What Has Happened to the Redskins' Fan Base?

KB24 · 03-24-2008, 10:39 AM

Growing up, one of the things I remember sports announcers saying about the Redskins is that they had a very knowledgeable fan base. But, lately, I've seen that same fan base do some things that make me scratch my head.

If you go to other Web sites, you'll notice fans suggesting that the Redskins give up high draft picks to acquire big stars/head cases who may not fit with the system or the locker room. The worst part is that this has been the strategy since Dan Snyder bought the team and it's netted a 70-79 record with one playoff win. Additionally, teams like the Steelers, Patriots, Colts and Giants mainly used the draft while treating free agency as a supplement to their roster-building. This strategy has netted Super Bowl wins for the aforementioned teams.

I've also noticed fans asking silly questions on message boards -- questions that, in my opinion, a "knowledgeable" fan base would never ask. They've included, "Can we as a sixth-seeded team host a playoff game?" "Why was that play called a touchback?" "Why are they running the ball here (when there's less than two minutes left in the game, the opposition has no timeouts and you're trying to run the clock out)?"

Then, the games themselves have turned into a breeding ground for violent, foul-mouthed fans who feel like they need to drink themselves to oblivion to have a good time. You also have people who are conducting business in the stands and don't care about the game. People who leave or return to their seats when a play is in progress. People who want to start the wave in the fourth quarter of a close game when the Redskins offense is on the field. People who are more concerned about getting on the jumbotron than what's happening on the football field. People who are jumping up and down screaming when the Skins have the ball on a crucial fourth-down play. And those who keep wondering why that little clock in the corner keeps counting backwards from 40.

(Okay, I made that last one up, but you get the idea!)

Thoughts?

03-24-2008, 10:39 AM	#1
KB24 Special Teams Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 142	What Has Happened to the Redskins' Fan Base? Growing up, one of the things I remember sports announcers saying about the Redskins is that they had a very knowledgeable fan base. But, lately, I've seen that same fan base do some things that make me scratch my head. If you go to other Web sites, you'll notice fans suggesting that the Redskins give up high draft picks to acquire big stars/head cases who may not fit with the system or the locker room. The worst part is that this has been the strategy since Dan Snyder bought the team and it's netted a 70-79 record with one playoff win. Additionally, teams like the Steelers, Patriots, Colts and Giants mainly used the draft while treating free agency as a supplement to their roster-building. This strategy has netted Super Bowl wins for the aforementioned teams. I've also noticed fans asking silly questions on message boards -- questions that, in my opinion, a "knowledgeable" fan base would never ask. They've included, "Can we as a sixth-seeded team host a playoff game?" "Why was that play called a touchback?" "Why are they running the ball here (when there's less than two minutes left in the game, the opposition has no timeouts and you're trying to run the clock out)?" Then, the games themselves have turned into a breeding ground for violent, foul-mouthed fans who feel like they need to drink themselves to oblivion to have a good time. You also have people who are conducting business in the stands and don't care about the game. People who leave or return to their seats when a play is in progress. People who want to start the wave in the fourth quarter of a close game when the Redskins offense is on the field. People who are more concerned about getting on the jumbotron than what's happening on the football field. People who are jumping up and down screaming when the Skins have the ball on a crucial fourth-down play. And those who keep wondering why that little clock in the corner keeps counting backwards from 40. (Okay, I made that last one up, but you get the idea!) Thoughts? __________________ "The only real magic. The magic of knowledge." "Sounds like your assets are getting kicked!"

What Has Happened to the Redskins' Fan Base?

Locker Room Main Forum