FanPost

1969 Minnesota Vikings

I just finished watching "Missing Rings-The 1969 Minnesota Vikings" on the NFL Network (between blogs).  It brought back a helluva lot of good memories of when I first became a Vikings fan and the many reasons why I did so to begin with.  This group set the standard for the defensive juggernaut that future Vikings teams were famous for, coining the nickname, "Purple People Eaters".  It's seen through the eyes of three of it's primary people that year; quarterback Joe Kapp, head coach Bud Grant, and defensive end Jim Marshall.  Going game by game through the season you see why this was one of the greatest defenses ever in the NFL.  The highlights are superb, from the rugged style of Kapp, to the many snowy settings of the old Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, and their dominance through the playoffs to the Super Bowl.  I especially like the part when Jim Marshall was commenting on a large Viking statue at one end of the stadium and how when the sun would set, the wind would pick up, and the players would begin chanting, "Odin! God of War!  Odin! God of War!"  At that time both teams were on the same sideline and the other teams would look at the Vikes like they were crazy.  Marshall laughed that it was a huge psychological edge but in reality the only reason they did it was because it was getting cold.  Classic.  I encourage any Vikings fan who hasn't seen it or wasn't alive during that period to do so.  It will deepen your understanding and appreciation of why we consider ourselves the most die-hard in the league...SKOL VIKINGS!!!!

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.