I hope to record some of my random thoughts about Viking football on this page. If you have any memories or suggestions e-mail me at masseyfootball@gmail.com
1998 - "The best trip to nowhere I ever took!"
August 30, 2011
I was talking to the players at the end of practice today about the rag tag group of players from 1998. The 1998 team was the first team to compete in the RMFL after a lengthy hiatus from Viking football. I explained to the team how they were the real pioneers of Viking football and they lay the foundation that all other teams stand upon.
These players would show up to practice every day and did not have the luxury of a beautiful practice facility. They played on a field that was dirt, had a gopher holes every few feet and broken glass littered the field. The first game they ever played was a 77-0 drubbing at the hands of the Neepawa Tigers. They were mocked and ridiculed by their classmates - they didn’t win a game all year.
After each horrific loss the previous Friday I doubt nobody would have blamed them if they quit, packed it in and took an easier road. Why bother to play on a team that was getting killed? These were not your typical football players they were incredible special - each Monday they continued to show up quitting was not in their vocabulary,
If that team had quit I can assure you that there would be no Viking football today, There would not be a beautiful new facility, there would not have been 5 championships and the countless players who went on to play football in university would never have had the chance. It is because they chose the hard road the difficult task of persevering that we can call ourselves a football PROGRAM.
I encouraged the players today to remember that team. I told them to think of them when it got tough this year, think of them when you feel like quitting. The 1998 team never quit and every Viking football player that has put on a helmet since has them to thank.
“This was the best trip to nowhere I ever took!”
Chad Fleury Graduating Class of 1998
Pride Effort Teamwork Commitment Perseverance Character
VIKING FOOTBALL FOREVER
I was talking to the players at the end of practice today about the rag tag group of players from 1998. The 1998 team was the first team to compete in the RMFL after a lengthy hiatus from Viking football. I explained to the team how they were the real pioneers of Viking football and they lay the foundation that all other teams stand upon.
These players would show up to practice every day and did not have the luxury of a beautiful practice facility. They played on a field that was dirt, had a gopher holes every few feet and broken glass littered the field. The first game they ever played was a 77-0 drubbing at the hands of the Neepawa Tigers. They were mocked and ridiculed by their classmates - they didn’t win a game all year.
After each horrific loss the previous Friday I doubt nobody would have blamed them if they quit, packed it in and took an easier road. Why bother to play on a team that was getting killed? These were not your typical football players they were incredible special - each Monday they continued to show up quitting was not in their vocabulary,
If that team had quit I can assure you that there would be no Viking football today, There would not be a beautiful new facility, there would not have been 5 championships and the countless players who went on to play football in university would never have had the chance. It is because they chose the hard road the difficult task of persevering that we can call ourselves a football PROGRAM.
I encouraged the players today to remember that team. I told them to think of them when it got tough this year, think of them when you feel like quitting. The 1998 team never quit and every Viking football player that has put on a helmet since has them to thank.
“This was the best trip to nowhere I ever took!”
Chad Fleury Graduating Class of 1998
Pride Effort Teamwork Commitment Perseverance Character
VIKING FOOTBALL FOREVER