I can't wait for training camp to begin. Is the Vikings training camp popular with the fans? Do you ever go?
Oh yeah, really, really popular.
It's like the one thing I haven't done. Season tickets, draft parties, away games, Canton ... but I've never gone to training camp. Every time it gets here I always say, "Yeah, I should do that!" ... but I have yet to commit. Maybe this year is the year? Maybe next year? I don't know, but I should probably do that! Thanks for the reminder, because I usually think of it too late. lol.
What about you? Do you go?
I go every year and have for many years. It's such a relaxing and special experience. It's like a summer picnic atmosphere for fans. We just set up lawn chairs close to one of the fields rather than do the bleachers. There are multiple football fields going at once with the units rotating. Then they have a scrimmage with the entire team on one of the fields. You can walk around to see various units performing. You get close to the players and they sign autographs after the practices. I began going to the Bears training camp when my son was little. I would load up the car with him and his buddies and we'd go in the summer. The players were always so good to them and they got autographs. It was free too. Great food and fun - they loved it (and me too). We did this every year. Then they got older and had driver's licenses of their own & we'd caravan up there for camp. It just meant we could bring more young people... by this time some of the kids, and my son, were playing football for the high school (state champs one year). But then they all grew up and they live all over now. My wife and I go to camps now (and that is fun too). But I do miss those years with the kids.
We also had an NFL Fantasy Football league from the time the kids were young. I even made a homemade wood trophy out of scrap lumber... it looked pretty crude, but we cherished it when we won it. Anyway, we still do this. Even though we are scattered over the country now and they are adults, we still faithfully hold that draft before the 1st regular season game and we still connect that way.
Chuck Pagano's presser at the end of yesterday's practice.
So, it will be interesting to see how his defensive "system" is different than Fangio's. He says they worked together in Baltimore, and so there are areas of overlap. I say, "If it ain't broke, don't try to "fix" it".