It’s official.

Tony Romo will be the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

A former Panther will now lead “America’s Team” as head coach Bill Parcells finally saw enough of Drew Bledsoe getting sacked and sacked and sacked again and decided to give Romo, the 2003 Walter Payton Award winner, his chance at the helm.

Parcells said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon “the way (the Cowboys are) structured right now, (Romo) might be able to do a couple of things for us.”

What that means is that the Cowboys’ offensive line is so horrendous that statuesque Bledsoe could not survive behind it.

Romo can run or, more accurately, flee defenders as they crush the pocket around him.

During the Cowboys 36-22 loss Monday to the New York Giants, you could see how the Cowboys plan to use Romo. He was rolling out and shooting through holes in the pocket, getting free and completing passes. Romo played the entire second half and finished 14 of 25 for 227 yards.

The three-year Eastern starter also connected for two touchdowns and three interceptions.

While he did look frightened with Michael Strahan and Co. coming down on him, and his second interception, to Giants defensive tackle Fred Robbins, was awful (although I do love fat-man interceptions, remember Keith Traylor in 2001?), Romo did just fine in his first start of the season.

He made quicker, more accurate throws than Bledsoe did in the first half and Romo’s second touchdown pass, a 53-yard rocket to Patrick Crayton, was perfectly thrown with Crayton never having to break stride to catch it.

When Romo came in for Bledsoe during the Cowboys blowout victory against the Houston Texans on Oct. 15, he completed both of the passes he threw. One of them was a touchdown to Terrell Owens.

Romo also found Owens in the end zone Monday night. It appears that T.O. and Romo have some chemistry on the field.

Like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez earned the nickname “Bennifer,” Romo and Owens could become “To-Mo.” Or maybe not.

Romo will take his licks against a stud Panther defensive line, but he will be OK. Every time Romo can avoid a sack and complete a pass downfield instead, Parcells will be happy. So will Terrell Owens, who knows exactly what Romo is going through.

While Owens was a third round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 1996 and Romo was undrafted (but was quickly signed afterwards by the Cowboys to a free-agent contract), Owens did play at a small college.

Owens played college football for Tennessee-Chattanooga, a I-AA school, the same division as Eastern.

To prove the stars are aligning for Romo, UTC is also where Dennis Haskins, aka Mr. Belding, graduated in 1972.

In fact, some of the most recognized names in NFL history have played I-AA football, including: T.O., Jerry Rice, and Walter Payton.

And while it is unlikely Romo will be able replicate the success of any of those three, only one thing matters right now, he is starting.

Romo is getting his chance and nobody can take that away from him, because the Tuna has made it official.