Anyone else excited about 2 seasons outdoors?

[tnvikesfan]

I do agree that in the 70's we were a good team. That makes the most difference. That is also the most sustainable difference.

However, IMO, late in the season is when differences are made, and that is when the cold factor comes into play. GB and CHI won't have the effect that other teams will. Having lived in MN, grown up there, waited in sub-zero weather for the school bus, went to work when it was -40, the cold DOES make a difference. I've lived in TN for almost 22 years. I couldn't do that again without some serious acclimation time. For teams in more temperate climates as well as dome teams, there is a huge difference. Outside of playing in the cold like MN has, there is no way to acclimate for a game.

Young players may not be as affected, but us older people and I'm sure older players just plain HURT more in the cold. Can you imagine having never experienced below 0 weather and have to play a game in it? Much less catch a laser thrown pass? You'd feel like bones broke (like when Favre threw, and I'm sure like Jeff George or any other hot-thrower).

Sales of cold weather paraphernalia would go up too.

[vikingsfaninco]

I think it will be awesome to see them back outside- It will bring me back to the good old days from the 70's.

Some potential bad things about it:

1- Our defense is not built for the cold. We stink indoors, so outdoors wont miraculously cure our secondary.
2. The fans who are there in december with sub zero temperature and wind chills that even penguins would want to avoid!

some potential good things

1. No turf injuries
2. AP destroying defenses. Seeing him run through the snow will be worth the price of admission as well and when he stiff arms a defender trying to take him down in sub zero, they will feel the pain of AP! I see the rushing record being broken when outdoors as we will run, run, run
3. Can it really be any worse than this season?
4. A good reason to talk Parcells out of retirement so he can return to snowy filled sidelines and rescue us from a coaching staff that is lost in space
5. Maybe Ponders throws can be wind corrected so his mistakes turn into completions_ Just kidding!! I actually think Ponder needs to be given full autonomy to change plays at the line and use his IQ to our advantage. The coaching staff messed things up bad this year and when someone can not change a play at the line, what is the point? Imagine a point guard being told to run a play no matter what he sees in front of him

[J. Kapp 11]

I gotta be honest.

The idea of outdoor football is very attractive to me. But as a fan attending a game, I've grown sort of used to the comfort of indoor football. So if I continue to travel to the Twin Cities for my one game per season these next two years, I'm probably going in September.

[Reignman]

To get back to Mel's point and to tie this whole thing together, how many of you miss the old Met days just because the Vikings were actually good back then? Had the Vikings been bad or mediocre would you still feel the same way about the Vikings returning to outdoor football? I mean you might not like outdoor football after you see THIS squad play outdoors xD.

And for those of you who believe football was meant to be played outdoors, football was only meant to be played outdoors because it wasn't feasible to build giant indoor arenas back when football was invented. Nobody says basketball and hockey were meant to be played outdoors.

[Funkytown]

[/i]

I mean you might not like outdoor football after you see THIS squad play outdoors xD.

Exactly. I keep laughing at the idea that playing outdoors is somehow going to make the Vikings really good again. Yeah, okay. And even if that DOES happen, which it probably won't (and certainly not because of a few cold games late in the year), we're going right back indoors in a couple years. I don't get why everyone is all excited, especially speaking as if it's a long-term deal or some big change. It's a short-term solution because there were no other options. I'm actually SCARED to watch the Vikings play in December at home...not excited. (Heck, I'm scared to watch the Vikings in general lately). These aren't the tough guys of the 70s--could be ugly. Hopefully it turns out much better than I'm imagining it. People miss the good Vikings, more than the outdoor Vikings.

[TheFoxInDetox]

Personally I hate outdoor day games. I watch football on TV and outdoor games while the sun is in the sky absolutely stinks to watch with all the shadows and crap. You can never see the ball and the picture quality is always inferior to indoor games. I'll take a dome game any day.

[Funkytown]

I gotta be honest.

The idea of outdoor football is very attractive to me. But as a fan attending a game, I've grown sort of used to the comfort of indoor football. So if I continue to travel to the Twin Cities for my one game per season these next two years, I'm probably going in September.

Exactly. I usually go to 3 or 4 games, but I think the next two years I'm going to limit myself to probably 1, either in September or October. I suppose if I like it, I'll go to another one, but I happen to like the junky Dome. We'll see. I'm actually curious about it, but not overly excited. I've watched outdoor football once--Titans at Ravens. It was alright, I suppose. lol.

[Lash Man]

Exactly. I usually go to 3 or 4 games, but I think the next two years I'm going to limit myself to probably 1, either in September or October. I suppose if I like it, I'll go to another one, but I happen to like the junky Dome. We'll see. I'm actually curious about it, but not overly excited. I've watched outdoor football once--Titans at Ravens. It was alright, I suppose. lol.

