| Being born and raised in Minnesota, there was, and | | | | can still remember. It was the season when the |
| till is to this very day, only one football team in | | | | Vikings made one of the worst organizational |
| the N.F.L that I not only cheer for, but want to | | | | decisions, in my opinion, in the history of |
| win. Am I a "Die-Hard" Minnesota Vikings fan? | | | | professional football. The Minnesota Vikings traded |
| Absolutely, without a doubt, yes. I have been a | | | | draft picks with the Dallas Cowboys for running |
| true Vikings fan since the day I was born, in 1977. | | | | back Herschel Walker. At the time, it actually |
| I actually remember seeing pictures of myself as | | | | excited Vikings fans to have an explosive, |
| a baby in Minnesota Viking pajamas. Every football | | | | Heisman Trophy winning, running back. Walker |
| tee-shirt I have ever owned...Vikings. The only | | | | never panned out to bring the success to the |
| team I have actually shed real tears for...Vikings. | | | | Vikings as expected by the organization as well as |
| There is, and never will be another N.F.L team | | | | the fans. With the draft picks that the Cowboys |
| that will have the opportunity to consider me as a | | | | received in that trade for Walker, they were able |
| fan. Of coarse, like any real professional football | | | | to draft a running back by the name of Emmitt |
| fan, there are certain players who play for | | | | Smith. (Ever heard of him?) Even the average |
| another team, other than the Vikings, that I do | | | | football fan can tell who received the better deal |
| watch and follow. (I said, "watch and follow," not | | | | of that trade. Emmitt Smith went on to have a |
| cheer for.) However, if they are not wearing the | | | | Hall of Fame career with the Dallas Cowboys. Not |
| purple and gold, (the team colors of the Minnesota | | | | to mention that the Cowboys went on to win |
| Vikings) I am not a fan, plain and simple. I | | | | three Super Bowls in the early to mid 1990's, in |
| attended Minnesota State University. I would like | | | | large, due to the success of running back Emmitt |
| to say that I solely chose that school for the | | | | Smith. |
| academics, and all that the University had to offer | | | | It wasn't until the late 1990's, when the Minnesota |
| academically as well as socially. Is it a coincidence | | | | Vikings were back in the winning ways of the |
| that, at that time, Minnesota State University was | | | | "Purple People Eaters" of the early 1970's. In 1998, |
| where the Vikings held their fall training camp? I'm | | | | the Vikings became the first team in the N.F.L. to |
| not telling. However, you can assume whatever | | | | go 15-1. Though, even with that record setting |
| you wish to. | | | | season, they failed to make it back to the Super |
| Being born in the late 1970's, I unfortunately didn't | | | | Bowl. Again in 1999 and the 2000 seasons the |
| have the opportunity to witness first hand the | | | | Vikings went to the play-offs, but never made it |
| Viking's success in 1969 when they went 12-2 | | | | to the "big show," the Super Bowl. Even though |
| (the best record in the N.F.L.), and held the longest | | | | the Vikings never made a Super Bowl run in the |
| single-season winning streak with 12 straight | | | | late 1990's, the organization had some amazing |
| victories. That season, the Minnesota Vikings went | | | | drafts. In 1998, the Vikings drafted a wide |
| on to win the N.F.L championship game against the | | | | receiver that had some off the field troubles, and |
| Cleveland Browns, but would lose Super Bowl IV | | | | drafted Randy Moss (out of Marshall University) |
| to the Kansas City Chiefs. The early 1970's | | | | with the 21st over all pick. Experts said that if it |
| brought more success to the Minnesota Viking's | | | | weren't for his troubles off the field, he would |
| franchise. Due to the amazing defense that the | | | | have been a top ten pick, without a doubt. Again |
| Vikings had in 1970 and 1971, they again went to | | | | in 1999, the Minnesota Vikings had a great draft |
| the play-offs, but fell short of a Super Bowl | | | | starting with their 11th pick in the first round when |
| appearance both years. The team struggled in the | | | | they drafted a quarterback from UCF, Daunte |
| 1972 season, however bounced back in 1973 to | | | | Culpepper. With the pair of wide receivers, Randy |
| the success that they had the two previous | | | | Moss and his mentor, Pro Bowler Chris Carter, the |
| years, by making their 2nd Super Bowl | | | | Vikings air attack was not only exciting to watch, |
| appearance, but ultimately losing to the Miami | | | | but set the all-time scoring record in a single |
| Dolphins 24-7. 1977 would bring the Vikings to | | | | season with 556 points in 1998. The Vikings also |
| their 3rd Super Bowl in four years. Yet again, | | | | had an exciting running game to balance out the |
| losing to the Oakland Raiders 32-14. | | | | offence with running back Robert Smith. With the |
| The 1980's brought both winning and losing | | | | balance of a running game provided by Smith, and |
| seasons for the Minnesota Vikings. The 1989 | | | | Moss and Carter as wide receivers, it went as no |
| season was a painful season for us true Viking | | | | surprise that the record was broken that year. |
| fans. This is a season that as young as I was, I | | | | |