How Long Have You Been A Fan???
 

How long have you guys been fans of the Washington Redskins? I have been a fan ever since I was about 5 years old. I've been a fan since about 1980 -81. Where I live, usually all of the Redskins games are shown on television. I loved watching John Riggins, Joe Theisman, Art Monk and company play! Watching them each and every Sunday was like seeing my family on t.v. When I heard about Joe Gibbs coming back this season, it was like seeing a long lost relative! Certainly the past 12 seasons, I have felt like we have lost our identity! I was surprised that we haven't lost our mascot name and colors! Still, now seeing Joe back with other familiar faces on the sideline...regardless of the 1 -3 start, I just am glad the true Redskins are back!!! :httr:

I was born in '82 and grew up in a Skins house, but didn't really become a hardcore fan till about '92. My earliest Redskins memory is of the '87 Super Bowl. Most of my memories are of Richie Pettibone and Norv Turner prowling the sideline. Sad, ain't it?

[QUOTE=cpayne5]Most of my memories are of Richie Pettibone and Norv Turner prowling the sideline.[/QUOTE]

Oh, and Gus Frerotte ramming his head into the wall.

I was born in '80 and grew up in a skins house as well. I didn't really watch football until the superbowl between the Giants and Bills. Then really got into it with the next superbowl. :D

Borin '63 so started about 1970. Been going to regular season games for 34 years. My dad has been going since 1937, when they came to town. Still goes and still cheers just as loud.

Since the day of my birth: October 25, '86

born in 84, fan around 90-91ish

I became one around 1992. I just asked my grandfather who my favorite team should be, and he said The Redskins, and I was hooked. My earliest memory is the Monday Night Football game in 1993. My dad, Uncle and Grandfather ( none of which are skins fans ), took me to Ralph Wilson to watch them vs the Bills on Monday Night Football. I walked into there at 7 yrs old head to toe in Skins gear, complete with Zuba Pants. God that was awsome. We of course got beat like 34-13 or somthing.

I guess I can't claim to have been a fan until I was about 8 - which would have been 1949. My Dad had season tickets from the time they came to town. He is gone now, but amazingly, when he retired to Florida, he converted to a mainly Dolphins fan, although he still rooted for the Skins. I could never go that far. The Redskins are in my blood, and no other team can ever approach that. Thank God for Sunday Ticket, so I can still see every play down here in Alabama. But I sure miss being at the stadium. At least I have some consolation in knowing 3 of my kids go to the home games!!

fan for a while
 

I'm getting close to the hill...but my team was over the hill gang the 70's Redskins. Loved Kilmer, Brown ,Taylor, Talbert and the gang... Been with the good and the bad teams still love them..Only wish I Could have went to the old stadium to see them and other Skins teams play..Hope one day I can make to DC to watch a game....Seen them at Cleveland and Pittsburgh but not DC and thats sad...

Just before the start of the Cowboys vs. Redskins 82 Championship game. My brother and all his friends were getting pumped for the game, and I wanted to hang with the big boys so I decided to become a fan then.

I have been a fan since '78. No one in my immediate family liked Football, but all my freinds and cousins did. In '78 the Redskins were playing the Cowboys in Dallas and all my cousins were there and they were and still are Cowboy fans. It was also the "Americas Team" era. My one older cousin Pat had a silver dollar. I wsa 8 at the time and had never seen one before so I had asked him for it. He told me if the Redskins beat the Cowboys that day I could have it. So I sat in front of that TV watching every second rooting hard as hell even though the Redskins got blown out. I cried, he gave me the silver dollar anyway and I have been a fan since.

born in 74,grew up in a house were my dad and older brother cheered and yelled for the skins,i was hooked soon after. my dad is 58 years old now, he had never been to a game, so my brother and i took him to his first game last year for his bithday, it was a truly great time.(even tho the skins lost)

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?

one of the things i remember is if the game was close ,i felt confident that the skins would hold on to the lead or make a comeback,today if the skins are leading near the end of a game and the score is close,i just keep thinking the skins are going to do something to lose the game.

