Ravens get first shot at `America's Team'

Thursday, November 16th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

BALTIMORE (AP) _ It's been a busy week for the Baltimore Ravens, for reasons that have nothing to do with game preparation or the media crush in the wake of their rousing win over the Tennessee Titans.

For the first time in 19 years, the Dallas Cowboys are coming to town. The game was sold out months ago, and the players are scrambling to accomodate friends and family yearning to watch the Ravens' inaugural game against America's Team.

``Everyone's running around for tickets,'' said right tackle Spencer Folau, who quickly used up his allotment of six. ``I've gotten so many calls this week. ... Even if they were 1-10, it wouldn't matter. Everyone wants to see this team.''

The Cowboys (4-6) aren't nearly as good as they once were. But they still have Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, they still wear those distinctive silver and blue uniforms, and they still are arguably the most popular team in professional sports.

``We've got a great Dallas Cowboy team coming in,'' Ravens coach Brian Billick said. ``I say great because they are still America's Team, make no doubt about it. This was one of the first games we sold out. Fox has their No. 1 crew, and they're not here to see the Baltimore Ravens. They're here to see Troy and Emmitt and the Dallas Cowboys.''

Some of the Ravens feel the same way.

``It will be interesting to see some of those guys who won championships,'' Baltimore guard Mike Flynn said. ``Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith, seeing them on field will be a little special.''

The last time the Cowboys visited Baltimore was in 1981 for a game against the Colts, long before Aikman and Smith teamed to make Dallas a perennial contender. It's been a down year for the 'Boys, but no one would dare consider them merely another sub-.500 team.

``America's Team is just something people put on us for being one of the most successful franchises in the NFL, and I would have to say we still have that reputation,'' first-year coach Dave Campo said.

``When you look at what this team has done over time, the Super Bowls they've won, this franchise has been as successful as any one in the league,'' Aikman said.

Coming off their upset of the defending AFC champion Titans, the Ravens (7-4) have a much better shot at reaching the postseason than do the Cowboys. But neither team is talking about the playoffs _ the Ravens don't want to get ahead of themselves, and the Cowboys simply want to see how it all plays out.

``There will be fines levied for anybody in this organization who talks about the `P' word, who talks about anything but the Dallas Cowboys,'' Billick said this week.

``We don't even talk about playoffs,'' Campo said. ``All we talk about is getting ready for this game against Baltimore. At this point our guys are playing extremely hard, not playing very smart at times. That's something we have to do this week.''

If Dallas is to mount a playoff charge, Aikman must be healthy. The quarterback has been sidelined because of a concussion and bothered by a bad back, but his aching back won't keep him out of Sunday's game.

``It doesn't feel great, but it's not going to keep me from playing this week,'' he said.

Smith, who gained a mere 16 yards on 17 carries last week (the worst total of his career) in the Cowboys' 23-6 rout of Cincinnati, now faces the top-ranked defense in the league. The Ravens haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 28 games.

``It's another challenge for our defense, Emmitt Smith, a Hall of Fame back, runnning behind a strong offensive line,'' Billick said. ``I'm sure they feel like, even though we've been incredible against the run, that they can come in and push us around a little bit.''

It was suggested this week that Billick might be harboring some resentment toward the Cowboys, who cut him from the team in the late '70s.

``They let me hang around longer I deserved,'' Billick laughed. ``There's no revenge involved here.''