A Moment To Pause And Reflect, 10 Years Later

by Ted Glover on Aug 1, 2011 9:48 AM CDT in Non-Football

Koreystringer_medium

Gone far, far too soon...

Ten years ago today, the darkest moment in Vikings history occurred when RT Korey Stringer collapsed and died during practice at training camp in Mankato. Stringer was rushed to the hospital, and fought like the champion he was for several hours, but in the end, his organs shut down and he succumbed.

Drafted out of Ohio State in 1995, he was emerging as one of the better tackles in the game, having made the Pro Bowl in 2000, and by all accounts was a great teammate. Cris Carter, Dennis Green, and Randy Moss were almost inconsolable when they met the press, and The Big Man's memory is still with Vikings fans 10 years later.

The Vikings, along with the rest of the NFL, made sweeping changes to how practices are conducted in hot weather, and hopefully, his death has not been in vain.

Then offensive line coach Mike Tice summed it up best at Stringer's funeral when he said 'God needed a right tackle'.

Rest in peace, Korey, and Godspeed.

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It would be nice

To see the team wear a patch this year in his memory

by CarterAD58 on Aug 1, 2011 10:01 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Or even a sticker on the helmet

by CarterAD58 on Aug 1, 2011 10:01 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Great suggestion!

I totally agree and think it would be a classy move to honor Korey in this way. Hope the team has already made plans to do something like this.

by misterdizz on Aug 1, 2011 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Dang Ted,

You were reading my mind again this morning. I was thinking about that looking over botth NFL and MLB trade happenings this morning. Can’t believe been that long ago already, still too fresh for me.

R.I.P. Harmon Killebrew & Derek Boogaard, Minnesota sports hearts will always have some emptiness without you.

by VikesFaninNM on Aug 1, 2011 10:12 AM CDT reply actions

So hard to believe that it happened in the first place

And so hard to believe that it’s still happening at the high school level. Very sad.

by kcskol on Aug 1, 2011 10:17 AM CDT reply actions

So hard to believe that it happened in the first place

And so hard to believe that it’s still happening at the high school level. Very sad.

by kcskol on Aug 1, 2011 10:17 AM CDT reply actions

This was the first day i moved 10 hours away from my family.

Korey died, and that weekend after the Doplhins – Vikes pre-season game, I found out Randy was REALLY a jerk, not a media creation.

I tattooed Korey’s number into my Viking tat. I sure do miss him. I hope it’s okay to share it.

"We can't get pushed around," Haley said. "What commentators say about us, that's their job. My job is to try and limit as many people who want to take liberties with our guys as possible."

by BobbyNystromOwnsYou on Aug 1, 2011 10:25 AM CDT reply actions

It is Ok.

pretty cool. RIP Korey.

by abba7 on Aug 1, 2011 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Remembering player interviews ...

For some reason I only briefly remember player interviews with Moss and Culpepper and stuff, but know they were pretty busted up about it. It was really surprising, understandable, relating, and humanizing for these players. Any know of video or anything anywhere on those?

Visit us at http://www.purplejesusdiaries.com for horrible Vikings coverage!

by PJD on Aug 1, 2011 11:32 AM CDT reply actions

August 1st 2001

R.I.P Stringer.

August 1st, 2011
R.I.P to Randy Moss’ career. Officially retired.

Ponder to Harvin for 6!

by Percy Harvin My Fav! on Aug 1, 2011 12:00 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

moss just retired

then freak is done.

by skol viking on Aug 1, 2011 12:04 PM CDT reply actions

i hate that this anniversary is on my b-day :(

by iseepurplepeople on Aug 1, 2011 12:15 PM CDT reply actions

Well, happy birthday anyway!

Proud contributor to Daily Norseman and SB Nation Minnesota. Tweeting here.

by Eric J. Thompson on Aug 1, 2011 12:45 PM CDT up reply actions

I know how you feel

Kirby Puckett suffered his stroke on my birthday.

However, I do belately wish you a Happy Birthday though.

R.I.P. Harmon Killebrew & Derek Boogaard, Minnesota sports hearts will always have some emptiness without you.

by VikesFaninNM on Aug 3, 2011 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions

I wonder if the Vikings will sign him to a one day contract so he can officially retire a Viking.

by Skoaldybi on Aug 1, 2011 12:19 PM CDT reply actions

+84

Would be a great move.

Too bad his last year playing was such a bizarre disaster. The guy is still ridiculously athletic and I was really hoping to see him bounce back… and get a Super Bowl ring somewhere. Sadly the closest he ever got was that phenomenal Patriots team from… errr… 2007? 2008?

Watching Moss and C.Carter playing together is something I’ll never forget. Classic place in time for Vikings fans.

by Odin'sDrunkenSon on Aug 1, 2011 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Stringer

To touch on the subject- I still remember the news report that Korey had died. So tragic. Great guy, inspired a lot of players, and worked his ass off building what I believe might have been a HOF career eventually.

He’ll always be remembered among the Vikings family.

by Odin'sDrunkenSon on Aug 1, 2011 12:43 PM CDT reply actions

RIP Korey

A sad, tragic thing that happened to a wonderful, hard-working man. He’ll always be remembered by Viking fans everywhere.

Proud contributor to Daily Norseman and SB Nation Minnesota. Tweeting here.

by Eric J. Thompson on Aug 1, 2011 12:46 PM CDT reply actions

Bless you, Korey

Death, be not proud. Rest in peace, big man with a big heart. You will be remembered always.

by TexVike55 on Aug 1, 2011 2:39 PM CDT reply actions

RIP Big Man,

by Bobcat m on Aug 1, 2011 3:44 PM CDT reply actions

Today the St. Paul paper had an interview with Stringer's widow to mark the anniversary

She’s founded the Korey Stringer Institute to research treatment of heat stroke and athletes sudden death, and to educate high school and amateur athletic programs about the danger of heat stroke and how to recognize its signs and treat it. The article was interesting and it is good to see that Kelci Stringer has turned her grief into a way to bring about positive change.

Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin

by Skol Girl on Aug 1, 2011 3:56 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs