Redskins History

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 7:32 pm

cowboykillerzRG3 asked for this in the Favorite Avatars thread... so blame him.
A thread containing snips of redskins history.
Hopefully, others will drop memories and stories here, as well... maybe we can keep this up... maybe we can't, but let's see...

"The Mouse" By Michael Keys

Football players have tough nicknames.

Among the toughest are "The Nigerian Nightmare", "The Bus", "The Assassin", "Diesel" and "Mean Joe".

But, if you are a receiver in the 60's and 70's, lining up in front of a 5'8" 170lb (after a big meal) cornerback called "The Mouse"... be afraid. You may finish this game. You may score, once, maybe even twice (if you're good enough) but when the game is over, you will know that you were not playing against your average rodent.

The year is 1968. What is a 16 year old, under-weight, 5' 8'' pipsqueak of a Redskins fan to do?

Well, the first thing you do is be glad that it's 1968! Because that's the year that Patrick Fischer, free agent cornerback, decided to sign with his beloved Washington Redskins. You celebrate because now you have proof that there is no such thing as "too small."

Pat Fischer, the 17th Round Draft selection of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1961. Pat Fischer, who was so small, that during his rookie training camp while his Cardinal teammates suited up for practice, wore shorts and t-shirt because the team had to scrounge to find equipment that would fit him.

Pat Fischer was the proof that it was possible, not inevitable, but possible to do anything that you set your mind to even if common wisdom said "you are too small" or "you are too slow" or "you are too weak." Pat Fischer had heard, I'm sure, all of those things. His intelligence, heart, attitude, fearlessness and work ethic, however, were anything but small. He was rarely, if ever, the fastest player on the field but his quickness, tenacity, toughness and even his aggressiveness, were second to none.

"When you get a leg up, you own him" - Pat Fischer.

He had a reputation as a master of leverage who understood how to maximize his own power and punish those who would enter his domain. He was known for his work ethic, his honesty and his intelligence. He was a student of the art of the tackle. He could talk for hours about the angle of approach, the geometry of the hit, of gaining mechanical advantage and of removing the strength/speed and/or size advantage of his opponent. For him, it was both a science and an art. He reveled in the challenge of taking on the biggest, the fastest and the strongest. He also reveled in beating them all.

"The Mouse" was respected by his opponents. Few enjoyed the thought of playing against him. Playing four quarters of football across from him was a true test. A wide receiver could count on a non-stop test of wills. He entered the game knowing that he would be battered and bruised, badgered and beaten. There was no way he was going to walk off this field without his share of pain.

Fischer understood that intimidation was about attitude and on game day, his was invariably nasty. His spot on the bench became a no-man's land. If he had a wad of stickum in his mouth, you were best served to just leave him alone. He had work to do and woe be to the man who disrupted his concentration.

Off the field he was modest, respectful and humble. There is no way you'd recognize him as the fiercest cornerback in football.

As a sophomore Cornhusker, Fischer lead his team in all purpose yards, gaining yards through returning punts and kickoffs and in catching passes. He played cornerback, split end, tailback and even quarterback (though even he will admit he was not a passer).

His professional career spanned 17 years, between the Cardinals and the Redskins. He played in 213 games and had 56 interceptions, placing him 15th on the NFL’s all-time list (2 places ahead of the legendary Darrell Green).

Invariably, any discussion of Pat Fischer turns to the question: "Did he invent the bump-and-run?" While playing with the Cardinals, he was teamed in the defensive backfield with a very fast Hall of Fame free safety named Larry Wilson, who specialized in the safety blitz. In fact, Wilson was a devastating blitzer. Unfortunately, it was soon realized that this left a weakness that could be taken advantage of. The Cardinals were burned a few times by skilled quarterbacks finding the receiver running free into the hole left by the charging Wilson. This was solved by the use of the bump-and-run, a tactic that, fortunately for the Cardinals, Pat Fischer was tailor-made for. From that point on, he made a living of physically harassing receivers. Whether Fischer or his defensive coordinator, Chuck Drulis, invented the coverage is up for continued debate but there can be no doubt that Pat Fischer was the master. So good was he in this coverage that it was a major reason it was eventually outlawed.

