You took the words right out of my mouth Wolfe. There was always hope that the Redskins would win no matter the circumstances. I should say it wasn't just hope, it was just genuine belief. Gibbs' strength was (is?) being the master of the halftime adjustment.

And you knew that Riggins and company would come to play every Sunday (or Monday). Yeah there were some disappointing losses (upsets even) but those guys left it all on the field.

The last Dallas game was the closest I remember the Redskins to being back. They never gave up untill the gun blew. Back when the refferee actually carried a blank firing gun. The game that always will stand out as a true Gibbs game was the Raiders game where they came back from 17 down with 7 minutes left in the game. Recovery of a onside kick. Was it Nick Giaquanto or someone else. Joe Washington on a halfback option goes across the inside and catches the ball and gets the winning score. Trust me you can see it comming back. We might be 3 losses into 4 games but when it clicks get ready for a fun ride.

My all time favorite game still is the 70's Monday night against Dallas where Ken Houston stopped Walt Garrison on the 4 yard line on 4th down. Great game with a rematch being the 72 Championship game on New Years Eve. What a season.

[QUOTE=skinsguy]For those who followed the Redskins closely throughout the 80's, how would you describe the feeling of watchin' players like Riggins, Theismann, or Joe washington to the younger skins fans?[/QUOTE]

I had some FABULOUS times at the stadium watching Sonny, Charlie and Bobby. But nothing could compare to being at the game when Riggo was running behing the Hogs in the Gibbs offense. I can still hear the sound of air horns when he made a great carry. And there were SO many of them. It was great to see him hit at the line, carry the would-be tackler, and a 2nd that would try to help out, then make a 4-5 yard gain. Some of those guys just could not seem to learn you could not bring him down with shoulder tackles. As exciting as a great passing game can be, there was still nothing like a steady 4th quarter diet of John Riggins to make the game perfect for me.

since I was born in 82, one of my first words was 'tut down john wiggins' lol

born 71. Fan since 76. First game I remember was a skins game.

Born '57 in Carlisle, became 'Skins fan when Dad took me to my first training camp at Dickinson. Guess '63 cause Norm Snead was Qback but then saw Sonny the next summer. Got someold pictures of me getting autographs from Jurgy, Huff, Promuto, Hauss, etc.

my family have been skins fans forever i picked it up when pettibone took over

Born in 75 and living in the UK I picked up the game in 1985/86 when it was televised over here. A friend was a big fan and I picked them up from there.

I actually remember being 2-4 listening to the Redskins radio report hearing about Chris Hamburger that was 1974-1976. Can anyone clarify?
My mother listened to that in the mornings. My mom is still a big Redskins fan. I just feel sorry for her that she had to witness the last 12 years. She even still puts out the Redskins flag every sunday in North Carolina!
I saw the paper when the Redskins drafted Art Monk. I remember we drafted #28 the year after our first superbowl win #28 in the draft! Grew up watching Gibbs football. I do believe we're on the right track. Sure we're 1-3, but I've seen much worse fielded teams in the last 12 years. Actually didn't get to see the game against the Browns last Sunday and heard it on the radio (on the road w/ band). Got home and read all I could on the net with everyone bashing... Saw the highlights on ON DEMAND and we didn't look that bad. We looked good I thought. Sure its highlights but we are moving the ball, just fumbling. Defense seemed to have its worst week, but not ashamed like I was 2 years ago under Spurrier's first season. I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it," I belive!" I believe in Gibbs. No ESPN analyst is gonna make me think twice. The guy knows whats going on. Yes he doesn't have the roster he wants but he can make guys over achieve. Samuels keeps up the penalties he'll be gone, Portis talks shit he'll be gone. Gibbs WILL get the job done. I've seen him do it and my mother says so!

Born in '63 and been a fan since the first game I can remember - Superbowl VII. I still can see Bass running down the sideline after intercepting the kicker's pass. My Dad had recently retired from the Air Force so we had only been in the area about 3 years. He rooted for them more out of "hey, it's the home team" than any abiding loyalty. We both sorta grew into die-hard fans over the next eight or nine years. Just in time for the Gibbs era. Damn that was good football.

I also remember what I considered to be the early turning point for Joe Gibbs as a head coach. Gibbs had Terry Metcalf on the team and really liked him as a person - sort of best friend, father-son, mentor-mentee relationship. But Metcalf wasn't cutting it at RB - made Tiki look like he has glue on his fingers (I swear it seemed like he fumbled every third carry). Gibbs had to cut him but hated doing it. It was the first BIG cut of Gibbs tenure and, at the time, he said it was the hardest thing he had ever done, lots of crying. After that, however, all that mattered to Gibbs was performance - if he could cut Metcalf, he could cut anybody. Cutting Metcalf forced him to deal with the tough calls of being a head coach and focused him on winning. He hasn't looked back.

Looking through some of the posts, I realize that more than a few (mine included) of the games which made us fans were Redskin losses. How funny is that?

I became I Redskins fanatic in 1970 when I was five y.o.
I was a huge fan of Sonny Jurgensen, Charlie Taylor, Roy Jefferson, Larry Brown, Len Hauss, Pat Fischer, Mike Bass, Herb Mulkey and Chris Hanburger.
In the 'The Warpath' website before they erased all of our old names, I used Chris Hanburger as my TWP name.
I was such a Sonny J. fan that I did not like Billy Kilmer. I will never forgive or forget in Super Bowl 7, Billy Kilmer's pass intended to a wide open Jerry Smith in the endzone, hit the upright. Jerry Smith was so wide open, hitting the field goal post would have been the only way there would not have been a TD on that play.
The field goal uprights used to be in the endzone at the goal line, way back in the day. That play blew any small chance tha Skins had on that day. The game was still close at that point.

Born in 1970, I would say around 75 is when I became a fan. Dad is a Dolphins fan so I kind of liked them, but not as much as The Redskins. First player I rembember was Billy Kilmore.

Been a fan since about 5 years old in 1976. I am 33 now so that would be about 28 years. I am from Philly which made for some interesting football seasons since my family and friends were all Eagles fans.

I was born in 78...been a fan since then.