SPOKANE, Wash. – It’s been a long 33 years for Washington Commander fans to wait for an NFC Championship game appearance.
After a dominant 45-31 upset win over the Detroit Lions last weekend, the wait is at last over.
Former WSU Cougar quarterback Mark Rypien spoke about his time on the at-the-time Washington Redskins, leading them a Super Bowl XXVI title over the Buffalo Bills, the week after the last time Washington went to a conference title game.
He talked to us about how this Washington team went from just 4-13 a year ago to 12-5 and still in the playoff race.
“I think none of us outside those guys in behind the walls there realized it would come this fast and maybe even to them to start they probably figured, we need to build a culture here in Washington and kind of get this bad taste out of our mouths,” Rypien said. “Thirty-three years and five, I think five. Only five playoff games and maybe only two, one or two playoff wins. So it’s been futility for a long period of time.”
Former Washington State standout defender Frankie Luvu earned a Second Team All-Pro nod for his efforts for the Commanders, and Rypien remarked about how he’s seen Cougs in the league.
“We’re always proud of our Cougs in the NFL, Cougs in any sport,” Rypien said. “And what Frankie’s done this year is, I think, just a dedication to a guy that got a good start, played a lot of games in Pullman. Also knocked my nephew out in the Boise State game, so you know he’s a tough, hard nosed football player, plays the game right.”
Washington kicks off against the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday at noon, a place in which it’s notoriously difficult to win.
“It’s a hard out, you know, to win in, Philadelphia,” Rypien said.”Nick Siriani and the group there and the fan base – there as good a fan base there is in the NFL. They’re crazy, they’re rabid, and they’ll get right in your face, and but they love their team. So that’s what you want. You want a group of fans that come on out there each and every week and through high through, good or bad, they’re there and they’re supporting the guys. So it’s going to be a tough game, tough situation.”
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