Redskins Open In Style

 When I bought season tickets for the Redskins, (thanks Melanie) I was a bit worried that driving up from Georgia each week to be at the game in person wouldn't be that much different than watching it on TV.

 Thankfully, I was wrong.

 The nine hours up and nine hours back all became worth it even while just approaching FedEx Field for the Redskins 2010 home-opener against the hated Dallas Cowboys. Despite a rainy day throughout the afternoon and the Skins coming off a 4-12 record the year before, the electricity was palpable when we stepped out of the car in the cash parking lot, a good quarter-mile from the stadium.

 We got there two hours before the game and tailgaiting was in full swing. The walk to the stadium was interesting, seeing people dressed in all sorts of outfits from the standard jersey-wearing to elaborate costumes. And again, since it was the Cowboys, there was no let-up to the good-natured (mostly) bantering between fans on both sides.

 The most important thing I found about the walk to the stadium is remembering the route you took so you can find your way back afterward. We were making great time to the car after the game but discovered we had walked about 10 minutes the exact opposite way from where we were parked. That didn't seem so bad in retrospect as we sat in the car for an hour and a half waiting to get out of the parking lot.

 I hadn't been to FedEx Field since the Redskins beat the Detroit Lions in the playoffs in the 90s-living overseas will do that to you-so I don't really know the difference between the video boards, but the ones at the field now are crystal-clear and well, awesome. That was a good thing so we could see the important things happening on the field closeup, like the cheerleaders. From our seats in the upper deck, the football game was laid out right before us, but the boards were great for watching replays. And we were in a perfect spot for the action. DeAngelo Hall's touchdown at the end of the first half happened in front of us as did the Cowboys final, failed drive.

Much like outside, the atmosphere inside the stadium was electric and it felt like that last playoff game. Will it be like that later in the season when Tampa Bay comes to town, we'll see. We had two Cowboys' fans in front of us, but they weren't obnoxious like some of the others near us, but of course it goes both ways with the alcohol flowing freely. Well, maybe not so freely. I thought five bucks for a beer was bad before, so $8 seems a little outlandish, but that's the way it goes.

 The game was great and I can't wait to get back, even with the commute. The best thing about the nine-hour drive home was that it gave me a chance to get my voice back.