Washington Commanders: Prioritizing Past & Present

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May 10, 2022

by David Earl

Commander Fans or Not

First of all, let’s get literal for a second: the Washington Commanders did not exist in 2004 but that’s just me being petty. Regardless, as shown by this small survey that was done and the public reactions to Reese Waters questions, this organization has a very long way to go for approval. If the last 20 seconds or so of this video is any indication, there isn’t much hope for redemption as long as the hated owner, Dan Snyder, continues to remain at the helm. There is no sugar coating this new era of Washington football, as the rebrand to Commanders has been as polarizing as the politicians who run the District of Columbia. From those who have welcomed this change with open arms to the fans that completely despise not only the rebrand but the events leading to retiring the name “Redskins”, this franchise has a long uphill climb ahead.  Therefore, some thoughts and questions have run through my mind, such as whether there’s any shame in the stance any of us has taken? Let me try to organize and sort this mess out a bit in hopes of gaining some closure and clarity.

Can You Separate Past and Present?

Some recent banter I’ve witnessed are the reactions from the new #HTTC and the revamping of the old fight song. While most back and forth has been somewhat civil, there is no ignoring some of the heated exchanges among fans and understandably so. The biggest demographic here at odds are (you guessed it) the long-time fans who witnessed the golden era of revered Redskins football to those fans who’ve only known the clown show that’s been Dan Snyder’s ownership. The disconnect between these generations may not only be too much for this organization to shake off and fix but time itself may not heal these deep wounds. For many, the idea of cutting ties with everything fans like myself had with the Redskins, especially the era of Joe Gibbs, to just bend the knee for this rebrand is just too much of an ask. As unreasonable as that may sound, take a minute to understand what the Redskins meant to a son/daughter or grandson/granddaughter decades ago as they went to games, training camp, those precious few hours every Sunday at home, and so on. For many that era was more than just a game every Sunday or a hot dog in the stands but the communing with loved ones and great friends forging lasting memories. This describes one section of old school fans.  For that group, the overarching theme here is not only how that great era of football resonated with each of us but watching helplessly as Snyder ripped out our souls as he methodically tore this once-proud franchise down to its very foundation. The Redskins were more than just a football team playing a kids’ game, but irreplaceable memories of our past.

While I believe you understand my point I personally will offer this as a form of absolution going forward as a Washington Commanders fan to all my fellow old school fans which is to keep loose ties. In my personal adjustment to the rebrand, I found tying the past with the present just too fraudulent going forward. It’s easy to get frustrated over the changes being made. With some of the Redskins traditions being altered, the Commanders name just felt like forced and blasphemous. This direction was not working, so instead of abandoning an organization I’ve invested in for decades the choice of very loosely tying the Redskins with Commanders was the path of least resistance. The Washington Commanders are essentially like an expansion team going forward as they strive for their first championship. In that approach, adaptations like #HTTR to #HTTC are nothing more than any business purchasing the copyrights of another business to alter and use in marketing their own brand. Using the #HTTC for this rebranded Washington team becomes more palatable and much easier to get behind (the same reasoning applies for anything else like the fight song). I won’t say it’s 100% effective but the transition to the Commanders has been much easier as the Redskins have become retired past memories, especially during my time of 3 Super Bowl Championships. To those who disagree or despise how I separate the Commanders from the Redskins history, “I am not now nor will ever be sorry for that decision as you will just have to deal with it.” So to all my fellow old-school fans struggling to adjust just Keep Very Loose Ties.

Is the Redskins Past Merging Into Commanders Future Ok?

I am not one of the curmudgeon fans who stand firmly on my principles, especially towards those younger fans that have known nothing but misery. Fully incorporating the past with the future is as equally acceptable if you choose to walk that line because who are we to judge right. Some of the past like the color scheme and marching band staying in place plus the new crest displaying the past championships, may be enough historical ties to satisfy many fans. Then, there is a segment of older fans who just wanted a change to get away from the name controversy but also not to lose the history prior to the Dan Snyder dark ages of ownership. Regardless of what position this segment of the fan base comes from, merging Redskins with the Commanders should not be vilified even if one wholeheartedly disagrees. The attachment to the Redskins era and having it directly tie to Commanders adversely applies here for the older fans such as myself. Where I have learned to compartmentalized this transition as I forge my path, this section of fans have that equal right to embrace the change. So, instead of making this rebrand as polarizing as the corrupt world as politics, this is a moment to simply respect any fans approach towards this rebrand and move forward.

In Conclusion

Change is not always a commonly agreed upon scenario and this organization is no exception to that rule. We all handled this in different ways, either embracing the change, treating the rebrand as an expansion team or simply closing up shop to never again cheer for this organization. Considering the course of events and scandal after scandal since the 2019 offseason, without question this fan base has endured more frustrations and misery than any other NFL franchise’s fans. When you are constantly bombarded with combination punches to the face and midsection for 3 years straight I believe some leniency should be allowed for this fan base. These are unprecedented times for a game that’s supposed to take us all away from the stressful realities of life, but this owner pulled us all down the dark abyss. There is no one sole right answer nor any true firm and logical path any one person here has but merely giving other fans the respect of choice without trying to tear each of us down. While each of approache may differ individually or as a group, we all share one common desire which is WIN! MAKE WASHINGTON RELEVANT AGAIN!!!