No one seems to know why, but the Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles football team was invited to the Minnesota Vikings?Äô practice facility in Eden Prairie last week.
The invitation was made to only four high schools in the state to meet Jon Gruden and former Vikings Chuck Foreman and E.J. Henderson. The other schools invited were Minneapolis North, St. Paul Como Park, and Red Lake.
Gruden is the Monday Night Football analyst for ESPN. He played college ball, and coached the Oakland Raiders and
Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His first year with Tampa, in 2002, they won Superbowl XXXVII. Gruden has become known as ?ÄúAmerica?Äôs football coach.?Äù
On Saturday, Oct. 1, the EV-W team and coaches headed to the Cities for a busy day.
DICK?Äôs Sporting Goods sponsored the ?ÄúChalk Talk?Äù with Jon Gruden last week. EV-W was one of four high school teams in the state invited to the Vikings?Äô Eden Prairie facility for the workshop. Players received T-shirts, and the EV-W football program received a $2,000 check. Submitted photo.
There are several photos of the day?Äôs activities on the Vikings?Äô website, along with some description:
?ÄúGruden spoke to players and coaches ?Ķ stressing the importance of ?Äòindividual determination,?Äô a motto on a T-shirt that was presented to all attendees.
?Äú?ÄòWe are all in charge of our own effort,?Äô said Gruden ?Ķ.
?ÄúGruden also spoke on the importance of communication, hard work and perseverance. He presented $2,000 grants to each school that were provided by the DICK?Äôs Sporting Goods Foundation, and equipment such as footballs and tackling dummies. Gruden gave coaches gift cards and select players ?ÄòGruden?Äôs Grinder T-shirts.?Äô?Äù
Gruden is a big advocate of local youth sports.
“America?Äôs football coach?Äù Jon Gruden and former Vikings Chuck Foreman and E.J. Henderson greeted and worked with players Saturday at the Vikings?Äô practice facility in Eden Valley. Photo from vikings.com website.
There?Äôs no question that the players will relish this experience for quite some time.