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.

born in 70, first exposed to the Skins in the mid 70's. My parents were/are big fans. Also, Roy Jefferson use to have a local kids show on like PBS or some local channel where kids would come out and hang with him. Anyone else remember that show?

Also, we use to go to McDonald's and get hamburgers cuz of Chris Hanburger.

Became a serious fan in Gibbs' first year. I remember my best friend (who really was into football and was a cowboy fan) said to me - the Skins could still make the playoffs as a wild card team this year, so I started really watching. They did not of course that first year make the playoffs, but they finished 8-8, after starting 0-5. Of course we all know what happened the next year (superbowl win!!), so it was a perfect time for me to seriously jump on board. But I guess you could say a cowboy fan got me to be a serious skin fan.

My friend who is still my best friend and still a cowboy fan some 23 years later, still lives in the DC area. I now live in Florida. When Gibbs was rehired in February, he called me up and said "I have to admit - I'm a little concerned about this". I thought that was funny, I laughed in his face and told him the cowboys were going down!

Unfortunately, he got the last laugh after the loss to the cowboys a couple of weeks ago, he called me up to break my balls. I told him the refs lost the game for us. He laughed at me and said whatever, but he knew I was right. Although for now, he does have braggin rights.

I know we'll get there though, If Gibbs can't turn this around, no one can. Wait til we go to Dallas on Dec. 26. I just hope the game means something!

born in 75 , i guess i wass around 7, so 22 years. woah im old

I'm feelin it!
 

I'm feelin it, because I'm older than nearly all here!

YOB: 51
Years watching Skins: 38, 39..............

I don't remember as many games as I used too! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

I forgot, what was I sayin'???

Born in '69 and a fan ever since, but I didn't really pay attention to them (or football in general) until '82. My first live game experience was when I saw them beat the Cardinals a couple times when living near St. Louis in the mid-80's.

I have been a skins fan since 1972 (hence 72skins).. I remember watching Super Bowl 7 with my grandfather. After the loss its only time I can ever remember seeing him cry, with the exception of the loss of my grandmother. There was nothing like the " Over The Hill Gang " good memories. Then the skins of the 80's solidified my passion even further. "HAIL TO THE REDSKINS"

Born in 64' Been a fan since 72', it was 1 play that did it for me, Charlie Taylor catching a bomb down the right sideline against the cowboy's from Kilmer in the championship game, that play made me a skin's fan, my 2 favorite player's were Larry Brown, I used to make sure I alway's had his number when I played, which I had to argue with my coaches for, they were alway's trying to give me 32 because of OJ, then Charlie Taylor, Cris Hanburger was my guy on defense.

born in 82 and lived in the area love the skins, although I've worked for the Raiders, and go to school in NewOrleans

What did you do for the Raiders? You'd be my cousin's idol. His life revolves around the Raiders

Born 66 and fan of the Skins for 21 years. We only started getting NFL game sin the UK around then, and one the first teams I saw was the Skins. I'd started playing too around then and I liked their style of play. Besides, Burgundy and Gold ALWAYS looks cool. :)

Only wish I lived in the States now so I could see them every week!

I was born in '66 and grew up in Alexandria, so the Redskins were always around, even though my folks weren't big fans. I remember watching Super Bowl VII with my Dad, though I remember my Mom making brownies more than I remember the game.

Became a big 'Skins fan when Pardee came to town in '78. The game that still stands out for me from that time was the 'Skins 9 - 5 victory over the cowpies on Monday Night Football. My parents wouldn't let me stay up late to watch the game, so I laid in bed listening to WMAL turned down real low. Fell asleep before Theismann ran out of the endzone on the last play of the game, but I still loved the move - spontaneous, enthusiastic, a little dumb and very in your face.

I thought Theismann was great. I remember another game when "Too Tall" Jones was coming in for a sack and Theismann pocked him in the eyes through his facemask. I think Theismann got called for unnecessary roughness, but I loved it.

I also love Dave Butz. For years I kept a picture on my wall from the Post of Butz on his back, pulling down Tony Dorsett with one finger in Dorsett's jersey sleeve.