Steeler fans forced Redskins into using a "Silent Count". (1 Viewer)

[T.A.]

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsi..._silent_co.html



Steelers Fans Forced Silent Count

From Jason La Canfora at Redskins Park:

In what may be the saddest testament yet to the sight of the Steelers' fans taking over FedEx Field last night and dominating the lower bowl with all the terrible towels, the Redskins offense had to go to a silent count at times, at home, because of all the noise the visiting fans were making.

"We had to go silent at least a couple of times," one veteran player said. "It was loud down there, espeicially on third down. I never seen anything like that, at home, with 90,000 people there. It seemed like they had more fans than we did. That was sad. They had guys like Troy [Polamalu] raising his arms on third down and all these people are yelling and screaming for the Steelers. It was pretty sad, man."

That's about as bad as it gets, folks. Not sure how that happens with a 100,000-person waiting list and all of that good stuff, but I've never seen anything like that before. Steinberg has more on the topic, too.

Another story on the topic at WaPo

This is a team with a sellout streak of 350+ games. And a waiting list for season tickets a decade long.

 

[{Syrus}]

pathetic fans those Redskins have

 

[T.A.]

pathetic fans those Redskins have

That certainly isnt the issue at hand.

 

[beavers]

Steeler Nation - The best of the best.

 

[wadegarrett]

And?

 

[T.A.]

And?

Its certainly worth noting in the area of "fandom". Welcome to "footballguys", enjoy your stay.

 

[Sylira21]

Well, I've been going to Skins home games for about 10 years now, and I've never seen the "visiting" population as large as last night - although with any popular team, there are always a goodly number of their fans present. I would put the estimate at 25% yesterday, at least for the people in my section. I also saw a lot of "mixed couples" - a guy in a Skins jersey, a lady in black'n'gold, or vice versa, FWIW. Obviously a lot of season tickets have been bought by people as a money making venture and they are simply put up for sale on the internet. The Steelers nation is quite motivated to see the game - Monday night Football, not that long a trip, etc. etc.

Even though every game in DC is a sellout, if the opponent isn't a rival or someone like Pittsburgh, there are always a good number of empty seats. Face it - the parking situation is pretty abysmal, there is no public transportation, the traffic is horrid, the prices at the stadium very high - the organization does NOT do the fans any favors there.

 

[T Bell]

Part of this is the downside of having the largest stadium capacity in the league. Tickets aren't a scarce commodity like they were in RFK.

 

[T Bell]

pathetic fans those Redskins have

I wouldn't get too excited, Cowboys fan. I seem to recall a LOT of burgundy in the stands and loud cheers when the Redskins made plays five weeks ago. You don't have room to talk smack on this one.

 

[T.A.]

Part of this is the downside of having the largest stadium capacity in the league.

Certainly for having tickets available in general... but the Redskins have never had to go to a silent count in their own stadium before, have they?

 

[dparker713]

See, the DC fans know the last Redskins home game is an excellent predictor of the presidential election. So even though they like their team, they decided it wasnt worth the risk to try and root for the Skins to win if it meant an Obama loss. DC is afterall one of the most democratic cities in the country.

 

[T Bell]

Part of this is the downside of having the largest stadium capacity in the league.

Certainly for having tickets available in general... but the Redskins have never had to go to a silent count in their own stadium before, have they?

Not that I'm aware of. I agree, that's embarrassing, and a proud moment for Steelers fans. I've never liked that ginormous stadium anyway. It's a horribly designed, cavernous phallus for Jack Kent Cooke that's a terrible place to watch a football game. The Redskins fans do fill it (or at least sell it out every Sunday) but they deserve better.

 

[valhallan]

Well, I've been going to Skins home games for about 10 years now, and I've never seen the "visiting" population as large as last night - although with any popular team, there are always a goodly number of their fans present. I would put the estimate at 25% yesterday, at least for the people in my section. I also saw a lot of "mixed couples" - a guy in a Skins jersey, a lady in black'n'gold, or vice versa, FWIW.

There are a ton of Steelers fans around DC. I've lived and worked with several. they come here for jobs, just like everyone else.

