Redskins coach Jim Zorn needs the spirit of predecessor George Allen to help him through Dallas Week.
Allen once offered to fight Dallas coach Tom Landry at midfield for the victory. Zorn could probably take Cowboys counterpart Wade Phillips, but for now the Redskins rookie boss hopes the passion of fans and veteran players of the rivalry will ready him for Sunday’s showdown in Dallas.
Zorn needs some fire, some passion. Use Tony Romo’s photo for a dart board. The problem is he has no personal stake in the rivalry. It’s just another game to the former Seattle quarterback and assistant coach. It’s nothing personal so it feels strange to Zorn that others are more emotionally invested than he.
“I just don’t have the animosity yet and I’m the head football coach here and supposed to,” said Zorn Wednesday. “I’m sure I’ll get there at some point. If it’s anything like the Seahawk-Raiders rivalry there’s certain things that create that and I’m just waiting for it.”
Ask anybody in Washington the list of Cowboys offenses over the years and get ready for a long discourse. The Cowboys owner bought the rights to “Hail to the Redskins” to trade for Washington’s vote into the NFL. The Clint Longley touchdown that ruined Thanksgiving in 1974 for Washingtonians. The times Dallas knocked Washington out of the playoffs. The Cowboys one-win season that came against the Redskins.
Some Washingtonians claim the rivalry dates to John F. Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas. Whatever, but there’s one clown at every party rooting for the Cowboys to drive Redskins fans crazy.
Zorn should have come to the Quarterback Club Luncheon on Tuesday when Redskins fans politely booed a former Cowboys player attending. If Cowboys owner Jerry Jones sold lottery tickets for pushing the detonator button on Texas Stadium after this season, he’d raise a few million dollars around Washington alone.
Zorn said he’s watched the series since the Longley debacle. Washington has certainly seen its success. Couple NFC Championship victories. Santana Moss’ two late touchdowns for a 14-13 win long after most fans fell asleep.
“When you watched the Monday night games, it was a flat-out war,” Zorn said. “It reminded you of several other rivalries — Green Bay-Chicago, Seahawks-Raiders. This is something special.”
Seahawks-Raiders? That’s like Terps-Clemson for Maryland basketball fans.
Zorn noticed a difference in practice. Players seemed more intense. Dallas is 3-0 so it’s a chance for Washington to dethrone the NFC East leader. But, everyone knows it’s important to fans, too.
“Even out here today, there’s a mindset of understanding what this game is all about,” Zorn said. “The tempo was up. Just the concentration levels were where we need to be. I’m hoping it’s just because it’s just another significant game.”
A victory is significant. A loss only heightens the Nov. 16 rematch. Either way, the rivalry endures.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
