*Originally printed in The Dickinsonian
Dickinson College is in the national spotlight, as speculation is stirring that the Washington Redskins NFL football team might make a return to the college for their summer training camp. Amidst the recent hiring of head coach Mike Shanahan, decisions regarding the location of the team’s summer training camp have yet to be made.
Washington Post Columnist Jason Reid quoted Shanahan in his first press conference saying, "I've done it both ways," regarding his training camp strategy. Shanahan continued, “I've had more success going outside because the Super Bowls that I've been with -- the championship teams I've been with -- most of the time we went out to camp."
The new coach also said "I kind of enjoy going away if you can get the right environment," Shanahan said. "You've got to have the right fields, you've got to have the right facility, you've got to have the right meeting rooms, and if that's possible, I would like to go to a camp.”
Dickinson College made recent renovations to Biddle Field, as 2.8 million dollars were put towards improving the facilities in 2008. No specific mention of Carlisle was stated, but given the history between the organization and college, speculation has been rampant.
The Redskins held their camp at the college from 1963-94 under the reign of legendary coach Joe Gibbs. The team left Carlisle for a short time, returning to red grass of Biddle Field from 2001-02 behind the efforts of coach Marty Schottenheimer. The team moved back to Washington under Steve Spurrier in 2003, and has yet to make another appearance.
Dickinson College Director of Media Relations Christine Dugan confirmed that the possibility is still “all speculation.” However, she maintained via email that “Dickinson remains open to the possibility of the Redskins returning and terms that are mutually beneficial.”
The potential return would spark excitement from Redskins fans, but also from Carlisle residents in general for the training camp’s prior economic impact on the college. A Dickinson College survey titled “The Economic Impact of Dickinson College,” published in 2002, found that the Redskins training camps brought 4 million dollars into Carlisle's economy.