Obviously a lot of season tickets have been bought by people as a money making venture and they are simply put up for sale on the internet. The Steelers nation is quite motivated to see the game - Monday night Football, not that long a trip, etc. etc.

Yep, there's absolutely no shortage of tickets to Skins games on Stubhub and Craigslist every week.

Even though every game in DC is a sellout, if the opponent isn't a rival or someone like Pittsburgh, there are always a good number of empty seats. Face it - the parking situation is pretty abysmal, there is no public transportation, the traffic is horrid, the prices at the stadium very high - the organization does NOT do the fans any favors there.

Worst stadium I've ever been to. Won't waste my time there unless the tickets are free.

 

[pats3in4]

Forcing the home team into a silent count? Love or hate Steelers fans, you've gotta admit that's awesome.

 

[dallas428]

Part of this is the downside of having the largest stadium capacity in the league. Tickets aren't a scarce commodity like they were in RFK.

Unreal...very nice spin...That was maybe the worst I've seen a crowd for a home team...this team wasnt built for prime time...like I suggested before...you need to spend more time in your skins thread and less time in cowboy threads this week and see if you can figure your own team out...the pittsburgh fans were OH SO ZORNIE last night...

 

[{Syrus}]

It's pretty bad when the team gets owned, but the entire stadium? Come on Skins, you take pathetic to an all new level.

 

[Stillers Jr.]

WTG Steeler Nation...WTG!

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Super Bowl XL was the most amazing display by Steelers fans that I've ever seen, this sounds like #2.

 

[dallas428]

Super Bowl XL was the most amazing display by Steelers fans that I've ever seen, this sounds like #2.

It was amazing...with the Steelers in the home whites it just felt like you were in Pittsburgh...I've never witnessed anything remotely close to the noise the Steeler fans brought to the skins house...that was an extra home game for the Steelers...it was beautiful...I tip my hat to the faithful, loyal fans of Pittsburgh...i cant believe how OH SO ZORNIE they got...

 

[DawgPoundNJ]

Wow, I bet if you put them all together, you'd have a full set of teeth.

 

[fred_1_15301]

Wow, I bet if you put them all together, you'd have a full set of teeth.

Cleveland fans are so cute when they're jealous..................

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Wow, I bet if you put them all together, you'd have a full set of teeth.

Pretty sure any Browns fans with spare time should be worrying less about the Steelers and spending more time spraying bleach over the stadium and practice facilities in Cleveland.

 

[Tom Servo]

Wow, I bet if you put them all together, you'd have a full set of teeth.

Coming from a team whose most conspicuous fans wear dog masks, that's saying something.

 

[buster c]

Part of this is the downside of having the largest stadium capacity in the league. Tickets aren't a scarce commodity like they were in RFK.

Unreal...very nice spin...That was maybe the worst I've seen a crowd for a home team...this team wasnt built for prime time...like I suggested before...you need to spend more time in your skins thread and less time in cowboy threads this week and see if you can figure your own team out...the pittsburgh fans were OH SO ZORNIE last night...

nothing to spin here, junior. it's simple supply/demand. maybe you're unfamiliar with such concepts. but you'll see for yourself next year when stretch jones opens his 100K+ seat stadium and the fanatical steeler fans invade your place too.

 

[dallas428]

Part of this is the downside of having the largest stadium capacity in the league. Tickets aren't a scarce commodity like they were in RFK.

Unreal...very nice spin...That was maybe the worst I've seen a crowd for a home team...this team wasnt built for prime time...like I suggested before...you need to spend more time in your skins thread and less time in cowboy threads this week and see if you can figure your own team out...the pittsburgh fans were OH SO ZORNIE last night...

nothing to spin here, junior. it's simple supply/demand. maybe you're unfamiliar with such concepts. but you'll see for yourself next year when stretch jones opens his 100K+ seat stadium and the fanatical steeler fans invade your place too.

Look here bud...we wont be playing the steelers next season...go huddle up in ur skins thread and get ur statements together...and listen...this thread is for you guys...its for here and now...not next season...this is for the skin fans of TODAY...the great STEELER fans got OH SO ZORNIE in ur front yard...on your head....it was a site to behold..HERE WE GO STEELERS HERE WE GO...all night long...lol

 

[thayman]

Part of this is the downside of having the largest stadium capacity in the league. Tickets aren't a scarce commodity like they were in RFK.

