1969 Minnesota Vikings

by purplegrey on Jan 1, 2009 3:35 PM CST

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.

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memories

Hey Purple, I saw the second half of that show,it was great. It was that season that I too became a Viking fan I was 10 years old and looking for a team to follow.As soon as i saw them play a game and call them the PURPLE PEOPLE EATERS I was hooked and never strayed, which isn’t easy living in north western Pennsylvania, not only do I have to deal with the obnoxious Steeler fans ,but I’m only 2 hours away from the Buffalo Bills stadium. (where I’ve seen the Vikings play 5 times) Now I hope they beat the other Pennsy team this week-end. SKOL VIKINGS

by crazyviking10 on Jan 1, 2009 6:01 PM CST reply actions

Amen Brother

I was 11 at the time myself surrounded by Redskin and Colts fans down here in Virginia. Remember the Thanksgiving game that year when Jim Marshall scooped up a fumble in a snowstorm and as he was falling, lateraled it to Alan Page who ran the rest of the way for a touchdown? I’d forgotten how many goose eggs the Vikes put up on teams that season. Joe Kapp’s 7 touchdown passes game against the Colts….The game with the 49ers at the Met that was the hardest blizzard ever to fall on a Vikings game…Joe Kapp running into a Cleveland defender in the NFL Championship game and knocking him out…I’ve only seen them play live twice; once in D.C. and once in Baltimore. They won both. When you get up to our age, it makes you wish these younger guys had experienced it also. That’s why I posted about it hoping they would catch the program one day. SKOL!!!!

by purplegrey on Jan 1, 2009 6:41 PM CST reply actions