His battles with Harold Carmichael, the outstanding GIANT of a wide receiver for the Eagles were not only legendary, but underlined the remarkable determination of Fischer. Carmichael stood a full 11 inches taller than Fischer. Most of their battles, however, were fought to a draw and were classic in their proportion both literally and figuratively. While Fischer has great respect for Carmichael, he calls Bob Hayes his toughest opponent ever, because he was too fast for him to get his hands on him.

His career ended after the 1977 season, following his second back injury. He recently told Robert Janis of the Washington Times "If it wasn’t for that, I would have played until they took my helmet away from me."

This was a man who just plain loved football.

Personally, watching Fischer literally changed my outlook on life. You see, I was that pipsqueak of a Redskins fan in 1968. I had fallen into that "I'm too small to do anything" funk. Every kid has his home team hero but often they don't have a clue why they chose him. I know exactly why I chose "The Mouse." He showed me and any number of other small young men that leverage was important. Leverage is the great equalizer and like size, it's not always physical.

Knowing what I do of Pat Fischer, I suspect he would be embarrassed when I say. "I could not have chosen a better role model." It would give me great pleasure to tell him "Thank you, sir. You helped to change my life. I gained both insight, and confidence, just from watching you play." As I think about my life today, it seems that I made the right choice in role models. My dad and Pat Fischer were both hard working and humble country boys with dirt under their nails.

You see, while "The Mouse" was not (is not) a big man, no man has ever had more heart. He made a difference in the best game in the world and undoubtedly in the lives of many young men and teenagers who were his fans.

What more can you ask of a football player?[url]

cowboykillerzRGiii · Post by **cowboykillerzRGiii** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 10:46 pm

Excellent! Thanks for getting the ball rolling CT! I hope some of the older board members can contribute... When they get back from BINGO!

Great read, CT, good to have a little insight and clearly more respect for your avatar. I to have little man syndrome, lmfao and know all about leverage and the other factors contributing to golf other then size. Good read for sure... I thought he was a LB... Then to read he's higher on the all time interception list then dg... WOW!

Is he a HOFer?

FLWSkin · Post by **FLWSkin** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 10:52 pm

If I remember right, his wife was a teacher at Park View HS in Sterling for a while. My alma mater btw.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 11:04 pm

cowboykillerzRGiii wrote:Excellent! Thanks for getting the ball rolling CT! I hope some of the older board members can contribute... When they get back from BINGO!
Great read, CT, good to have a little insight and clearly more respect for your avatar. I to have little man syndrome, lmfao and know all about leverage and the other factors contributing to golf other then size. Good read for sure... I thought he was a LB... Then to read he's higher on the all time interception list then dg... WOW!

Is he a HOFer?

there is no HOF for players like Pat Fisher

in today's NFL it's all about stats - you cannot understand that there were players like this that will never be in the HOF

Pat Fisher never played the game to get in the HOF - he loved to play football too much ..

Pat Fisher got a lot of recognition .. deservedly so .. BUT ..
there were a lot of players from those day that played as well with as much heart and fight that did not

it was a different era

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 11:43 pm

Speaking of History. We were scheduled to wear those throwback unis twice this season. Anyone know when we are?

I liked them, but I like the positive momentum we have without them, so I'm ambivalent.

FLWSkin · Post by **FLWSkin** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 11:48 pm

The last game vs the Boys I believe.

The Hogster · Post by **The Hogster** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 11:49 pm

FLWSkin wrote:The last game vs the Boys I believe.

That will be classic. Thanks

cowboykillerzRGiii · Post by **cowboykillerzRGiii** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 12:12 am

Damn that will be cool, much cooler w a win and playoff spot!
Speaking of them jersies, I saw a few peeps in the stands the last couple home.games rockin a griffin throw back... To me, since he was a baby or not even born, I'd prefer a throwback player on a throw back. Not to say I'd turn down an rgiiithrow back jus seems a little off to me.

HEROHAMO · Post by **HEROHAMO** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 6:54 am

We could use a couple Pat Fischers on todays squad. Well written lots of info CT.
I found a highlight of Pat Fischer from his Nebraska days on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-EvsYPKIFU

Its not the size of the dog that matters its the size of the fight in the dog. I thinks thats how it goes.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 9:26 am

Any coach would love to have guys like Pat Fisher - he played the game with desire

If you wanted your kid to play football - Pat Fisher should be the role model

Deadskins · Post by **Deadskins** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 10:09 am

HEROHAMO wrote:Its not the size of the dog that matters its the size of the fight in the dog. I thinks thats how it goes.