Unreal...very nice spin...That was maybe the worst I've seen a crowd for a home team...this team wasnt built for prime time...like I suggested before...you need to spend more time in your skins thread and less time in cowboy threads this week and see if you can figure your own team out...the pittsburgh fans were OH SO ZORNIE last night...

Part of this is the downside of having the largest stadium capacity in the league. Tickets aren't a scarce commodity like they were in RFK.

Unreal...very nice spin...That was maybe the worst I've seen a crowd for a home team...this team wasnt built for prime time...like I suggested before...you need to spend more time in your skins thread and less time in cowboy threads this week and see if you can figure your own team out...the pittsburgh fans were OH SO ZORNIE last night...

nothing to spin here, junior. it's simple supply/demand. maybe you're unfamiliar with such concepts. but you'll see for yourself next year when stretch jones opens his 100K+ seat stadium and the fanatical steeler fans invade your place too.

Look here bud...we wont be playing the steelers next season...go huddle up in ur skins thread and get ur statements together...and listen...this thread is for you guys...its for here and now...not next season...this is for the skin fans of TODAY...the great STEELER fans got OH SO ZORNIE in ur front yard...on your head....it was a site to behold..HERE WE GO STEELERS HERE WE GO...all night long...lol

I might be mistaken but I think he used "Steeler Fans" to represent opposing teams fans in general. It certainly is interesting since Indy opened their new bigger stadium this year and it is quieter than the old stadium. Very curious to see what happens as more teams open bigger stadiums.

 

[thayman]

Part of this is the downside of having the largest stadium capacity in the league. Tickets aren't a scarce commodity like they were in RFK.

Unreal...very nice spin...That was maybe the worst I've seen a crowd for a home team...this team wasnt built for prime time...like I suggested before...you need to spend more time in your skins thread and less time in cowboy threads this week and see if you can figure your own team out...the pittsburgh fans were OH SO ZORNIE last night...

I was unaware of the impact of the play of an NFL team is a result Tatum Bell spending in Cowboy threads vs Redskins threads on Footballguys.com.Tatum I would ask you to spend more time in the Skins thread the next couple of weeks please, you need to help the Redskins stay focused coming out of the bye week.

 

[JetMaxx]

Forcing the home team into a silent count? Love or hate Steelers fans, you've gotta admit that's awesome.

Steeler hater here but:

 

[Petey]

Wow, I bet if you put them all together, you'd have a full set of teeth.

Coming from a team whose most conspicuous fans wear dog masks, that's saying something.

ha, and if i recall when the browns LEFT town and came back the LOYAL fans were supposed to turn their backs on the opening kick off. Talk about loyal fans.Pittsburgh (where i live of course) is said to have the LARGEST fan base. They have sports bars in other states, and more fans go to the games that are away than ANY OTHER TEAM. We also unfortunately support our pirates even though the owner is a crook and only takes season ticket holders money.

 

[DawgPoundNJ]

Wow, I bet if you put them all together, you'd have a full set of teeth.

Pretty sure any Browns fans with spare time should be worrying less about the Steelers and spending more time spraying bleach over the stadium and practice facilities in Cleveland.

Well played, sir.

 

[Borat]

Forcing the home team into a silent count? Love or hate Steelers fans, you've gotta admit that's awesome.

Steeler hater here but:

Another Steeler hater here... but hats off, that is very impressive, Steeler fans.

 

[MikeApf]

Well, that obviously sucked big time for us Redskins fans. I know there are a couple of folks in here that are kind of saying, "Oh, this shows your fans are pathetic," but I think that's really an ill-informed point of view. The fact is, Washington, D.C. area has a really loyal, fanatical Redskin following. The fans here love the Redskins and support them in every way they can. Back in the days of RFK -- 55,000 stadium -- the fans in D.C. were considered among the craziest and teams feared playing here.

