Fifty Years Ago Today, the Minnesota Vikings Were Born
by Christopher Gates on Jan 28, 2010 8:21 PM CST
in Minnesota Vikings
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PrintOr at least conceived, in any case.
Coming off one of the most exciting seasons in franchise history, the Vikings and its fan base on Thursday celebrate a milestone of professional football in Minnesota. It was on this date – January 28 – in 1960 that Minnesota was granted an expansion NFL franchise at the league owners’ meetings in Miami.
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Leading the charge to bring the NFL to Minnesota was the franchise’s founding group - Max Winter, E. William Boyer, H.P. Skoglund, Ole Haugsrud and Bernard H. Ridder, Jr.
The 2010 season will mark the 50th season of football in Minnesota Vikings' history. I've been watching for half of those seasons, and there are very few things for which I would trade the memories that this team has given me, good or bad.
I'll expound on that sentiment in the near future here. I just wanted to make sure I recognized the significance of this occasion before the day had passed.
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yeah, i was wondering if there was an old guy about who could say a thing or two about those first 25 years
Lurking since 2006
by boyonthedock on Jan 28, 2010 9:51 PM CST up reply actions
Since You Asked...
Apparently I’m at the age where I have trouble remembering what I did 5 minutes ago, yet can recall almost verbatim events I witnessed with this team over 30 year back. Go figure…LOL
Awesome
And Im glad the owners turned in their franchise expansion back to the AFL to get into the NFL. Just wouldnt seem right to be in the same division as Cincy, Cleveland, Titans or Steelers.
"If you're gonna shoot, shoot, don't talk."
"You men are only risking your lives, while I am risking an almost-certain Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor!"
"We have clearance Clarence. Roger Rodger, what's our vector Victor?"
LOL I can relate to purplegrey on this one....
It is awsome as VFIM also mentions….there is a rich history to be enjoyed (along w the heartbreaking moments)….We are a good bunch, and our teams have been as well, with notably few exceptions…as with families, it is useful to create a record of it for the current and next generations, and all of that on one site (DN)….one stop shop so to speak….
There are a series of posts/videos we could make to provide a permanent and complete picture of our past to the younger fans, as mentioned above and elsewhere, and what better time to do it than now, at this significant marker of 50 years? I know fans can go to the official site (also where we could gather much of our info for postshere), but how many pop over there? We can catch those and others that do not take the time to do so here….
Carrying this one step further, a suggestion from the post by indianavikesfan also can fit into the possible scenario for carrying DN from where it is (and indeed it is an ever larger fan base we are getting now, and with what DN is doing for fans it has grown exponentially as mentioned elsewhere) to where it can go…
Please have a look at what I posted as a reply on that post by IVF…. “http://www.dailynorseman.com/2010/1/28/1274000/lets-start-a-one-more-year-campaign”….I think with a little planning and work, we can hit a number of things that will do just that (raise our DN ’net profile, work to get Favre back for one more year, and possibly raise some money for causes….There are so many directions to take this, keep our fans involved, and do some good…
I like many other fanshere have a pretty full plate usually, between work, travel, and other activities, but I am willing to contribute in some manner to make some of these things reality, as the head shed may decide is possible/pertinent/do-able for us as DN fans. Any other ideas I would be open to as well, just gettingthe ball rolling so to speak….
SKOL VIKES! and GO DN!!!!
I would rather be IN the Arena than watching from the stands...That is my life!
* Read Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" if you need further explanation...
by vikingfanfrom afar on Jan 29, 2010 4:10 AM CST reply actions
Many Heartbreaks, Yes
But a whole lot of fantastic memories too. As they say, It’s been a helluva ride!
Happy Birthday, Minnesota Vikings!
Thanks, Gonzo, for posting on it.
If the Vikes had gone all the way this season, they would have hit the year correctly, but not the season. Next year is much more….appropriate, especially if karma works.
50 years, and I’ve been wearing Viking colors for 43 of them. It’s been a long journey but somehow, every year is ever-new as hope awakens again and again. It’s been said that Viking fans must be masochistic, but I think the truth is more that Viking fans are loyal beyond reason, and we absolutely love the underdog. A bit more idealistic than is wise, perhaps, but no matter how many times they knock us down, we keep standing up again. That, in and of itself, is a kind of victory of the spirit.
Half a century! We have plenty of memories, good and bad, and plenty to be proud of.
SKOL VIKINGS!!!!
Ah, ah,
We come from the land of the ice and snow,
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow.
The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands,
To fight the horde, singing and crying: Valhalla, I am coming!
SKOL!
50!
Awesome that the Vikings have made it this long in Minnesota. Here’s to another 50!
Hard to believe I’ve been a fan for 30+ years. Kind of like dating the same girl over and over knowing you’re going to get your heart broken every time.
The Minnesota Vikings - Undefeated in the Playoffs at Lambeau Field!