Close. It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 1:34 pm

This is how I remember 5'8", 170 lb Pat Fischer... the young man tumbling head down over Fischer's shoulders is Kansas City running back MacArthur Lane...

Mac Lane was a 6'2" 220lb Power Back. He ran over people.
... well... people other than Pat Fischer, that is.

RayNAustin · Post by **RayNAustin** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 7:12 pm

cowboykillerzRGiii wrote:Excellent! Thanks for getting the ball rolling CT! I hope some of the older board members can contribute... When they get back from BINGO!
Great read, CT, good to have a little insight and clearly more respect for your avatar. I to have little man syndrome, lmfao and know all about leverage and the other factors contributing to golf other then size. Good read for sure... I thought he was a LB... Then to read he's higher on the all time interception list then dg... WOW!

Is he a HOFer?

Watch it Boy ... not all of us old farts play bingo, but we're known to be crotchety, with a short fuse

I remember, though just barely, Pat Fischer, and particularly the epic battles between he and Carmichael, who was a towering giant next to good sized men, but against Pat Fischer, the matchup was borderline comical .... but there was nothing funny about Fischer picking Carmichael off the ground and throwing him out of bounds. That was an astounding thing to watch.

welch · Post by **welch** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:48 pm

RayNAustin wrote:
cowboykillerzRGiii wrote:Excellent! Thanks for getting the ball rolling CT! I hope some of the older board members can contribute... When they get back from BINGO!
Great read, CT, good to have a little insight and clearly more respect for your avatar. I to have little man syndrome, lmfao and know all about leverage and the other factors contributing to golf other then size. Good read for sure... I thought he was a LB... Then to read he's higher on the all time interception list then dg... WOW!

Is he a HOFer?
Watch it Boy ... not all of us old farts play bingo, but we're known to be crotchety, with a short fuse

I remember, though just barely, Pat Fischer, and particularly the epic battles between he and Carmichael, who was a towering giant next to good sized men, but against Pat Fischer, the matchup was borderline comical .... but there was nothing funny about Fischer picking Carmichael off the ground and throwing him out of bounds. That was an astounding thing to watch.

And, ouch, there was that play on which Carmichael caught the ball and Fischer jumped on his back. Carmichal was, what, 6-foot-8? Fischer held Carmichael around the neck, but Fischer's feet were about six inches off the ground. Carmichael just kept moving...not quite full speed, since he was carrying Fischer. One of the Redskins came over and hit Carmichael low, finally knocking him down.

Fischer would not give up.

welch · Post by **welch** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 4:52 pm

Countertrey wrote:This is how I remember 5'8", 170 lb Pat Fischer... the young man tumbling head down over Fischer's shoulders is Kansas City running back MacArthur Lane...

Mac Lane was a 6'2" 220lb Power Back. He ran over people.
... well... people other than Pat Fischer, that is.

That picture could also have shown Number 55, 215 pound linebacker Chris Hanburger. He was like a spring when he attacked a ball-carrier. Grabbed the ankles while in a crouched, and lifted, dropping the RB on his head. Fun to see.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:24 pm

Chris Hanburger - like welch said ..

this was not a huge LB but he seemed to drive right through the guys he tackled - London Fletcher plays like a recent version of Chris

It's hard to compare the players from the 70's to the guys of today - todays players seem to be a lot bigger and a lot quicker

it would surprise a lot of the current players if they got hit by some of the players from "yesterday" - the tackling of today's players does not seem to have the same 'POP'

Chris Hanburger and Pat Fisher were both incredibly good at tackling

welch · Post by **welch** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 10:59 pm

Oh, and, of course, great story, CT. I'll buy you a carton of chocolate milk next time I see you at Bunker Hill!

cowboykillerzRGiii · Post by **cowboykillerzRGiii** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:33 am

welch wrote:Oh, and, of course, great story, CT. I'll buy you a carton of chocolate milk next time I see you at Bunker Hill!

Why not just have the milk man drop it off... In a glass bottle?

