1 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:07,080 Speaker 1: Welcome Back to School Stories presented by three M, the 2 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: official science partner in the Minnesota Vikings. Tonight, we're catching 3 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: up with one of my favorites, the legend Henry Thomas. 4 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:20,080 Speaker 2: Welcome Back to School Stories presented by Threem along with 5 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 2: Pete Bursich. I'm Mark Rosen and we're back with another 6 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:25,640 Speaker 2: great episode of school Stories presented by Threem along with 7 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 2: John Randall and Chris Dolman. Tonight's guest was a defensive 8 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 2: stalwart of the eighties and nineties. He was an absolute 9 00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:33,440 Speaker 2: menace at the line of scrimmage for eight seasons with 10 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 2: the Vikings, and he always did it with a smile. 11 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:43,159 Speaker 2: Let's get into tonight's conversation with Vikings legend Henry Thomas. Well, 12 00:00:43,200 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 2: Henry Thomas, thanks so much for joining the show. I 13 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,239 Speaker 2: always had a blast doing Roses Sports Sunday with you. 14 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 2: Never a dull moment, always a big smile on your face. 15 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 2: It's great to hear from you. Number one for the fans, 16 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 2: how have you been. What's keeping you busy these days? 17 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 2: And I'm using the air quotes retirement days. 18 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 3: Well, you know what, it's a pleasure to be here. 19 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me on. I enjoyed every minute in Minnesota, 20 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 3: the Air Force. The quotation mark retirement. I'm an inventory 21 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:16,040 Speaker 3: I'm an inventory make ready manager for tom got Cadillac 22 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 3: down in Houston. 23 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 2: Text, Well, this is something Were you wondering what life 24 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,759 Speaker 2: after football was going to be like? Or was it? 25 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: Was this something that you were approached about because of 26 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: your name and your personality, et cetera, et cetera. Was 27 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 2: this something you were always interested in? 28 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 3: Well, you have to take into consideration. I was retired, 29 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 3: fully retired for fifteen years. 30 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 2: Wow. 31 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 3: I would wake up with nothing to do and go 32 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:41,959 Speaker 3: to bed with half of it done. That kind of retirement. 33 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 3: And then you know, a couple of divorces and daughters 34 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 3: going to college. The numbers weren't quite adding up, so 35 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 3: I had to give them, Get off my big chunky 36 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 3: button and go to work. Make sure this matches up. 37 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 2: Wow, you weren't making the twelve million a year, fifteen 38 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 2: million a year whatever some of these guys are making 39 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 2: out or even more as a defensive lineman. With your suggestion, Well, I. 40 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 3: Tell people all the time, you can I played for 41 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:13,840 Speaker 3: fourteen years in the NFL. You can take all of 42 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 3: my contracts add them all together and won't equal one 43 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 3: of their contracts today. It wouldn't even be a signing 44 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 3: bonus for their contract. 45 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 1: Well, that is crazy, and so, Hank, what do you 46 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: think of the game nowadays? It's become such a height, 47 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: weight and speed and yeah, we have bigger guys doing 48 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 1: more things. We played the Giants with Dexter Lawrence. I mean, 49 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:38,839 Speaker 1: that guy's probably one of my favorite guys to watch 50 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: in the NFL because he's so big but just so 51 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: talented and so strong. 52 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:45,359 Speaker 4: Yeah, the game's different now, isn't it. It's just a. 53 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: Different It's just a different field, different athletes, everything. 54 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 4: It's it's wild. 55 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 3: It's the evolution of the game, right, So what happens? 56 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 3: You know, the game, it has to evolve. It couldn't 57 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 3: stay where we had it. We took it from the 58 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 3: guys before us moved it on, and that's was going 59 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,720 Speaker 3: to continue to happen. I love the game. I was 60 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:08,680 Speaker 3: on pins and needles all weekend, you know, Thursday, Friday, Sunday. 61 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,639 Speaker 3: You know, I made sure I had a seven o 62 00:03:11,840 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 3: five tea time so I wouldn't miss any games on Sunday. 63 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 2: Again, we're talking to Henry Thomas long career at the 64 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 2: Vikings nineteen eighty seven to nineteen ninety four, a couple 65 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: of Pro Bowls, a whole bunch of great stats. Fifty 66 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 2: six sacks, eleven forest fumbles. 67 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 4: Two six whoa, whoa, whoa whoa with the Vikings, just with. 68 00:03:30,400 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 3: The Viking three ninety three and a half. 69 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 2: Well, yeah you haven't forgotten those, No that No, I'm just. 70 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:40,680 Speaker 3: No, no no. With Minnesota, I pulled those like a revolver, 71 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 3: oh ninety three and a half career sacks as a nose. 72 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, you set you kind of and that's that's going 73 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: to with Dexter Lawrence. You you set the trend right. 