Roof Collapse At Cowboys Training Camp?

[Ksyrup]

My mom just called from Texas and said tornado sirens are going off and there are reports that the roof collapsed at the practice camp where the Cowboys draftees are working out. Anyone else heard this? My mom's in Richardson.

[Ksyrup]

Looks like it is being reported locally, and no injuries.

Bubble that covers Cowboys indoor field collapses


03:44 PM CDT on Saturday, May 2, 2009


Associated Press

IRVING, Texas -- An air-supported practice bubble that covers a practice at the Dallas Cowboys practice facility collapsed during a strong thunderstorm on Saturday.

There were no reports of injuries. An ambulance was seen arriving at the scene. Emergency medical technicians were seen entering portions of the bubble that were still standing.

Irving fire-rescue officials ordered all reporters and team personnel away from the immediate area.

[JeeberD]

There are injuries. The local footage is amazing, the thing is destroyed...

Edit: No MAJOR injuries reported, at least. One film crew member broke his arm, a coach got a gash on his leg, the new special teams coach was carted off on a stretcher as well. All players and coaches have been accounted for, though...

[DeToxRox]

Tornado Hits Cowboys’ Practice Facility
Posted by Mike Florio on May 2, 2009, 4:53 p.m.

We’d never dream that watching NBC’s coverage of the Kentucky Derby would yield anything newsworthy for the site.

Unfortunately, it did.

During an interview of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones by Bob Costas, Jones disclosed that a tornado hit the team’s practice facility in Irving within the last half hour.

The team’s rookies were at the building for a minicamp practice, along with coaches, front-office employees, and some members of the media. There are no fatalities, but at least one injury.

Stay tuned.

[JeeberD]

http://twitpic.com/4fil4

[JeeberD]

Dola-

The reports here haven't confirmed a tornado yet, but there were 60-65 mph winds...

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Not sure what I'm looking at. Do you have a before photo?

[JeeberD]

Yeah, it's a shitty pic but it's the best I can find right now...

[JeeberD]

Before:

[kingfc22]

Damn...

[JeeberD]

I can't get the feed to work, but there's supposed to be live coverage here...

http://cbs11tv.com/

[DeToxRox]

Several Injuries At Cowboys’ Practice Facility
Posted by Mike Florio on May 2, 2009, 5:29 p.m.

More facts are coming to light regarding the collapse of the Dallas Cowboys’ indoor practice facility during a thunderstorm that still has not officially been described as a tornado.

Specifically, several Cowboys employees were injured when the roof fell.

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, special teams coach Joe DeCamillis was taken to a hospital on a stretcher, even though he appeared to be fine after the incident occurred. Also, secondary coach Brett Maxie suffered a laceration on his leg, and scout Chris Hall was trapped beneath the frame. Hall was speaking clearly, but reportedly has multiple arm injuries.

UPDATE: Per Bob Costas of NBC, citing Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple, all players and coaches have been accounted for. There seems to be a discrepancy, however, as to whether any coaches were injured.

[kcchief19]

Wow ... the footage is scary.

This will probably be the end of those ridiculously cheap practice bubbles. I've heard stories before about teams canceling practices during high winds. I suppose they might keep using the bubbles but just do away with ever using them in high winds, which seems to defeat the purpose of the bubble since the concept is to use it during inclement weather. Or teams will hold up cities to build permanent practice facilities without bubbles.

It's great news no one was seriously hurt.

[Scoobz0202]

Yahoo!

Here is a five minute video of the collapse from the inside. Very scary shit.

[CU Tiger]

ESPn reported a few minutes ago that DeCamillis has a broken back

[gstelmack]

This is where coaches need to take some responsibility - when the roof starts swaying like that, why are you lining up for another play?

[Oilers9911]

That was my question. Why the hell are they continuing the practice with the building swaying and shuddering like that?

[gstelmack]

Our YMCA has a bubble cover for the pool during the winter. If a bad storm moves in, they evacuate it.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by CU Tiger

ESPn reported a few minutes ago that DeCamillis has a broken back

I hope his mullet was ok.

[Tekneek]

Totally irresponsible to have anybody in a structure like that with severe weather in the area. It is 2009 and people should have learned to have a healthy respect for it by now.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Dallas Cowboys assistant paralyzed in facility collapse - ESPN

RVING, Texas -- A Dallas Cowboys scouting assistant sustained permanent paralysis from the waist down after he was injured when the team's tent-like practice structure collapsed in a severe storms.

The team announced that Rich Behm was in stable condition at Parkland Hospital on Sunday after surgery to stabilize a fracture that severed the spinal cord.

The 33-year-old Behm was among a dozen people hurt in the accident Saturday, and was one of three Cowboys staffers who remained hospitalized.

Joe DeCamillis, the team's special teams coach, sustained a fracture of one of his cervical vertebrae without paralysis. He was in stable condition and scheduled for surgery Monday.

[cartman]

Just read this in another account of the situation. Yikes!

Payne said Cowboys staff photographers were up in the metal framework beneath the canopy to film the practice session and "actually rode the building down with the storm."

"There was nowhere for them to go, and it fell so fast -- it just collapsed as if it was being imploded," Payne said.

[Neuqua]

Wow, intense video.