I was born a month before
So I have been a fan the whole time. Of course in the early years I was drooling and drinking out of a bottle. Wait I do that now.
Skol and Happy 50th
by SouthernNorseman on Jan 29, 2010 10:47 AM CST via mobile reply actions
Fan for 42 years
When I was in high school I first saw the Vikings on TV and that was aginst my hometown team the LA Rams. I was hooked on them from the start. That was 1968. I loved the team so much that my high school jersey number was 88 out of respect for Alan Page. I even tried to mimic his movements.
That was such a golden age for Viking football. The last time I saw them play was the “Mud Bowl” at the LA colliseum for the NFC championship. I believe it was in 77’ where Chuck Forman ran for 101 yeards in a downpour. My friends thought I was crazy to go to that game. I loved it!
Great Game
The Vikings kind of limped into the playoffs that year and were huge underdogs. The Rams had beaten them badly during the regular season and more of the same was expected. I remember after the game (a 14-7 Vikings win), Carl Eller and another player were showing their ripped jerseys to the commentators proving how they had been held repeatedly throughout the affair with hardly a call. Classic. I believe it was a divisional playoff though.
Great story!
Thank for sharing that story from the left coast.
by nycforvikings on Jan 31, 2010 2:02 PM CST up reply actions
feliz cumpleanos!
"We have a right to be proud, for in our veins flows the blood of many brave races who fought as the lion fights for lordship. Here, in the whirlpool of European races, the Ugric tribe bore down from Iceland the fighting spirit which Thor and Odin gave them, which their Berserkers displayed to such fell intent on the seaboards of Europe, ay, and of Asia and Africa too, till the peoples thought that the werewolves themselves had come."
-from Bram Stoker's Dracula
ESPN Page 2
Just released an article ranking the Minnesota Vikings the #2 Most Tortured Fanbase. #1 was the Chicago Cubs.
eh..
I’m sure I’ll have my optimism back by preseason next year, but between 1988, Gary Anderson/Denny Green, a 41-0 whipping and Favre’s ill advised path I’d just as soon not think about the Vikes right now.
Flashback
One can flashback to training camp in Bemidji. Earl McElhenny, was one of the veterans, Tarkenton and Tommy Mason were rookies and they picked Norm Van Brocklin over Ara Parseghian as the head coach. My dad was attending a coaching clinic that was held in conjunction with training camp, and so began a long but frustrating love of the Vikings. I was 14 and the experience was fantastic. The camp was much more open that camps today, the players were big but even close to someone like Loadholt. Van Brocklin tended toward the very loud at times. It was great but so, so long ago. I agree with purplegrey, “Damn I feel old”.
Happy Golden Anniversary Vikings!
I have been a fan since 1997 when I moved to the States from England and fell in love with the Vikings name (my maiden name was Anderson) and the purple jerseys. I did my research and when I found out the Vikes’ great history I was proud to call them my team! Of course it has been a rollercoaster ride the past 13 years with wonderful highs and excruciating lows but I am full of optimism for next season, the Vikes’ 50th, and the golden anniversary will end with gold rings for our team, I am sure!!!! I agree with what has been said about the lack of championship experience of our team, let’s not forget it is a young team with some great veterans and with this season’s experience under our belts, we will come back much better. How long til September????
50 year anniversay...
Go Vikes. Get that stadium built Ziggy. Thank you for taking over the Vikings from that cheap old fart McComb.
Hard one(loss) to swallow, thats what she said.
Happy Birthday MN Vikings
I’ve loved the Vikings since the late 70’s and my allegiance to the franchise become even more passionate when I moved to the East Coast in the late 90’s. There have been some bad losses, but I’m happy that we’ve generally been able to have a consistently good team on the field. I’m waiting for the great team to win the Super Bowl. When that happens, I will look back at the tough journey this franchise has had and breath a huge sigh of relief. I really can’t wait for that day. I truly hope this stadium issue is resolved. The Vikings are indelibly intertwined as a part of Minnesota’s psyche if you ask me. Now that I’ve been away from the state, they are the symbol of Minnesota I most associate with the state I spent my formative years in. Skol Vikings Forever!
You and a gazillion other fans...
will breathe that huge sigh when we finally have that trophy LOL. Nice having a colleague from afar, just not as afar as I am at the moment! Know there are many like us spread throughout the globe, but is nice to be able to touch base here and trade stories of how the Vikings are part of our lives and since when. Cheers and SKOL! Yes Vikings Forever too!
I would rather be IN the Arena than watching from the stands...That is my life!
* Read Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" if you need further explanation...
by vikingfanfrom afar on Jan 31, 2010 3:17 PM CST up reply actions
Looking back..Although we lost those 4 SB's...
Vikes and Cowboys ruled the NFC in the 70’s… only twice in ten yrs was MIN or DAL not in SB (wash ’72, la ’79)
"the following statement is true:
the preceding statement was false" - george carlin
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