Im going to the Vikings vs Bengals on Dec, 22 it will be my first outdoor pro game !

[chicagopurple]

Trust me, watching a hopeless team while u freeze your butt off is no fun. I have been to the old stadium,
gone soldier field and cheered the vikings. BuT, I wouldn't do it for Les Steckle and I WON'T do it for Leslie n Chrissy either!!!!

[Delaqure]

[/i] Exactly. I keep laughing at the idea that playing outdoors is somehow going to make the Vikings really good again. Yeah, okay. And even if that DOES happen, which it probably won't (and certainly not because of a few cold games late in the year), we're going right back indoors in a couple years. I don't get why everyone is all excited, especially speaking as if it's a long-term deal or some big change. It's a short-term solution because there were no other options. I'm actually SCARED to watch the Vikings play in December at home...not excited. (Heck, I'm scared to watch the Vikings in general lately). These aren't the tough guys of the 70s--could be ugly. Hopefully it turns out much better than I'm imagining it. People miss the good Vikings, more than the outdoor Vikings.

Spot on Melanie, spot on. I think we get nostalgic when we think of the "good ole days" of the 70's Vikings. We are just hungry for a winning dominant team again. I do think the weather helped us, particularly in the late season, but we were beating teams all year long when the weather wasn't crappy. We just had a really good team.

And I agree that the team we have now won't suddenly become the 70's Vikings once the snow starts to fly. Now I have to admit here that I would love to see an outdoor stadium and a team that is built around that, but again it's probably just nostalgia speaking from this old bleeding purple heart.

[tnvikesfan]

As much as I miss the hard hitting, dominant team of the '70s, I'm certainly under no illusions that we will be better BECAUSE we play outside. My thoughts are that other teams who aren't acclimated to the weather in MN (no need for a deer stand for me, Jeff, I already know the cold drill - wonder why we moved???) will have difficulties that will play to our advantage.

That was one of the advantages we had back in the day.

There have been plenty of discussions about what will make us a better team, and that has to happen. It doesn't matter where we play now, we suck.

Today here in TN, it's 60's and sunny. I'm going to walk up to my greenhouse in shorts and a t-shirt.

[dkoby]

One thing you have to remember, Bud used to make them practice in the cold. That would be considered cruel and unusual punishment in today's NFL. The late season games only were an advantage because the Vikings were more used to the cold than the LA Rams in the playoff games. The Vikings today practice inside, just like all the other teams so there wouldn't be any advantage.

[Funkytown]

Who the hell said that playing outdoors again was going to make the Vikings any better?

You mad, bro? What does the word "advantage" mean to you? Doesn't that imply favorable success, benefit, gain, etc.? Also, ever heard of an "implication"? Read the thread again, and keep in mind the overall indoor/outdoor advantage debate, then you might get it. Then again, you might not. Pretty sure you got lost, because we're talking about different things.

There have been plenty of discussions about what will make us a better team, and that has to happen. It doesn't matter where we play now, we suck.

Hey? Where did you get the idea that we were talking about what would make this team better? lol. Kidding. I completely agree. We have so many issues, indoor/outdoor isn't even in the top ten. Once we fix some of those things, we'll be better...because, well, we'll be better.

One thing you have to remember, Bud used to make them practice in the cold. That would be considered cruel and unusual punishment in today's NFL. The late season games only were an advantage because the Vikings were more used to the cold than the LA Rams in the playoff games. The Vikings today practice inside, just like all the other teams so there wouldn't be any advantage.

This.

Cruel and unusual punishment? Good one.

[majorm]

Doesn't matter where they play, it's how they play.

If the team isn't any better than it is now, I still won't be too excited. If they get a real QB and improve the defense, then it could be an exciting couple of years. Maybe harkening back to the glory days? I'm dreaming I know.

[Funkytown]

Hahaha!! There you go with that are you mad thing again, what in the world do have to be mad about really?

It's a pretty common joke. A joke.

The debate about playing outdoors will make this team better is silly.

Oh good. We agree.

As far as advantage goes, have you ever been forced to work / play in an environment/weather that you were totally unaccustomed to and uncomfortable with? football players are the same way, there just human and when the play in Miami with 80+ weather and suddenly late in November they have to play at Met Stadium in 15 below weather and you think it will not mentally and physically affect them, then you never been forced to play or work in an environment other than your normal comfort level.

Wait. I thought we agreed this debate is silly? Oh. We're dreaming about the Vikings from the 70s again and the Met. I guess I don't see how that's relevant to now or our long-term future. That's sort of my point.