For all the hype the Redskins (and the rest of us) put on quarterbacks* and skill players, Washington’s Golden Age teams featured muscle men. One of them, Big Dave Butz (Purdue), has been elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.
“Big Dave,” we heard that spoken so often by TV announcers that I sometimes thought his name really was “Bigdave.”
Everybody remembers The Hogs offensive line. Joe Gibbs defensive line was their near equivalent. Them guys, Mann, Manley, Grant and Bigdave Butz lifted the performance of the blue-collar linebackers behind them. That front seven was the perfect complement to what the offense was doing.
Those annoying people who marvel that “Joe Gibbs won three Super bowls with three different quarterbacks” miss the point. Gibbs always had the offensive and defensive Hogs. It was their identity. The secret of their success. They bludgeoned teams for three quarters to win games in the fourth.
Butz is a member of the 80 Greatest Redskins and appears on the Redskins Ring of Fame at FedEx Field. Hog Heaven says there are no higher football honors than that. But this College Football HOF thing is pretty good, too.
Butz spent 14 years with Washington, much of that time unsung by the NFL. He was selected to the 1983 Pro Bowl and All Pro list. The Pro Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Reference list him on the Second Team, All 1980s Team.
Pro Football Reference lists Bob Golic, Lyle Alzado and Justin Tuck as players comparable to Butz.
He still lives in DC suburban Virginia. Butz was subject to hazing early in his Redskins career because his last name sounded too much like … well, you know. He silenced that by his play on the field.
Congratulations, Big Dave. Thank you for everything.
Say, we have another Purdue defenseman around here who could make some noise on Greatest lists, Rings of Honor and HOFs too. Hope he’s paying attention.
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*Quarterbacks may be the most important glamour boys on the team, but are not the only player on the team. Too many people (cough) lose sight of that. Teams can win Super Bowls with competent quarterbacks if they use their strength elsewhere. This is a hint.
A pleasure to post a positive story about the Redskins for once.
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