BURGUNDY & GOLD FAN CLUB ~ WEEK #3 UPDATE

A very disappointing end to the Football Weekend, on a wet night at the half-finished stadium in Irving on Sunday, had our Redskins fall to a mediocre Dallas Team with very little fight. Rock Cartwright’s spectacular Kickoff Return TD was the only bright spot as Mark Brunell struggled mightily to move the offense. The Line (mainly Samuels and Jansen) gave him precious little time to work, and the running game missed Clinton Portis horribly. Even with all of the problems we had, the game was still there for the taking when Sean Taylor (who BROUGHT THE PAIN) forced a fumble with us down 17-10 in the third quarter. But Brunell gave it away shortly thereafter with an interception on a duck tossed up for grabs, and the defense then suffered through some horrible calls on its way to giving up a 99 yard backbreaking touchdown drive, which led to the disappointing conclusion. Brunell looks like he is having some of the same issues he had in his first year in Burgundy & Gold, with velocity seemingly way down on his passes. Hopefully, our coaching staff can find some way to get him on the right track, because we are still only one game out of the lead in the NFC East but the winning needs to start now!

This weekend, the surroundings will be much nicer as the Skins travel to sparkling new Reliant Stadium in Houston to battle the Texans, who are trying to get new coach Gary Kubiak his first victory as a head coach. Their defense is suspect at best, and their offensive line should allow us to get Andre Carter and the rest of our pass rush some much needed success. The multi-headed Running Back by Committee attack of Samkon Gado, Wali Lundy, and Ron Dayne should not pose much of a threat if Coach Williams takes the freaking leash off and lets our defense do what they do best . . . ATTACK!!! QB David Carr makes mistakes when pressured (as does Drew Bledsoe), so WE HAVE TO BRING IT!!! I say we get on track with a strong victory against a weaker team this week as Clinton Portis has declared himself ready to play. So let's carry the Burgundy & Gold Flag down to Houston and show everyone what we are made of!!!

I am not even going to comment on Sunday night. Well, maybe just a little. I just climbed in off the window ledge as I had this flash back -- Coach Gibbs knows how to fix what is broken . . . always has . . . and I'm old enough to remember some 0-5 and 1-4 starts that turned into pretty good years.

We saw some good things Sunday night, too. Those dog butted Cows were not dropping all those passes without reason; we were sticking them pretty good! I saw alligator arms flapping all over the Looser Dome Turf! T.O. is flat out intimidated by Sean Taylor.

I vote for Mark Brunell for "D.F.G." (Designated Fall Guy). If we want to turn this thing around, seems to me a change at QB is the only short- term fix in sight. However, all the buzz from Redskin Park seems to back up the fact that Joe is sticking with Brunell. Hope I am wrong because something has to change!

Remember, we're only two games into the year and one game back in the NFC East. That's what I keep telling myself.

I am as disgusted as anybody, but I choose to believe the turn-a-round starts Sunday and we will be able to say, "We were there, live, when the most surprising, unbelievable, turn-a-round in Redskins history began; on Sunday, September 24, 2006 in Houston, Texas!"

.........................................................Tony Grasse

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Washington REDSKINS@.Houston TEXANS

Reliant Stadium

Sunday ~ September 24, 2006 ~ 12:00 p.m.

Austin Avenue Grill & Sports Bar

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TICKETS ~ TICKETS ~ TICKETS

There are still tickets available for the Houston Game!

Chad Costa ~ 1 ticket, including indoor tailgate party ~ $95.00 ~ ccos20@hotmail.com

Rick Jones ~ 1 ticket, including indoor tailgate party ~ $95.00 ~ honez57@earthlink.net

Kenn Jackson ~ 4 tickets ~ $45/each (sold all together or in pairs) ~ 214-335-0998

{There are also seats available in Jeff Barczak's vehicle ~ barczak@juno.com }

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A special THANKS from the Hogettes:

~ HOWIETTE ~ STONEYETTE ~ HOG ED ~

~ DANETTE ~ MIKETTE ~

The raffle, calendar sales and auction at our Saturday Night Beat Dallas Rally

produced a total of $1,119.00

to be donated to

Children's Medical Center and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children!

WAY TO GO REDSKINS FANS!

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The Burgundy & Gold Fan Club

is celebrating 10 years ~ 1996-2006!

For Sale: Commemorative Club T-Shirts!

All Sizes Available (Sm, M, Lg, XL, XXL, XXXL)

Still only $15.00

See David this week for shirt sales!

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~ NEW THIS SEASON ~

WARPATH TOWELS

For Sale ~ Only $5.00

See David this week for towel sales!

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TAKE A CHANCE

on a beautiful 24" X 36" wool

REDSKINS SUPER BOWL

CHAMPIONS BANNER!

A treasured keepsake for any Redskins Fan!

Chance are $5.00 each - - buy as many chances as you want!

The Banner will be on display each gameday!

The drawing for the winner will be during the Dallas at Washington game on 11/05/06.

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H A I L T O T H E R E D S K I N S !

SEE YOU AT AUSTIN AVENUE!

Burgundy & Gold Fan Club

Bryan Capps

Chad Costa

Linda Domin

John Priddy

David Solly