The Redskins Blog

Staubach At Home In House Of Redskins

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In an odd twist of circumstance, former Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach is at FedExField today, celebrating a home game for his Navy Midshipmen.

The possibilities are endless in an Army-Navy game.

Although Redskins fans will always remember Staubach for the 11-7 record he had against Washington, he was a beloved Heismann winner in Annapolis, and a classy testament to his military background.  He may go down as the only Cowboy that Redskins fans do and should respect.

As a younger member of Redskins Nation, I have a slightly different perspective of Staubach, having never seen him play.  But that’s not to say that he’s not part of my family lore.

My great-uncle Chuck, on my mother’s side, was a career Navy chaplain, and spent part of his career stationed at the Naval Academy’s chapel in the early 1960s.    According to family legend, Roger Staubach–a devout Catholic–would go to the chapel on a regular basis during his free time, to pray and reflect.

On one fateful evening, Staubach was in the pews, bent over in prayer when it was time for the chapel to close.  As my Uncle Chuck recalled, he scanned the room, and seeing no one, locked the door and went home.  Much to Staubach’s surprise, as he went to leave the chapel that evening, he found out he was stuck for the night.

And much to my great-uncle Chuck’s surprise, there was someone waiting for him at the door the next morning.  It just so happened to be one of the most recognizable faces in Navy football history, and future Heisman Trophy winner Roger Staubach.

Did that night have any profound impact on Staubach’s life?  Did it even really happen?  We may never know.  But it certainly does make for a great story.