Sunday Sound Off 12/19

MNF at TCF
A week ago today, TCF Bank Stadium sat covered in up to twenty inches of snow. Tomorrow night, "The Bank" will host a historic Monday Night Football game. After much hard work and preparation on the part of numerous volunteers and officials, football will now be played in Minneapolis for the celebration of 50 years of Vikings football. Enough cannot be said about the significance of this game, which is the first Vikings home game played outdoors in nearly 30 years. On top of this, the game is set in primetime as a nationally televised game. As a natural Minnesota sports fan and student at the University of Minnesota, the  result of the game is probably the least important aspect of the night. The 50 greatest Vikings in history will be honored tomorrow night, and I can't think of a greater site to host such an event. This will most likely never be seen again, and I'm glad I can say I witnessed it.

The actual game provides a less exciting storyline, pitting the dismantled Vikings against the division leading Chicago Bears. To put it in perspective, Rookie 6th round pick Joe Webb will start at Quarterback for the Vikings, in a game that would mean nearly nothing if it weren't being played on Monday Night Football at TCF Bank Stadium. The Vikings were allowed on the turf at TCF on Sunday for the first time, after preparation for the game lasted the entire week. Although long hours were spent on field preparation, Punter Chris Kluwe was less than pleased with its condition, stating on his Twitter account how the field was as hard as concrete, and that players could severely injure themselves. League officials and experts claim the opposite, and feel that the field is ready to host such an important event. It should be interesting to see how the frozen tundra of Minneapolis treats these visiting professionals in a Monday Night showcase.