Redskins Alum Mark Moseley
There is something special that goes on when a gathering has a purpose that’s geared towards healing. It lends electricity to the air that is charged with good will. The great thing is that the resulting electrons stick to everybody.
OK. That sounds like a science lesson but my point is that the atmosphere out in Ashburn was great yesterday.
Washington Redskins’ General Manager Bruce Allen came through on his promise to attempt to heal the wounds that had opened up between some of the past players and the current organization. Allen had said that he wanted to reach out to the players that had made the team what it is today and today he launched that agenda.
More than 50 Redskins’ players and staff alumni were present at a cook-out that took place during the last day of mandatory mini-camp. A huge white tent held food and beverages and invited guests milled around shaking hands, slapping each other on the back and sometimes performing that mysterious ‘man hug’ that only men know how to do (and make it look cool). It truly seemed to be more than just a reunion.
“Obviously this a great day for some Washington Redskins…,” Allen told a group of reporters, “…a special time, to bring back not only the legends of the game, but some of the architects of the Washington Redskins that our fans have loved over the decades.”
Anyone watching the GM could tell that he was having a great time. Having spent so much time at the Park when his father, George Allen, was coach, it probably was like a big family reunion with some of the players. He said as much when he commented, “Obviously, many of these people are like family to me.”
Many of the alumni players at the facility were pleased at the attempt Allen is making to ‘bridge the gap’ between the past and today. Superbowl kicker, Mark Moseley praised the move.
“Bruce has done a good job of trying to put the guys back together again and trying to get us involved, because I don’t think it’s a secret that there’s been a separation between the alumni and the organization for a number of years now.”
Some of the alumni I saw today were Pat Fischer, Gary Clark (go Dukes!), Sam Huff, Mark Moseley, Rick “Doc” Walker, Ken Harvey, Art Monk, Charley Taylor, Darryl Grant, Bobby Mitchell and George Starke. And I know that Larry Brown, Raleigh McKenzie, Mike Nelms, Bill Brundige, Darryl Pounds, Neal Olkewicz and Brig Owns were there. There are certainly players not on this list that were there.
There were also past coaches, secretaries and equipment personnel.
At one point, I spoke at length to past position coach Kirk Mee who has coached from 1970 to 1995. He coached linebackers for George Allen, wide receivers and tight ends for Jack Pardee and one year he coached special teams. In his later years in the league, he was Director of Player Personnel with Bobby Beathard and Charlie Casserly.
Unlike some current popular thinking, Mee feels that the game of football has NOT changed much over the years.
The contracts have changed, free agency arrived and some of the techniques for coaching have changed. But Mee was adamant that the players and coaches now have to be just as dedicated and work just as hard to get a contract, get a uniform and get on the field and they had to back when he was coaching.
“It’s not easy,” Mee said. “It wasn’t easy back in the 1920’s, 1950’s or even now. You have to be dedicated. You have to be totally, fundamentally sound.”
The current player / alumni bonding did not end when the food and beverages at the facility had been consumed. Afterward, head coach Mike Shanahan took his players out for an event he had planned.
He told a group of reporters, “We’re going to take the team out, have a little challenge at the bowling alley, and bring some of the alums who have been here.
“What we do is we get the top 10 offensive bowlers, defensive bowlers, support staff, coaching staff and alums, and we compete against each other. The winner gets a trophy about that high,” Shanahan then motioned, holding his hand about four feet above the ground, “and it’s about five times bigger than the Super Bowl trophy. We’ll have some fun with it.”
Hopefully, this won’t be the last trophy this Redskin team wins.