When did you start?

[old-timer]

Started in 1969 when all the hoopla about Lombardi came to town. Although I remember as a kid seeing them on a black and white tv in the mid-60's, nobody was too much concerned about them til then because they were perennial jokes. Except for Sonny Jurgensen of course, for many years he was the only thing we had about the Skins to be proud of..

Living and dying with the 'Skins came when George Allen was coach in the early 70's. Until George Allen was here, this team never had a real commitment to winning, and I don't think Allen's importance can be understated in that regard. I'll never forget how the Post continuously slighted Allen in those days, the writers at the Post felt he was too consumed with winning. Allen had no problem admitting that 'losing was like dying' and somehow that, I guess, made a connection with me that has never been broken.

Of course until free agency became pervasive, football was different. As a fan before free agency you knew every player on the roster every year, and every rookie. The Cowboys games were not football games, they were moral crusades, with the fate of Western Civilization at stake. The game is much easier to let go of these days with the high roster turnover.

[Justice Hog]

I was in 5th grade when I started actively following the/rooting for the Skins.

1974

[Long-Time Skins Fan]

When I was 11 in 1983. I remember standing on the seats to see the field. Everyone always stood up because the first row was ground level right behind the player bench so everyone stood to see over them. RFK... energy that place had.

I've been lucky enough to have gone to 3 superbowls.

Raders in FL Dressed in Riggo gear
Broncos in San Diego Record City!
Buffalo in Minneapolis Brrrr... Cold!

[HitDoctor]

'71. First game was the conference championship game vs. dallass. Great ride ever since

[sch1977]

Since about 84-85!

[crazyhorse1]

I started watching when I was ten years old in 1953. Television didn't hit my hometown until about 1950. By 1955 I was a fairly sophisticated follower of the likes of Gene Brito, Charlie Justice, and Eddie LeBaron. An older kid in my neighborhood when I moved to the city became a Redsking quarterback, Norman Snead, and I played high school and college ball with his brother, Charlie. I also played with Chris Hanburger and later dated the same girl that dated a Redskin quarterback. Later, still, I played college ball with a number of NFL players but no future Redskins. I was invited to camp by the Cowboys, but not by Washington, and then ended up as a college professor and taught two future Redskin players as well as a number who later played with other NFL teams. As a high school player, I was taught by Otto Graham in a football camp he used to run in the summer, as well as Bud Sherrill. I also had a long term relationship with Otis Douglas, who coached in the Canadian Football league and played with Steve Van Buren of the Eagles in the NFL. One of my former students is still in the NFL.
Thanks for the excuse to go tripping down memory lane.
By the way, I have to believe that Graham was the worse Redskin coach of all time. He didn't work at all at job and had no system whatsoever. After the excitement of his career, he had no interest.
In my opinion, the greatest RB of All Time was Jim Brown, the greatest full back Marion Motley, the greatest QB Johnny Unitas. I never saw Baugh play. The greatest Skins players I've ever seen are Larry Brown, Bobby Mitchell, Charlie Taylor, the whole Hogs offensive line, Sonny Jurgenson, Ken Houston, Diron Talbot, Dave Butz, and Champ Bailey.

[SCSkinsFan]

Moved to the Maryland suburbs in 1956. Season ticket holder since the first day RFK opened and before that went to games at old Griffith Stadium. Have watched the old days of Eddie Lebaron & Ralph Gugliemi evolve into the glory days of Joe Gibbs and our Super Bowl victories. I remember the first rays of hope that began when we traded for Bobby Mitchell, then Sonny, and then drafted Charley Taylor. Let's hope we can get back to the glory days again.

[Englands Team]

1983. The Redskins beat the Raiders 38-35 it was a fantastic game, I decided from then on in I was a Redskin for life.

The Raiders did us in the Superbowl. The names Jack Squirek and Marcus Allen have been swear words ever since.

[welch]

Early '50's. I had a "Choo-Choo" [Charlie] Justice Redskins uniform from Hechts. It was not a choice...just as normal as rooting for Mickey Vernon and the Nats. No, I'm not old enough to remember Sammy Baugh (I was 4 when he played his last season), but I am old enough to remember my Dad saying "<so-and-so> is no Sammy Baugh".

(edited to add a word I had dropped. And to add: Goodness, Crazyhorse...you must be 5 years older than I am!!! I also started watching them on a black and white TV...I remember The Gene Brito Show, which preceded every game...."The Washington Redskins are on the march!" said the anouncer, and then they played "Hail to the Redskins". On Jim Brown, I think Jim Tatum, Maryland's great coach, called him "the best football player I have ever seen". The Skins skipped Brown to draft draft Don Bosseler instead. Idiot George Preston Marshall. Segregation. I remember Shirley Povich hammering Marshall in The Post, especially over a trade that Marshall claimed he had proposed to the Browns -- M.C. Reynolds for Bobby Mitchell. "See", said Marshall, "I'm trying to get a black player. The Browns just won't make the trade". Reynolds was the Redskins 3rd string QB.)

[ChrisHanburger]

1968 my Dad called me in to the rec room downstairs, sat me down and said something like "Boy, its time you started watching the Redskins". I've lived with them through thick and thin since.

[Warmother]

1972 My dad was watching the Skin's play the Packers in the playoffs. I was 9 at the time. I asked him who we rooted for and he said "The Washington Redskins." I've been diehard ever since.

[SCSkinsFan]

Early '50's. I had a "Choo-Choo" [Charlie] Justice Redskins uniform from Hechts. It was not a choice...just as normal as rooting for Mickey Vernon and the Nats. No, I'm not old enough to remember Sammy Baugh (I was 4 when he played his last season), but I am old enough to remember my Dad saying "<so-and-so> is no Sammy Baugh".

