CROCKETT, Texas – As a boy, Antonio Ramiro Romo spent many Sundays at his grandparents' home listening to stories about his roots.
These days, Tony's fall afternoons are spent avoiding opponents' harsh blitzes instead of hearing the soothing sounds of his grandfather's guitar.
Now that Romo is the Cowboys' starting quarterback, the eyes of football fans are fixed on his touchdown passes and ready smile. In Crockett, the eyes of Tony's paternal grandparents can't stop beaming with pride.
"You come from another country with the hope of succeeding in the land of opportunity," said Ramiro Romo, 73, in Spanish. "But you never dream about this: [your grandson] becoming a professional football player, the quarterback of the Cowboys."
Like Cowboys fans everywhere, Ramiro, a Mexican immigrant, and Felicita, born in Robstown, Texas, have found Tony's rise as the new face of America's Team to be a welcome surprise. And like their famous grandson, they have noticed how life around them has changed since Tony's starting debut Oct. 29, a 35-14 win at Carolina.
The quarterback change revived a season that at 3-3 was all but written off, and it helped the Cowboys to their first playoff berth since 2003. It's no coincidence that Romo's life is now frequently detailed in the national spotlight.
And in an NFL where few Hispanics have left their mark, especially at quarterback, Romo's potential seems sky high.
"I understand how important this is," Romo said. "It's important to a lot of people. It's important to me."
Ramiro and Felicita are not immune to the Romomania. Their story has also been chronicled on national television – in Mexico. Their house in Crockett, in East Texas, has been flooded with phone calls. Letter writers claim to be long-lost relatives.
The Romos' American story begins more than 60 years ago in the Mexican town of Muzquiz, in the northern state of Coahuila.
That's where 11-year-old Ramiro's parents took the boy by the hand and headed north to San Antonio.
"At that time, coming and going was very common, and you didn't have problems," Ramiro said. "There weren't as many requirements – you didn't even need as many papers."
Seven years later, Ramiro's brother persuaded him to move to Wisconsin to help him overcome their mother's death.
Ramiro arrived with his cousin in Racine in November 1951, and the frigid weather promised to make their stay in Wisconsin a short one.
"My biggest hope was to learn English, work and return home [to Mexico]," he said.
But the climate did little to chill his lovesick heart when he met Felicita, a Racine resident and daughter of Mexican immigrants. They married in 1955.
So Ramiro stayed in Wisconsin, supporting his family with a variety of jobs ranging from factory worker to gas station owner.
After raising Ramiro Jr., who is Tony's dad, and adopted son Mustafa John, Ramiro and Felicita returned to Texas in 1980, eventually retiring to Crockett.
Shortly after his parents' return to Texas, Ramiro Jr. moved his own family – wife Joan and daughters Daniela and Jazmin – to a naval base in San Diego, where Antonio Ramiro was born on April 21, 1980. Two years later, Ramiro Jr. returned to Wisconsin, where Tony was raised.
Romo was a natural athlete growing up, recalled his grandfather, never encountering a sport he couldn't tackle.
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ROBERTO M. SANCHEZ / Al Dia Ramiro (right) and Felicita Romo proudly hold up a photo of their grandson, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. |
"My son Ramiro was the one who instilled the love of sports in him," the elder Romo said. "But he has exceeded any expectations that we had."
His talent may have taken Tony to the NFL, but Felicita, 72, is quick to say that if destiny had a hand in steering her grandson to Dallas, she helped point it that way.
En route to Wisconsin one year, Ramiro and Felicita dropped in on Tony, who at the time was Eastern Illinois' quarterback.
"I asked him if he would one day like to play for the Cowboys, and he told me, 'Look, Grandma, there's a chance. Anything is possible in this world; you taught me that.' And here he is," she said.
"So I deserve some of the credit."
Tony, the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA player of the year, signed as a free agent with the Cowboys in 2003.
The future Pro Bowler spent more than three seasons on the bench.
"I didn't want them to put him in there," Felicita joked. "I would tell him to stay on the bench – he'd get paid either way."