74 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 1: The shortest distance to a quarterback is right over the center, 75 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: is it not. 76 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 3: Exactly exactly right? And I was fortunate enough to, you know, 77 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 3: have to play with so many great other defensive linemen 78 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 3: in Chris Dome and Keith mclarge, Johnny Rando, I mean 79 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 3: al Noga, and there was no one time on a 80 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 3: field that you can say, Okay, we're gonna double this guy, 81 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 3: because then that guy was free. We're gonna double this guy. 82 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 3: And they had to come up with different blocking schemes, 83 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 3: were back chipping and all that. That's because of the 84 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 3: pressure that our guys put on. 85 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: Well, it was a special group and you had some 86 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 2: special assistant coaches, defensive line coaches. Eighty seven, which I 87 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 2: believe was a strike year, was you guys made that 88 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 2: run to the NFC championship game. It was crazy year 89 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 2: and crazy postseason. What do you remember? It was a 90 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 2: heartbreaking loss to Washington remember that game obviously, but you 91 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 2: beat the forty nine ers in San Francisco. It was 92 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 2: just nuts. Did you expect to be back at Italian 93 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:52,039 Speaker 2: looking at the personnel that you had on that Vikings team, 94 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 2: you know kind of year after year at least every 95 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 2: other year. 96 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 3: Oh, absolutely, we expected to be back there again. And 97 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 3: the thing that made it so specialist the way our 98 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 3: team had come together because it was a strike year 99 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:07,360 Speaker 3: or the year we got locked out, and how the 100 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:10,280 Speaker 3: older guys kept the young because I was a rookie, 101 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 3: I didn't know anybody. I was going to play football guys, 102 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 3: and they're like, no, you're not, this is what you're doing. 103 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,280 Speaker 3: You're gonna stay here with us. And we stayed together 104 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 3: and played and practice. We found high school fields and 105 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 3: going practice in the morning as a group, just go 106 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,760 Speaker 3: out there and stay together, and then when we came back. 107 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 3: The part about that whole run is we are we 108 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 3: were the catalysts for the Washington Redskins because the last 109 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 3: game of the season we had to beat them to 110 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 3: ensure our spot in the playoffs. And we're doing a 111 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 3: great job, having a great game, and we knocked the 112 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,480 Speaker 3: quarterback out of the game early in the third quarter 113 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,799 Speaker 3: and Doug Williams comes in and wins the game for him. 114 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:57,320 Speaker 3: Just unbelievable. And that whole run with them was the 115 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 3: same kind of mirrored what we did. 116 00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:01,640 Speaker 2: You know, Yeah, it was crazy. I mean it was 117 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,720 Speaker 2: a lot of fun. And I remember the coaching staff. 118 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 2: And you talk about characters, Henry Thomas, you were one yourself, 119 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 2: but I think you're about your defensive coaches for folks 120 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 2: too young to remember. But there was a couple guys 121 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 2: named Floyd Peters, Sergeant Rock, Paul Wiggan, legendary Paul Wiggins, 122 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: the late great Moni Kiffin who never stopped talking. And 123 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,640 Speaker 2: a guy named Pete, a guy named Pete Carroll. 124 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:26,239 Speaker 3: Pete Carroll. 125 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 2: What was it like to walking in and learning from 126 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 2: those legendary guys in the history of pro football? 127 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:36,400 Speaker 3: Well, walking in and learning especially from Sergeant Rock. You know, 128 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:40,240 Speaker 3: he had a hard nosed kind of persona about him, 129 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,279 Speaker 3: but he knew how to convey to the players what 130 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 3: exactly he wanted on the field, what he saw and 131 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:50,159 Speaker 3: what you should see through his eyes. And Pete Carroll 132 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:54,159 Speaker 3: is always I played for Pete in Minnesota. I also 133 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 3: had the opportunity to play for him in New England. 134 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 3: Personality wise, never changed, same fun loving, uh, wanting to win, 135 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 3: wanting to do the best. But he has that approach 136 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 3: to You're gonna work hard, but it's not gonna be 137 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 3: the kind of hard work that you dread that you 138 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 3: don't want to go through. You look forward to it. 139 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 3: Because you look forward to you know it's gonna it's 140 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 3: hard work, You're gonna learn from it and get better. 