The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Thinking about this makes me feel old today, because it all started back in the mid 1960's when I was a little kid.

We lived very near the DC line in District Heights, MD where my dad owned an old Mobile gas station. And throughout the year he'd sell season items like firework stands in the summer, and Christmas trees in the winter which several Redskin players of the day were regular customers. Often times, those players would barter for xmas trees with game tickets, and so he took me to 2 or 3 games each year, starting when I was about 6 y.o. One of the big thrills at the time was when Charlie Taylor caught a TD pass from Sonny Jurgensen, and he handed the ball to me (we were sitting in the first row end zone that game). I have no idea whatever happened to that ball....wish I still had it.

My mom tells a story about one night when my dad and 6 redskin players came home from a little drinking session, all 7 of them stuffed into a VW beetle. Can you visualize that?

Later in life, I was fortunate enough to work with someone who's family had passed along season tickets, though he wasn't interested in attending games, so throughout the glory years of 1982-1992 I bought those 3 tickets every year, including all of the playoff games. I never missed a single one.

And working in Tyson's Corner, a popular Rest/Bar (L&N Seafood) that was our watering hole was also a favorite of Dexter Manley, and Gary Clark, both of which I had a chance to get to know and talk to. Dexter was especially friendly, and very engaging. He was a happy go lucky sort that had almost a childlike nature......one of my favorites.

And one day at the golf course (Brandon park or something??) the starter teamed me up with a couple of guys, one of which I recognized but just couldn't put my finger on where I knew him from.....so I said, "man, you look familar...have we worked together somewhere"? He replied "maybe...if you've ever worked for the Redskins" then I looked over at his golf bag...big as day "Raleigh McKenzie".

Then all three of us just busted out laughing.

Before I was born. lol. My mother and father thought I was going to be born pre-mature during Super Bowl XXII....so much jumping for joy. I have always been a 'Skins fan though, even though I live in South Jersey (Eagles territory) and I still wear my burgundy and gold with pride. My whole family bleeds burgundy and gold and my sister in fact was result of celebrating The Super Bowl win against the Bills

Mentioned before: Born into it. I was always a Redskin fan, but I can't remember much before 1952 or '53, when I got a Cho-choo Justice uniform from Hechts.

My dad talked about Sammy Baugh, but the earliest QB I remember is Eddie LeBaron, "The Little General".

The team only had one or two winning seasons until 1971, when Crazy (Like a Fox) George Allen took them to the playoffs for the first time in my lifetime. I was 23.

That made it all the better when Allen built good teams in the '70s, and when -- Hail to the Redskins -- Riggins broke that 4th and short.

My son, who was four, pointed and clapped his hands, and said "Daddy's happy!!!" We would later watch two more SB wins together, and last December I held his son on my lap as we watched the last Gibbs team beat the Cowboys to make the playoffs again.

Born into it. As far back as I can remember every sunday after church i would put on my redskins shirt/jersey and helmet and watch games with my brother and father.

Funnier than that I think I was taught to hate dallas before I was trained to be a redskins fan. Dad never let me wear silver and blue together.

My family moved to DC in 1968, and I started following the Skins. They were not very good but very entertaining to watch. They were coached by Otto Graham and our QB was non other than the great "Sonny Jurgenson".
We had a running back by the name of A.D. Whitfield but we could score with the best of them. Our recieving corps consisted of 2 converted running backs "Charlie Taylor & Boby Mitchell" and al All Pro tight end Jerry Smith.... we had our share of high scoring shoot outs... that most of we lost .... I was 12 years old, and the Packers were the dominant team in football. The AFL was just getting started...... It was a great time in our age, the next year (1969) we walked on the moon....Great Times back then ...

Since 1981 just like my name says. lol I was 8 years old and just getting into football. I read about the redskins in the newspaper and decided I should root for the home team. They happened to be 0-5 at the time in Gibbs' first year. Of course they came back that year and went 8-8 and the next year won the super bowl against Miami. I guess I'm kind of a spoiled fan because they started winning as soon as I became a fan.