(edited to add a word I had dropped. And to add: Goodness, Crazyhorse...you must be 5 years older than I am!!! I also started watching them on a black and white TV...I remember The Gene Brito Show, which preceded every game...."The Washington Redskins are on the march!" said the anouncer, and then they played "Hail to the Redskins". On Jim Brown, I think Jim Tatum, Maryland's great coach, called him "the best football player I have ever seen". The Skins skipped Brown to draft draft Don Bosseler instead. Idiot George Preston Marshall. Segregation. I remember Shirley Povich hammering Marshall in The Post, especially over a trade that Marshall claimed he had proposed to the Browns -- M.C. Reynolds for Bobby Mitchell. "See", said Marshall, "I'm trying to get a black player. The Browns just won't make the trade". Reynolds was the Redskins 3rd string QB.)

Which eventually did become the #1 Draft choice = Ernie Davis for Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Jackson. Unfortunately Ernie Davis died and never made it to the NFL.

[SkinsJock]

... Goodness, Crazyhorse...you must be 5 years older than I am!!!

I am so glad that there are a couple of others here who were born in the 40's I knew that Crazyhorse was 'up there' - I am now a little relieved that we are not alone!!!! not much, just a little

[Mursilis]

WOW, some of you are old school! But hey, I have nothing but respect for you die-hards!

As for myself, I began following them right around when Gibbs was hired the first time. I 'inherited' the team from my father, who adopted them after coming out of the Army here in NoVa, and having been born and bred in NoVa myself, who else was I going to follow?!?!

[Redskin in Canada]

You guys are some of the best fans I can think of. I am proud to be a member of this board.

[Chris Luva Luva]

WOW, some of you are old school! But hey, I have nothing but respect for you die-hards!

As for myself, I began following them right around when Gibbs was hired the first time. I 'inherited' the team from my father, who adopted them after coming out of the Army here in NoVa, and having been born and bred in NoVa myself, who else was I going to follow?!?!

I inherited the team also, if it hadn't been for my dad I'd be a raisin fan.

[SkinsJock]

You guys are some of the best fans I can think of. I am proud to be a member of this board.

as the old saying goes "I resemble that remark!!"

What I enjoy the most is the depth and variety of "knowledge" that is found here day in and day out and from a lot of fans here who are obviously very young in some cases to very old in a couple of cases.



Just a great site and a credit to all

[UK Skins Fan]

7:10am (Greenwich Mean Time), January 9th, 1984.

That's when I heard the man on the radio say that the Superbowl would be between the Redskins and the Raiders. A choice had to be made - I chose right (although my first game as a bonafide Redskins fan was not a pleasant one).

[JansenFan]

Been a die-hard fan since 1982. First football related memory is John Riggins and 70-Chip.

This sums it up for me. I have always said 70-Chip was my first football memory, but I realized recently, it was actually the game before that, when Daryl Grant scooped up the fumble and high-stepped it into the end zone. I remember asking my dad, "Whose number 77, and why is he running like that." I ran like that into the end zone in backyard games for years after that.

[Chris Luva Luva]

Been a die-hard fan since 1982. First football related memory is John Riggins and 70-Chip.

This sums it up for me. I have always said 70-Chip was my first football memory, but I realized recently, it was actually the game before that, when Daryl Grant scooped up the fumble and high-stepped it into the end zone. I remember asking my dad, "Whose number 77, and why is he running like that." I ran like that into the end zone in backyard games for years after that.

How did he run?

[JansenFan]

Rather than explain it, I'll show you at camp. My explainerer is broken at the moment.

[Chris Luva Luva]

Rather than explain it, I'll show you at camp. My explainerer is broken at the moment.

No prob.

[SCSkinsFan]

Been a die-hard fan since 1982. First football related memory is John Riggins and 70-Chip.

This sums it up for me. I have always said 70-Chip was my first football memory, but I realized recently, it was actually the game before that, when Daryl Grant scooped up the fumble and high-stepped it into the end zone. I remember asking my dad, "Whose number 77, and why is he running like that." I ran like that into the end zone in backyard games for years after that.

Fumble recovery? Come on JansenFan. Are you thinking about the same game I am? How about a TIPPED PASS that Grant intercepted and ran in for a touchdown. As quoted from the Post Section of Reliving History and our past memorable games against our most hated rivals.

" They won because defensive tackle Darryl Grant was able to run 10 yards to the Dallas end zone with a fourth-quarter pass that was tipped by defensive end Dexter Manley, the Redskin who most dislikes the Cowboys."

You can look it up.

[NC43Hog]

Started watching when Lombardi arrived and was hopelessly devoted by the time they went to the playoffs in '71.

Getting close to my 40 year anniversary. Yikes!

[JansenFan]

Been a die-hard fan since 1982. First football related memory is John Riggins and 70-Chip.

This sums it up for me. I have always said 70-Chip was my first football memory, but I realized recently, it was actually the game before that, when Daryl Grant scooped up the fumble and high-stepped it into the end zone. I remember asking my dad, "Whose number 77, and why is he running like that." I ran like that into the end zone in backyard games for years after that.

Fumble recovery? Come on JansenFan. Are you thinking about the same game I am? How about a TIPPED PASS that Grant intercepted and ran in for a touchdown. As quoted from the Post Section of Reliving History and our past memorable games against our most hated rivals.

" They won because defensive tackle Darryl Grant was able to run 10 yards to the Dallas end zone with a fourth-quarter pass that was tipped by defensive end Dexter Manley, the Redskin who most dislikes the Cowboys."

You can look it up.

that's the one. Sorry, I was 6 or 7 at the time. I remember the high-step more than anything else.