I think what you are seeing here is not only the result of having a big stadium, but rather Daniel Snyder pricing the common man out of ticket prices. I was on the waiting list for years for tickets...my name finally came up...and now I can't freaking afford them. And this is not just me -- I know lots of "regular people" who have been priced out. So, what happens is, you don't go to as many games, or if you do have tickets, you sell half of them to finance the remaining half.

If Synder didn't try to squeeze every penny out of the loyal Redskins fans, then he'd have maroon and gold cheeks in the seats every game.

So, to those of you who say this is a result of pathetic Redskins fans, I say you don't know what the heck you are talking about, honestly. I undestand that you don't like the Skins and you are trying to take a shot at them, but I think you look ill informed.

I agree that this sucks, but my anger is more directed at Snyder than supposedly "pathetic" Redskins fans whose only sin is not having enough money to pay Snyder's exhorbidant prices.

M

 

[Bobcat10]

Wow, I bet if you put them all together, you'd have a full set of teeth.

Cleveland fans are so cute when they're jealous..................

So he tries to be funny and that means Cleveland fans are jealous?..............Cleveland has a tremendous worldwide fan base in case you were unaware.

 

[Sylira21]

Well, that obviously sucked big time for us Redskins fans. I know there are a couple of folks in here that are kind of saying, "Oh, this shows your fans are pathetic," but I think that's really an ill-informed point of view. The fact is, Washington, D.C. area has a really loyal, fanatical Redskin following. The fans here love the Redskins and support them in every way they can. Back in the days of RFK -- 55,000 stadium -- the fans in D.C. were considered among the craziest and teams feared playing here.I think what you are seeing here is not only the result of having a big stadium, but rather Daniel Snyder pricing the common man out of ticket prices. I was on the waiting list for years for tickets...my name finally came up...and now I can't freaking afford them. And this is not just me -- I know lots of "regular people" who have been priced out. So, what happens is, you don't go to as many games, or if you do have tickets, you sell half of them to finance the remaining half.If Synder didn't try to squeeze every penny out of the loyal Redskins fans, then he'd have maroon and gold cheeks in the seats every game.So, to those of you who say this is a result of pathetic Redskins fans, I say you don't know what the heck you are talking about, honestly. I undestand that you don't like the Skins and you are trying to take a shot at them, but I think you look ill informed.I agree that this sucks, but my anger is more directed at Snyder than supposedly "pathetic" Redskins fans whose only sin is not having enough money to pay Snyder's exhorbidant prices.M

Very well stated.

 

[Andrew]

Well, that obviously sucked big time for us Redskins fans. I know there are a couple of folks in here that are kind of saying, "Oh, this shows your fans are pathetic," but I think that's really an ill-informed point of view. The fact is, Washington, D.C. area has a really loyal, fanatical Redskin following. The fans here love the Redskins and support them in every way they can. Back in the days of RFK -- 55,000 stadium -- the fans in D.C. were considered among the craziest and teams feared playing here.

I think what you are seeing here is not only the result of having a big stadium, but rather Daniel Snyder pricing the common man out of ticket prices. I was on the waiting list for years for tickets...my name finally came up...and now I can't freaking afford them. And this is not just me -- I know lots of "regular people" who have been priced out. So, what happens is, you don't go to as many games, or if you do have tickets, you sell half of them to finance the remaining half.

If Synder didn't try to squeeze every penny out of the loyal Redskins fans, then he'd have maroon and gold cheeks in the seats every game.

So, to those of you who say this is a result of pathetic Redskins fans, I say you don't know what the heck you are talking about, honestly. I undestand that you don't like the Skins and you are trying to take a shot at them, but I think you look ill informed.

I agree that this sucks, but my anger is more directed at Snyder than supposedly "pathetic" Redskins fans whose only sin is not having enough money to pay Snyder's exhorbidant prices.

M

Yep. Skins are not the first franchise (and the NFL is not the first sport) to experience this.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Redskins on the Fan Turnout: "Disappointed"

By the end of this morning's open locker room, every Redskins player was being asked about the Pittsburgh fan invasion. You know, the one that prompted Michael Wilbon to write this:

The Steelers left town with a victory, with Roethlisberger also smiling and not seriously hurt, and with the Redskins licking their wounds after what felt like a loss on the road. From the racket made and "Terrible Towels" being waved, Leftwich might have thought he was playing in Pittsburgh, since between 15,000 to 20,000 Steelers fans snapped up tickets and promptly took over FedEx Field in their black road jerseys. It really gets a little tiresome hearing how great Redskins fans are, only to see fans of the Cowboys or Steelers or Eagles commandeer FedEx Field. Really, they're a very average lot, at best.

