Redskins Hogettes' Retirement Will Usher in New Era of 'Skins Fans

Redskins Hogettes have retired after decades of rabid support for the Washington Redskins franchise.

Michael Tolbert, aka Mike T. Boss Hogette, announced the Hogettes were moving on following the Redskins' wild-card loss to the Seattle Seahawks at FedEx Field, according to Dan Steinberg of The Washington Post.

Football inspires the best in all of us. That’s true even for the ragtag bunch of men that masqueraded around the nation’s capital in pig snouts and dresses.

Like every extreme idea, sometimes there is a shelf life on its relevance.

“Thirty years of guys in pig snouts and dresses is probably enough for any society,” Torbert said, according to Steinberg. “It’s a new era. It was great seeing RGIII and Alfred Morris break onto the scene, and it’s a perfect time to retire the old era and start the new.”

They became more than just fans, though. The group of diehards transcended fandom and became something even more: legend.

But they didn’t accomplish that overnight and weren’t always seen in a positive light by the rest of Washington's fanbase.

This group celebrated the imposing and unappreciated offensive line of the 1983 'Skins team. After all, working in the trenches is often a thankless endeavor.

Things are definitely changing in D.C., as the 'Skins have turned a corner by getting back to the postseason and winning the NFC East.

They won’t do it alone, though.

Not to single out Redskins fans in particular, but the casual fans, even some diehards, don’t go as far as dressing up and putting on costumes 10 times each season.

These guys were definitely innovators.

Today’s fans don’t seem as radical as their predecessors, but still care just as much, if not more. There is constant involvement year round by fans, thanks to the explosion of the Internet. Fans no longer need to dress up in ridiculous ways to be passionate about their teams.

It may be hard to understand, but some people express themselves differently.

Those extreme people aren’t going to go away, but it will be some time before another creative and passionate group develops its own traditions.

Until then, Redskins fans have nothing but hope ahead of them in the coming days.

Maybe a Super Bowl victory would inspire creativity, as that magical 1983 season did for the Hogettes.

Follow @BigHoagowski