George Mason Will Not Host Redskins' Summer Training Camp in 2011

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East

While coach Mike Shanahan prefers to hold training camp away from his team's year-round practice facility, the chances of the Redskins working any place other than in Ashburn, Va. in 2011 lessened on Friday when George Mason announced that the university won't be hosting the team in Fairfax this summer.

"(Redskins general manager) Bruce Allen and his staff have been terrific through the preliminary process as they evaluate George Mason University as a possible training camp site," GMU athletic director Tom O'Connor said in a statement. "As a result of the current situation, at this time we cannot provide the Redskins organization with certainty that all the necessary facilities will be available during the time needed this August. We hope to continue the relationship and potentially bring the Washington Redskins to the campus in the future."

Allen, whose father, late Hall of Fame coach/GM George Allen took the Redskins to Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. every summer from 1971-77, was on the same page with O'Connor.

"We recently had the opportunity to explore George Mason University as a possible site for training camp," Allen said on Redskins.com. "We are excited about the first-class facilities at the university and will continue to work with their administration for a future partnership. Once a decision is made, we will make an announcement at the appropriate time."

The Redskins haven't held training camp away from Redskins Park since 2002. That was former coach Steve Spurrier's first season and the team's last August in Carlisle, its summer home from 1962-94 and again in 2001-02.

The Redskins trained at Frostburg (Md.) State University from 1995-99 as part of the deal with Maryland officials to build FedEx Field -- which opened in 1997 -- in Landover, Md. Owner Dan Snyder ended that deal and moved camp to Redskins Park in 2000 but was lampooned for charging admission which allowed opposing scouts to watch Washington's practices.

Shanahan was 81-47 with two Super Bowl victories in the eight seasons that followed his summers away from Denver with the Broncos. In the six years after training camp switched from the University of Northern Colorado to their year-round practice facility, Shanahan's Broncos went 57-39 with just one playoff victory. And he debuted at 6-10 in Washington in 2010 after a training camp at home.

 

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