But the quarterback would tell his grandmother that that wasn't why he was there, that he was determined to show what he had to offer.
Romo calls his grandparents at least once a week. One particular call two months ago carried more excitement than usual.
Pack your bags for Carolina, the newly anointed starter told them.
"We couldn't believe it," Ramiro said. "We gave thanks to God."
The grandparents' home is now Crockett's hot spot. The phone rings off the hook, and strangers knock on the door daily.
"Sometimes we can't even go out on the street," Ramiro said. "People we don't even know come by for autographs, photos, keepsakes ... anything that has to do with Antonio."
Romo's popularity has crossed south into Mexico, which sends its share of press, promoters and aspiring relatives.
"I ask them about their history as well as their parents' and tell them to send me something in writing to see if we're from the same Romo branch," Ramiro said. "Maybe this is why all this is happening, so we can get to know more family."
Tony visited his grandparents during the off-season. He spoke to high school students and tossed the football around with cousins. He played his grandparents' piano and sang.
"He comes over to relax. That's why we never tell anyone when he's here," Felicita said. "He likes it when I make him huevos con chorizo."
The grandparents cite Romo's generous nature. He handles travel arrangements and tickets when they come to watch him play and puts them up in his apartment.
"The most important thing is how humble and sincere he is," Felicita said. "He's a good grandson, a good son."
Ramiro and Felicita insist that Romo, whose roots are German and Polish on his mother's side, is proud of his paternal heritage, despite being alienated from Mexican culture in Wisconsin.
"Unfortunately, I never taught him to speak Spanish," said Tony's father, Ramiro Jr.
Tony knows little about granddad Ramiro's homeland. He recalls visiting Los Cabos not too long ago but can't remember meeting any of his Mexican relatives.
What does come to mind is his grandparents' involvement with the Hispanic community, be it through church activities or by helping those wishing to learn English.
"When I was a boy, my grandpa had a radio program in Spanish," Romo said. "It had something to do with church. He was one of the few people [in Wisconsin] who spoke English and Spanish well."
The Crockett residence is nothing if not a shrine to the family and heritage. Photos of Tony are found in every corner.
"Look at this one," beckoned Felicita, pointing to a photograph of a Little Leaguer that shared an identical inscription with another image, this one of a certain Cowboys rookie: "To Grandma, With all my love and prayers, Tony Romo #9."
"Antonio gave it to me when he was a small boy. He used to say that he was practicing for when he became famous," Felicita said.
Over the years, the grandparents have prepared their home to receive family for Christmas. They know that this year will be different because of Tony's overnight success.
The Cowboys host Philadelphia this afternoon at Texas Stadium. A win over the Eagles will give Dallas its first NFC East title since 1998.
"We have to understand that Tony has less time and more responsibilities because of the Vaqueros," Felicita said.
Nevertheless, Ramiro and Felicita plan to spend Christmas and New Year's Eve in Dallas. The Cowboys close out the regular season against Detroit on Dec. 31.
Felicita will settle for family reunions at Texas Stadium, even if it means seeing her beloved Antonio get pounded by defensive linemen. Before every game, Felicita calls Tony and reads him religious passages, calling on a greater power to look over her grandson on the field.
"We're proud of the star that Tony wears on his helmet," Felicita said. "But to me, my grandson has always been a star in the sky."
E-mail cnava@aldiatx.com
SOME LATIN AMERICAN QUARTERBACKS IN NFL HISTORY
George Mira: San Francisco (1964-68), Philadelphia (1969), Miami (1971)
Joe Kapp: Minnesota (1967-69), Boston (1970)
Tom Flores: Oakland (1960-66), Buffalo (1967-69), Kansas City (1969)
Jim Plunkett: San Francisco (1971-77), Oakland/LA Raiders (1979-1986)
Jeff Garcia: San Francisco (1999-2003), Cleveland (2004), Detroit (2005), Philadelphia (2006)
J.P. Losman: Buffalo (2004-Current:)
Tony Romo: Cowboys (2003-Current)
SOURCE: Pro Football Hall of Fame
