IRVING, Texas - In a way, the final game at Texas Stadium brought the legacy of the Dallas Cowboys franchise full circle. The inaugural game on October 24, 1971, was a 44-21 victory over the New England Patriots and a stop on the road to an appearance in Super Bowl V. The final game was an embarrassing 33-24 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that basically made the 2008 Cowboys' hope for a late run to the playoffs that much tougher.

Over 38 years, the home of "America's Team" saw five world championships, seven conference championships, the setting of the NFL rushing title and countless other victories. The stadium also saw just 10 losing seasons and a few periods without a playoff win.

One thing the Cowboys have always had, however, regardless of their ups and downs, are loyal fans. Despite the depressing loss on Saturday night, many braved the 30-degree temperatures to honor their favorite football legends. One-by-one, the radio voice of the Dallas Cowboys Brad Sham called out players from the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s as they walked that familiar path down the tunnel and through the line of Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Finally, the Ring of Honor names were called and streamers were shot from the suites above each name. The only ones not present: Troy Aikman, Don Meredith and the late Tom Landry (1924-2000), Tex Schramm (1920-2003) and Bob Hayes (1942-2002).

Former quarterback Roger Staubach took the microphone and shared a few of his favorite memories of Texas Stadium, but was most concerned about paying his respects to the fans.

"We won a lot of games because we were a good team," said Staubach, "but also because you were our fans. Thank you."

In between the end of the game and the start of the ceremony, the Top 10 moments at Texas Stadium were displayed on the video screens. Toward the end of the ceremony, Brad Sham introduced the number one most memorable moment at the stadium in Irving, Texas: October 27, 2002, the day Emmitt Smith broke the NFL's all-time rushing record. Watching the highlight reel, Smith began to tear up.

"My fondest memory was after I got drafted and I came to Dallas from Pensacola, Fla.," said Smith. "I came to the stadium at night and it was dark except for a light shining through the hole in the roof. There was dirt on the ground because there was a tractor pull the next day. I read the names on the Ring of Honor: Lilly, Meredith, Dorsett, and I thought, 'these guys have paved the way for young guys like me and I do not want to disappoint. Every time I step on that field I have to represent the star. I want to have my name up there.'

"The day I broke the record," he continued, "at the stadium with the hole in the top so God can look down on his favorite team, was special because of my son, six months old at the time, and my wife. The Super Bowls weren't as special as that day because I didn't have a family to share it with."

The lowering of Emmitt Smith's rushing-record banner and the Super Bowl banners signified the final move from Texas Stadium to the new stadium in Arlington. Team owner and general manager Jerry Jones took to the podium to close the ceremony.

"This stadium is the only one home to five world championships and seven conference championships," Jones told the crowd. "These players and coaches know it was nothing without the fans."

And so it ends, not on the high note for which many had hoped, but it is the end just the same. The lights are out at Texas Stadium.