141 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 3: That was his approach. And uh, Manty is like you said, 142 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 3: never never, never stopped talking. Was always a fun guy 143 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 3: to be around. And uh, we just had a great 144 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 3: bunch of guys. 145 00:07:28,040 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: Then now you're right about that with Moni, you also 146 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: got to play for your a certain coordinator named Tony Dungee. Absolutely, 147 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: And I think my my question is is Monti Kiffer 148 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: You mentioned Moni. Moni would run around like and just 149 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: say stuff. We opened up against the Green Bay Packers 150 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:45,120 Speaker 1: at home in ninety four and this whole thing was 151 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:46,720 Speaker 1: no spiking in the dome. I mean the whole for 152 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,200 Speaker 1: the entire training camp. You just run around and be 153 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: yelling that. And then his other thing was you can't 154 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:56,120 Speaker 1: run into cock nose. So Henry, Henry Thomas started and 155 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 1: was you were You were the guy with the technie 156 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 1: where the nose tackle just wasn't facing the center. He 157 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: was actually tilted. You could see him on the line 158 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 1: of scrimmage where the left leg would be up and 159 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: then the left arm and be down. And there was 160 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: a whole there was a whole process to it. MONI 161 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:14,680 Speaker 1: would always can't run on the cock nose. Can't run 162 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: the cock you know. But Henry, you perfected that technique. 163 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: My question is where did that come from? Because you 164 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 1: were the guy. I mean, that's that's your legacy, in 165 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:25,760 Speaker 1: my opinion, to the league. Not not just the ninety 166 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: three and a half sacks by nose tackle and setting 167 00:08:27,920 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: it that way, but this, oh. 168 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 3: You know what, I forgot to adsw to that stat too. 169 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 3: Also also have over a thousand tackles, but continue. 170 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:40,480 Speaker 1: Because he can't run because they tried to run at 171 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:41,880 Speaker 1: the cock couldn't do it. 172 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,959 Speaker 2: They can't post state a bonus yet. I'm sorry. 173 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, you know the fact of that technique. It 174 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,199 Speaker 3: didn't start with me. Okay, it started in Pittsburgh, but 175 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 3: me and Joe Green. 176 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:57,439 Speaker 2: Wow, all right, there's a legendary name. 177 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:01,319 Speaker 3: And that's where Tony brought it in from. But from Tony. 178 00:09:01,480 --> 00:09:05,959 Speaker 3: Tony said they would practice that defense every week throughout 179 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 3: the year, every week and never brought it out until 180 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 3: playoff time because nobody had ever seen it. And then 181 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:16,319 Speaker 3: they brought it out, and the technique honestly started in Pittsburgh. 182 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:20,000 Speaker 2: I mentioned, you know, personalities and with the coaching staff 183 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 2: you had on your side of the football, but your 184 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 2: head coach speaking with characters, a guy named Jerry Burns. 185 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 2: Jerry Burns, What recollections do you have of old Burnsey 186 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:33,040 Speaker 2: and the stories that keep flowing to this day about 187 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:35,959 Speaker 2: getting his opportunity obviously after the stec of the year 188 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,839 Speaker 2: in eighty four and Bud comes back and then Jerry 189 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 2: finally gets his chance. 190 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 3: Well, Jerry was a special kind of guy. I have 191 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 3: a lot of lot of stories about Jerry, But I 192 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 3: have a couple one of my favorites. My first year 193 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:53,360 Speaker 3: is a rookie in Minnesota, being born and raised in Houston, 194 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:57,520 Speaker 3: going to school and Ben Rouge. I had an apartment 195 00:09:57,559 --> 00:10:01,840 Speaker 3: that I shared with another teammate with an underground garage. 196 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 3: So I'll go down to the garage and get in 197 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:05,520 Speaker 3: the car and I'm on my way to work, like 198 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 3: six thirty in the morning, and got on the radio says, 199 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 3: with the wind chill factor today, it's fifty two below. 200 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 3: I couldn't comprehend it. Never heard of it before. I 201 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,959 Speaker 3: was like, wait a minute, freezing, it's thirty two What 202 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 3: is he talking about? Is he talking about Hmmm? So 203 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 3: I put the car and drive and went back upstairs, 204 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 3: got in the bed. Sounded terrible. About an hour into it, 205 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:33,800 Speaker 3: Jerry Burns calls me and he lays into me about 206 00:10:33,840 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 3: not being at practice or in the meeting, and I'm 207 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 3: going nuts, like what, I'll beat it. I'm coming, I'm coming, 208 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 3: he says, come straight to my office. I hustle down 209 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 3: there and I'm on the road driving and I'm freaking 210 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 3: out because everybody's going like moving, and I was like, 211 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,400 Speaker 3: this is crazy, and I'm trying to get there. I 212 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 3: get to Winter Park. I run straight to Jerry's office. 213 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 3: Jerry says to me, in those uncertain terms that he 214 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 3: was going to find me till he couldn't find me anymore. 