Redskinsfansince81 wrote:Since 1981 just like my name says. lol I was 8 years old and just getting into football. I read about the redskins in the newspaper and decided I should root for the home team. They happened to be 0-5 at the time in Gibbs' first year. Of course they came back that year and went 8-8 and the next year won the super bowl against Miami. I guess I'm kind of a spoiled fan because they started winning as soon as I became a fan.

Wow, I'd have thought you were me if I didn't have inside info to know you're not. I always liked the Skins since my earliest memories of them in the early seventies, but I actually switched from the Lions to the Skins that exact year.

I rooted for the Over The Hill Gang and had a Larry Brown poster since their First Super Bowl, moved between DC and Michigan from 76 to 81 when my parents divorced (Mom went back to Michigan, Dad stayed in DC area). Then I moved to DC in 81, my Freshman year at Maryland. With the turnaround after the 0-5 start in Gibbs first year, you really felt something special was starting and let's face it, my team was the LIONS. I felt like Irn-Bru when he stopped voting, nothing but RELIEVED to stop rooting for those losers. Skins fans may be nuts, but they never accept losing. Lions fans never expect anything else.

Sir_Monk wrote:

I got hooked and so did my Dad and we've been 'Skins fans since even though he moved to South Carolina and I have been in Austin, TX (Cowboy Country) since 1989.

I lived near Austin for four years. I never got a big Cowboys vibe from the people there, they all seemed much more intrested in UT. Though it could have had something to do with the Vince Young years.

Nothing like a Redskins jersey to bring out the Cowboy fan in people I guess. They got Cowboy swag in every mall, at the JC Penney and so on. My Redskins tire cover got stolen once too.

It's a laid back place but there is no mistaking that the 'Boys are the home team with Houston getting a mention and then the Titans (since VY).

Channel 4 in the uk started to show games first one i saw was the Redskins (i think it was the eighties) From then on i was hooked .Still on my top 10 list of things to do b4 i die fly over and watch my team play .

I saw a picture of me in a stroller back in 1979/80?...I had just got to America in 79 and on top my head was the wool Redskins hat with the fuzzy ball in the middle. I never thought about it much but I just would always root for them, even before I knew anything about football. Aaahhh, so many years later I've grown with them, cheered with them, hurt with them, when Mr. Taylor died I cried with them. To quote the homeless guy up the street that I walk by who wears his dusty old redskins cap, "demz meh boyz"

ive been a fan since all the way since i can remember.. one of my 1st memories is watching a game in the way early 90s and seeing one of our running backs (of course i didnt know that at the time) break free and run for a long touchdown and i started jumping up and down yelling go go go go!!! and ever since then ive been a huge fan of football and the skins.

I was born at Holy Cross in Silver Spring,grew up in Montgomery Village and graduated at G'burg class of 86. It was awesome having all those great teams when I was younger. I'll always love the Redskins and support the team forever.

Good thread topic.

I'm 39 and have lived here in the Washington Metro area pretty much my whole life. DC, MD and VA. I can't ever remember NOT being a 'Skins fan. I love the burgundy and gold. I've either played, coached or watched football my entire life. I honestly don't think there's a more loyal group of fans in the NFL than right here in Washington. I can't imagine supporting any other NFL team other than the 'Skins, but, whomever is playing Dallas comes close .

My dad's always been a Redskins fan ever since he watched Larry Brown on TV when he was a kid.

I never cared much about football when I was young, but once I started playing it on the playground in 3rd grade I started to get hooked on watching the NFL and for some reason I remember really being a fan of Heath Shuler who came out almost around that time.

So I guess I came in right after their glory days and they've never been a truly elite team during my fanhood... hope's still out there though.

Skinsfan55 wrote:My dad's always been a Redskins fan ever since he watched Larry Brown on TV when he was a kid.

How old does that make you?