The Free Press, Mankato, MN

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July 22, 2008

Vikings training in Mankato for 43rd year

By Shane Frederick

MANKATO — In a lot of ways, the Minnesota Vikings’ move to Minnesota State University is like any other.

For intern Jake Lesley, it meant a couple of trips to Home Depot.

Instead of buying rugs and refrigerators and decorating a dorm room for himself, though, he was getting building materials and constructing sign holders and an obstacle course for kids in the Vikings Village.

“We’re just making sure everything is in place,” he said Tuesday morning.

Lesley and several other interns and officials were putting the last-minute touches on the village and the other areas surrounding Blakeslee Stadium and its practice fields, where the Vikings will be conducting training camp for the 43rd consecutive summer.

Twenty-seven interns from MSU’s sports management program were building fences and hanging signs, while various Vikings employees, including eight interns, who have been in town since July 14, were getting ready to grab their checklists and do their final walk-throughs.

Vikings players are scheduled to arrive and check in to their dorm rooms in Gage Towers between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. today. The first public practice will take place at 9 a.m. Friday. The camp runs through Aug. 14.

Their rooms have been stocked with beds, refrigerators and TVs. Classrooms and offices have been set up for team meetings. And new bleachers have been constructed for the fans.

“There are a lot of small odds and ends on lists that are pages and pages long,” Vikings operations assistant Paul Martin said. “They never get any smaller.”

Crowds aren’t expected to be any smaller either.

According to the Vikings, 50,000 people attended last year’s camp. This year might see even more. Not only are there two night practices, including one on Aug. 2 that includes a post-event fireworks show, expectations of a successful football season are running high.

A year ago, running back Adrian Peterson was entering his rookie season; now, he’s considered one of the top offensive players in the National Football League. Last year, the Vikings had problems getting to the opposing quarterback. In April, they traded for defensive end Jared Allen, one of the NFL’s top pass rushers, and then promptly made him the richest defensive player in the league.

“I think expectations for a winning season are in place,” said Lesley, a former Minnesota State football player and a Vikings fan. “There’s a mindset to improve off of last season.”

The Vikings haven’t been in the playoffs since 2004.

But Tuesday, Lesley was more concerned about the kids, and he was putting together an obstacle course that young Vikings fans will be able to run through while their favorite players are practicing next door.

The course will be a football-themed one with ropes for high-stepping, poles to weave in and out of and an end zone to dive into.

Said Vikings events coordinator Scott Erdahl: “We have to be ready to go by Friday for the fans.”

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