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:05 am

cowboykillerzRGiii wrote:
welch wrote:Oh, and, of course, great story, CT. I'll buy you a carton of chocolate milk next time I see you at Bunker Hill!
Why not just have the milk man drop it off... In a glass bottle?

ahhhh... you had to be there, ckr...

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 8:45 am

There used to be a book posted in the Washington Post website with a FULL HISTORY of the most important chapters in Redskins History.

I do not seem to find it now. But my favourite chapter was "The Quiet Man" in reference to THIS OUTSTANDING PLAYER

<<<<<<---------------

Other chapters were great too. I just do not seem to find the link now. I downloaded the entire book once. I just do not know where I put it or where it is now in the web.

welch · Post by **welch** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:21 pm

A couple of seasons back I found a few NFL Films stories on Youtube: Bobby Mitchell, "Did you ever see Sonny play?", and a story about the passing attack in the late '60s (Jurgy to Mitchell, Taylor, or Smith).

The we can elaborate: the dead years after Sammy Baugh retired until they traded for Bobby Mitchell, the seasons whe the offense was Norm Snead throwing 80 yard passes to Mitchell, the Otto ("Toot") Graham years, the Lombardi season, and then, glory be, George ("love him and hate him") Allen, 1971...after Old george, The Redskins were a powerful team until about 1993.

welch · Post by **welch** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:24 pm

Did you ever see Sonny play?

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-films-pre ... Sonny-play

The greatest passer in modern football.

(Start here.)

welch · Post by **welch** » Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:46 pm

This is why we revere Sonny. In 2004, I used to joke that Gibbs should just put Sonny back at QB, since he hadn't lost a step.

No, he's not just a voice on the radio. Whenever I suggest that Robert Griffin III is the best Redskin passer since Sonny, that's a huge compliment to Griffin.

Sam Huff, who played MLB, said that Sonny used to throw curve-balls during practice. He could bend a pass around a defender.

On the NFL films clip, you see him throwing behind his back...throwing a tight spiral, hard, in the practice scene.

One game I'll always remember came in '72, just before Sony snapped his achilles tendon. The Redskins played the "almighty" Dallas Cowboys, who scored first. On the next series, Sonny collided with upback Charlie Harraway, Cowboys recovered, and scored again. Cowboys led about 13 - 0 after the first 5 minutes...and Cowboys were defending SB 6 champions.

Redskins start again. You see Sonny stroll up to the line, hitch up his pants over his beer-belly, and fire a 20-yard down-and-out to Jerry Smith. Not a pause, not a blink, just as casual as if the Redskins were leading by 40 points.

The Redskins won that game, and I'm not sure Craig Morton completed a pass in the second half. Harraway, who was not all that fast, scored the wining TD on an end-sweep, with Larry Brown throwing the key block. A perfect fold-up-the-defender block by Brown, and Harraway wasn't touched.

Sonny carved up the Cowboys that day, completing passes to Brown -- who was a great receiver as well as blocker and all-pro RB, to Charley Taylor, to Roy Jefferson, to Jerry Smith, and to Harraway.

Sonny called his own plays, which drove George Allen nuts because Sonny was unpredictable. Hard to defense Sonny, because he had a feel for what the defense would not expect.

Well...watch the video and think of Sonny's passing when you listen to Sonny on Sunday.

TimSkin · Post by **TimSkin** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 12:53 am

I'm really liking these history lessons for since I was born in 82 I don't remember too much before the Bronco Bash in 87. Also since I live in the midwest and am the only skins fan I know the only history I hear about is right here.

The story about Pat Fischer was especially intriguing since I've never been that big of a guy either.

Reading these stories makes me wish I was older just so I could've truely witnessed the Skins when they were a true powerhouse(tops in the league W/L standings not just in forbe$$) and everybody hated the fact that they had the Washington Redskins on their schedule the next Sunday.

Keep the stories coming cuz I look forward to reading them especially about Chris Hanburger and Jerry Smith if somebody could for me. They are skins legends whose names come up a lot that I would love to hear some cool stories about or just info on them in general.

TimSkin · Post by **TimSkin** » Sun Dec 16, 2012 1:11 am

welch wrote:Did you ever see Sonny play?

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-films-pre ... Sonny-play

The greatest passer in modern football.

(Start here.)

Very cool video and I take it Coach Allen didn't care for Sonny too much?