MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 22: A view of the Minnesota Vikings mascot and fans in the second half of the game against the Baltimore Ravens on October 22, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings are aiming to make history in these 2017 NFL Playoffs. For the first time ever, a team could reach the Super Bowl in the same city in which they are located. U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN has been a long time in the making and after finally being finished over the last few years, it is ready for the big game.
One of head coach Mike Zimmer’s mottos this season has been to “bring it home,” as in winning it all at home in Minneapolis. The team itself has gone through several ups and downs, changes and questions throughout the 2017-2018 campaign, but as of right now they look like a strong Super Bowl favorite in the NFC.
After seeing starting quarterback Sam Bradford go down early in the year due to a knee injury and not truly knowing when usual backup Teddy Bridgewater would return from a gruesome knee injury of his own, the team turned to somewhat of a journeyman in Case Keenum. All Keenum has done is play at a Pro Bowl level and, believe it or not, entered the MVP conversation amongst some circles. The team also lost its starting running back — rookie Dalvin Cook — to a season-ending knee injury earlier in the year as well. Turning to Latavius Murray and Jerrick McKinnon to fill the void has done the trick to keep the run game alive.
Some teams would crumble under such a difficult string of significant injuries, but this team has come together and not missed a beat — a feat that brings much joy to fans all over the state of Minnesota. But, one fan in particular should be feeling quite a bit more joy than most fans.
Mille Wall, a lifelong Vikings fan, turned 100 years old. She has been a fan, literally, since day one — when the Vikings entered the league in 1961, according to the Pioneer Press. As a thank-you gift for her support over the years, the Vikings sent her a letter in the mail with a particularly special surprise included — tickets to the upcoming divisional round battle against the New Orleans Saints. With about 30 of her family members in attendance, the Minneapolis native began reading the letter.
“‘Dear Ms. Millie Wall, we would like to invite you, one of the biggest fans, to attend our playoff game on Sunday January 14th,” sh read. “We know you will bring us luck as we enter into this playoff run and hope to bring it home. Thank you for the many years of supporting and cheering on our team and making us a part of your life.’”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” she said, in disbelief. “Really?”
Her family then responded by telling her it was no joke and that she was indeed going to the game.
“I think it’s going to be just a really great experience,” Millie’s daughter Ashley told vikings.com. “We’re so excited as a family to watch her and watching her come to life.”
No, it was indeed not a joke. Great organizations like the Vikings do big things for their fantastic fan bases every once and a while. This year, they chose to bless Millie — and what a perfect person to choose.
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