Cowboys Redskins Rivalry

The Cowboys Redskins game is one that has always invoked the emotions of their fans.

George Allen, who became the Redskins coach in 1971, was always adding fuel to fire. Who can forget the former Coach on the sidelines, clapping his hands and yelling, “Roger Staubach and Company, Roger Staubach, Tom Landry, Tex Schramm, here we go.”

In the huddle, Allen would yell, “Just remember, 40-men together can’t lose.”

In 1972, the Redskins beat the Cowboys at RFK in the NFC Championship game. On the sidelines, NFL films captured players yelling, “Die you dogs, die,” just as Cliff Harris was being bounced off the RFK turf.

At the Thanksgiving Day game in 1974, Clint Longley emerged as the Mad Bomber.

In 1979, the Roger Staubach lead the Cowboys to an incredible 35-to-34 win. After the game, Harvey Martin tossed a funeral wreath in Washington's dressing room.

These days, the rivalry seems much calmer.

Said Joe Gibbs this week, “Its a tough one for us, we're going to have to play the game of our life down there, and certainly we'll have pretty much the whole world against us down there.”

And no wonder considering what Gibbs said during training camp this year, “don’t see any Cowboys fans here. They’re ugly.”

Joe Gibbs did apologize for his remarks, but Cowboys fans don't remember that.

Free agency does change the faces of a rivalry more frequently, but Bill Parcells says even that doesn't matter.

Says Cowboys Head Coach Bill Parcells, “I've always felt like the fans root for the jersey, I've always felt that, that a real fan will root for the jersey of the team, and not so much for, maybe they've got their favorite players, you know, another coach comes in that'll be the guy that gets the boo next.”

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe has heard about the rivalry, but Monday night, he along with a handful of free agents and rookies, will experience it first hand.

“I know its one of the oldest and most storied rivalries in the league,” he said. “I recently found out that the Cowboys have had the best of it for a while, and hopefully we can keep that going.”

Free agent Guard Marco Rivera has never played in this rival game either. “This is one of those big ones, you can tell there's some hatred between the Cowboys and Redskins fans, and ah, it’s going to be an exciting game. It’s early in the season, and we've got them Monday night at our place, so we want to shine.”

“Actually, I didn't know it was that big of rivalry,” says Cornerback Aaron Glenn. “But you know just hearing you guys, talk about it, I guess it’s a big deal.”

But those who have played in the game realize this series is different.

They don't like us, we don't like them,” says Defensive Tackle La’Roi Glover. “Its already been reporter, it’s going to be intense. Anytime you play a team in the NFC East, especially if they're the Redskins, its a little extra added value to it.”

Defensive End Greg Ellis says, “That's old fashioned football. Its going to be played that way, its going to be a real physical game, coaches know it, players know it, young guys, obviously won't realize that yet.”

Tight End Dan Campbell didn’t want to stir up any added hatred. “I'm not even answering that, I'm not getting into that whole deal, I'm just not. I'm not doing it” he said laughing. “I'm not doing it. ha ha, new season, that's it.”

Says Wide Receiver Keyshawn Johnson, “I just play football, I don't care about the Redskins, unless it’s Ohio State and Texas.”

The Cowboys have been in charge of this series for a long time, winning fourteen of the last fifteen games, but football is a cyclical game and the Cowboys hope that cycle doesn't change anytime soon.