Ouch. By the way, nothing like watching Redskins fans from the stands turn their backs to the field so they can take cell phone pictures of Wilbon in the press box.

Anyhow, my original estimate of 15 percent Yinzers? Way, way, way off, according to the team.

"50-50," H.B. Blades guessed.

"it sounded like 50-50 from the noise they were making, but maybe 60-40," Fred Smoot said.

"it might have been half, I don't know, it might have been 40-60," Randy Thomas said.

"40?" guessed Casey Rabach. "When I looked at the stands after the game, there wasn't many red, there was a lot of [bleeping] black though."

"I have no clue, but there was a lot of black," Mike Sellers said. "A lot of it."

Rabach said he asked for the silent count in the second quarter, and that he and Jason Campbell used it about a half-dozen times. Why?

"I couldn't [bleepin'] hear him," Rabach said.

And the locker room's opinions on the matter? Well, the players weren't too pleased amused, although none pointed fingers at the Redskins' fan base or anyone else. They seemed more confused than anything.

"Never, never," said Smoot, when asked if he'd ever seen FedEx like that. "We don't do that. I guess maybe the recession, people selling their tickets to Pittsburgh fans? I don't know."

"I'm like are those yellow towels for us or for them?" Santana Moss said. "I really scratched my head about it, because I've never seen it done, especially at FedEx, to have someone come into our home and almost have more fans than we did. You know, you never know what reason. I didn't know if those guys was all from here, but I'm gonna go look for them. I'm going to find every Steelers fan I can find in the D.C. area."

"You expect to have your fans in the stands, not the opponents', right?" Rabach said, when asked whether he was surprised.

"I was just shocked there were so many Steelers fans there," Sellers said.

"It was one of the pointers of the game, like, 'Damn, are we giving away free towels tonight or something?' " Thomas said. "It was something we discussed on the sidelines....For a [rival] team like that to be able to get a hold of tickets? I mean, how can you do that?"

"I'm disappointed," Smoot said. "FedEx has never had that many other teams' fans. I don't know, it kind of shocked me when I seen all those terrible towels. I know Pittsburgh ain't but a couple miles away from here, but we've got to keep them out of our place. I'm not disappointed on the fans, but somebody let 'em in there. It wasn't me and I know it wasn't Dan, so SOMEBODY let 'em in there."

"Pittsburgh brings their fans, and that's good for them, but it was just strange for me seeing it at FedEx," Moss said. "I've never seen anything like it....That's what pissed me off about it, because I'm sitting there saying like, 'We're not away, why are we doing some of the things we're doing?' But you know, that's why we play this game, you know what I'm saying? You've got to be ready for whatever. And they showed us last night that they brung their whole Pittsburgh over here just to help them win that game."

By Dan Steinberg | November 4, 2008; 12:18 PM ET | Category: Redskins

Previous: Steelers Fans Force Redskins Into Silent Count | Next: A Final Dose of Political Football

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsb...turnout_di.html

 

[Steady Mooobin]

I'm not sure how often this kind of thing happens to other teams, but it is pretty common for that place to be filled with opposing team's fans.

I've personally been to several Cowboys games where it was literally a sea of blue.

 

[Steady Mooobin]

Part of this is the downside of having the largest stadium capacity in the league.

Certainly for having tickets available in general... but the Redskins have never had to go to a silent count in their own stadium before, have they?

Not that I'm aware of. I agree, that's embarrassing, and a proud moment for Steelers fans. I've never liked that ginormous stadium anyway. It's a horribly designed, cavernous phallus for Jack Kent Cooke that's a terrible place to watch a football game. The Redskins fans do fill it (or at least sell it out every Sunday) but they deserve better.

I will add that Texas Stadium is a rusted out rat trap. For one more year at least.