fourth time I've been here... it's so much fun... seeing them on the field for the first time of the season is fun," said Sing.
Her daughter, Nina Sing, said coming out to California from New Mexico is fun. But, she admits she was born into Cowboy-nation.
"I can't be in my house if I'm not (a Cowboys fan)," said Sing. "I'd get kicked out."
The Cowboys are holding more than a dozen public practices at the River Ridge Fields in Oxnard between now, and August 10. You have to pay for parking, but admission to the practices is free.
