Long ago, in a stadium far, far away-------
As a young football player from Gar-Field High School in northern Virginia, I was a die-hard Washington Redskin’s fan. The first NFL game I ever saw was at RFK Stadium in 1972. My best friend, Jim Chapman got tickets for us to see them play the Baltimore Colts. His father had season tickets and we actually sold Redskins Gameday programs before the game as a way of making a little extra cash and getting into the game.
I vividly remember seeing Bubba Smith come out of the locker room after the game. He was the biggest player I had ever seen – standing 6’7 and weighing 280 pounds. At the time, he was wearing a cast on his leg because he was injured in the preseason when he ran into a solid steel pole the NFL was using at the time to mark yardage.
Bubba Smith signing autographs at the Upstate New York NFL Alumni Chapter Celebrity Golf Tournament- by Jeff Nixon.
When I saw Bubba Smith, I thought to myself that there is no way I could play in the NFL against guys of his size – until I saw Redskin’s defensive back, Pat Fischer walk out of the locker room. He was 5’9 and 170 pounds soaking wet.
Pat Fischer
I liken Pat Fischer to the Star Wars character Yoda who said “Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.
Some of Fischer's most memorable defensive match-ups occurred against Philadelphia Eagles receiver Harold Carmichael who stood eleven inches taller than Fischer. Fischer's mantra "get a leg up and you own him" is used today to motivate and teach smaller defensive backs how to defend taller wide receivers.
Yoda said “Always pass on what you have learned” and that is exactly what Pat Fischer has done.
Pat played 17 years in the NFL and was a 3 time pro bowl player. He finished his career with 56 interceptions and he was an inspiration to me and many other high school football players that dreamed of one day playing in the NFL.
When I saw Pat Fischer I thought to myself – if he can do it, I can do it.
I went on to play college football for the University of Richmond and in 1978 I was a first team All-American. I got a chance to be on the Bob Hope Show where he joked about me being the skinny kid that confused the opposition because they thought I was one of the goal posts. Check it out in this video:
Like Pat Fischer, I was not going to let my size or anything else get in the way of my goal to play in the NFL. As Yoda would say “Do or do not.....there is no try”
I wanted to play for the Redskins and it just so happened that Bruce Allen - the son of George Allen, head coach for the Redskins – was the punter on our team at Richmond. He told me his father was very interested in drafting me, but as fate would have it George Allen was fired the year before I graduated and my hopes of playing for the Redskins went up in smoke.
In 1979 I was a fourth round pick of the Buffalo Bills and as a rookie I led the team in interceptions with six. In 1980, I was leading the NFL with 5 interceptions in the first 4 games when I suffered a knee injury that put me on injured reserve.
In 1981, I was healthy again and I circled the calendar for a game against the Redskins.
I wanted to show them that they made a mistake by not drafting me. The Force was with me on that day. I sacked Joe Theisman twice – the second time causing him to fumble and sealing the victory. BILLS SUBDUE REDSKINS 21-14 NY Times - AP Published: November 30, 1981
Theisman never saw me coming!
It’s been over 34 years since that game and most of today's fans were not even born when that game was played. For me, it doesn’t seem that long ago and far away that my dream of playing in the NFL was fulfilled.
I accomplished my goal because I saw guys like Pat Fischer do it first.
Thank you Master Jedi Fischer.
Sincerely,
Jeff Nixon - Once your Padawan......... and now your Jedi Knight!
