Where Ross Goes, Winning Sure To Follow
Harold Wilson
IRVING - From high school to college and now the pros, where Aaron Ross goes, winning follows right behind.
The New York Giants rookie cornerback owned two championship game appearances and one national title to his credit before thinking super big, as in Super Bowl when he joined the New York Giants.
His goal to reach another ultimate game remains on track, with the Giants one of six teams still alive in the National Football League playoffs.
Thanks to the Dallas Cowboys, one of Ross's dreams already came true. Ross hopes to keep his other alive against the same team when Ross and the Giants enter Texas Stadium to take on the Cowboys in an NFC Divisional playoff game Sunday.
The NFL career of the former John Tyler and University of Texas star started at Texas Stadium, a game Dallas defeated New York 45-35 on Sept. 7. In the aftermath of the loss, Ross remained positive, especially after the experience of playing practically down the street from Tyler and in front of more than 40 family members and friends.
"Being from Texas and having my first game at Texas Stadium was a dream come true," said the first-round draft pick following the defeat.
For a player used to playing in big games, Ross retained the same mind frame in the supreme league. Ross played on JT's 2000 team that advanced to the Class 5A Division II state championship game and also on for Texas' 2005 national championship team.
"As far as the team, I want to see us play in the big game," said Ross, who tallied one tackle in New York's first game against Dallas and two in the rematch, a 31-20 win by the Cowboys.
Since that first road loss, New York has looked super away from home in compiling an 8-1 record on the road, the best mark in the NFC.
Ross's role appeared undefined early on, something that became clearer with time. Ross started the first Dallas game, but played in mostly nickel situations and on special teams.
Not long after, Ross moved to the first team for good, starting in nine of 15 games he appeared in during the regular season. In the process, he amassed 42 tackles, including 35 solo, in addition to 1.5 sacks and three interceptions. His best game came in Week 5 against the New York Jets, when he picked off two passes and returned one for a 43-yard touchdown.
In New York's 24-14 win over Tampa Bay last week in a wild card matchup, Ross recorded four solo stops.
Slowing down a Dallas offense that ranked second in the NFC in total offense (365.7) and fourth in passing yards per game (256.6) figures to be quite the challenge. Or maybe not.
New York's defense ranked second in the NFC in total yards allowed per game (305.0) and passing yards allowed per game (207.3).
Each team comes in with key concerns health-wise with Dallas receiver Terrell Owens banged up and New York cornerbacks Sam Madison and Kevin Dockery each nursing injuries.
As for Ross, his only concern is for the past to repeat itself and for him to earn a trip to the last game of the season. Again.
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