Redskins fans use towels to cheer for their team
The Washington Redskins’ version of Pittsburgh’s Terrible Towel — and let’s call it what it is, a knockoff — made its debut on Sunday night at FedEx Field. The knockoff towels came in response to the Great Steeler Invasion of two weeks ago, when Redskins players were forced to play a home game in, essentially, a neutral site. It was a nationally televised embarrassment for the Redskins, that so many opposing fans could be allowed to invade their grounds.This is not a new phenomenon.
For years, FedEx has hosted fans of all teams. Take a few moments and people watch on the concourse; it won’t be long before someone shuffles by wearing paraphernalia from the visiting team.
It’s true for all visiting teams, though the percentage of visiting fans seems to vary with the popularity and proximity of the visitors. It should be no surprise that Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New York fans make the trip to Landover; the percentage drops when San Diego or Arizona visits.
Unless he simply wasn’t paying attention, Redskins owner Dan Snyder could not have missed the high number of visiting fans in his team’s facility. It was never much of a factor — Washington fans always thoroughly outnumbered fans of the opponent — until a certain gold cloth swirled about on one particular Monday night.
The scene itself was unfamiliar only in that Steelers fans could be identified by something beyond their jerseys and hats, which blend more easily into the crowd.
The indignity of the scene, that was different. Snyder would not stand by idly.
So out came the Redskins’ version. And on Sunday night, another national television audience saw a different scene. Towels waved over heads like thousands of tiny helicopters, such that the facility itself might elevate into the chilly night sky.
Snyder showed ’em, all right. No indignity, no embarrassment here.
And behind their full-throated supporters, the Redskins lost to Dallas.
Brian Hunsicker is a staff writer for the News & Messenger. Reach him at 703-878-8048 or via e-mail at .
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