215 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 3: And he was yelling and screaming and had all these 216 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 3: expertise to say about why I wasn't at practice and 217 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 3: what is wrong with me? Am my drugs blah blah 218 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:11,959 Speaker 3: blah blah blah. And I'm not saying the word here. 219 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 3: I am twenty one years old, freaking out, just became 220 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 3: a starting nocacle. And he looks at me and goes, 221 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,880 Speaker 3: and he realized I'm not saying anything, goes, what do 222 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 3: you have to say for yourself? And that all I 223 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 3: can say was, well, coach, where I come from, the 224 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 3: government doesn't even go to work at twenty degree. And 225 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,959 Speaker 3: he started laughing and he said to me, he said 226 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 3: to me, don't ever be late again. And that was 227 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 3: the last time I was ever late. 228 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:43,200 Speaker 2: Different side of Jerry Birds, that's for sure. As colorful 229 00:11:43,240 --> 00:11:43,800 Speaker 2: as he was. 230 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,600 Speaker 4: That's so welcome to Minnesota moment, isn't it? 231 00:11:47,120 --> 00:11:49,840 Speaker 2: Stick around for more from Henry Thomas right here on 232 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:53,640 Speaker 2: School Stories, presented by three M, the official science partner 233 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 2: of the Minnesota Vikings. We'll be right back after the break. 234 00:11:57,280 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 2: But first Unreal is back but their limited edition Vikings drop. 235 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 2: Head over to you n RL dot com for more details. 236 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 1: Welcome back to tonight's edition to Schools Stories, presented by 237 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: three M, the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. 238 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:17,520 Speaker 1: From the field to the roof and everywhere in between. 239 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: Three M, the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings, 240 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: is here. Visit Vikings dot com slash school Science to 241 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: learn more. Now let's get back into our conversation with 242 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: Vikings legend Andrie Thomas. 243 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 2: Well, speaking of coaches, I don't know much you if 244 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 2: you've been kind of and I'm sure we've been watching 245 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:37,040 Speaker 2: the Vikings a little bit here and there, But Brian Flores, 246 00:12:38,280 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 2: I would think you would love to have played for 247 00:12:39,679 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 2: a guy like that, really aggressive defensive cordator. Now with 248 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 2: the Vikings again, it brings pressure in a lot of ways, 249 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:49,400 Speaker 2: and I think the players in tco here where we're 250 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 2: sit right now, really enjoy playing for him. With the 251 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:56,400 Speaker 2: versatility that he does bring to this defense. He kind 252 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 2: of has an old school mentality, doesn't even from your perception, 253 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:00,680 Speaker 2: and he does. 254 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 3: I was very impressed with the way the defense played. 255 00:13:05,000 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 3: I was, I'd already picked the Vikings to put a 256 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 3: whooping on the Giants, but to watch them play, I 257 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 3: was very impressed with the control offensively that they that 258 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 3: they showed great running game, precise on passing, just things 259 00:13:21,600 --> 00:13:23,679 Speaker 3: you weren't expecting. I was, you know, you're expecting the 260 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 3: running game to carry it a little bit more, but 261 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 3: it just looked like a great blend. And then on defense, 262 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 3: just the aggressive nature in which you know they played, 263 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,559 Speaker 3: where they control recklessness that made me miss the game. 264 00:13:36,559 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 3: You know, you're going after somebody with a control, reckless 265 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:43,599 Speaker 3: approach to it, and it was just it was refreshing 266 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 3: to see and an eye opening and just it instilled. 267 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 3: It instills hope. And I know I'm sorry Minnesota Viking fans, 268 00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:55,320 Speaker 3: which I am one two. You guys always have that 269 00:13:55,400 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 3: hope and you always say we let you down. But 270 00:13:58,120 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 3: this looks great, and I looked I look forward to 271 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:03,680 Speaker 3: the season building and getting better week after week. 272 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: Well now that knowing that you watch the game, there 273 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 1: are a lot of questions on Daniel Jones, But for 274 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:12,600 Speaker 1: for sure, Daniel Jones was not comfortable, He was not set, 275 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,240 Speaker 1: He was not in a rhythm. That's something that hasn't 276 00:14:15,320 --> 00:14:17,959 Speaker 1: changed since you played, has it. 277 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,160 Speaker 3: Right, There's no way you can be comfortable. I don't 278 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:25,400 Speaker 3: care who you are, how you look, how comfortable, relaxed, 279 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 3: poised you look. That's just you got to overcome that 280 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 3: to play the game. Every time you step out there 281 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 3: to do it, it's gonna feel like that. Every time 282 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 3: you go into a game is going to you're gonna 283 00:14:35,200 --> 00:14:39,040 Speaker 3: have that that uncertainty that but you have to trust 284 00:14:39,040 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 3: in your training, trusting what you're doing and just go 285 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 3: out there and let it happen. 286 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 4: And but you got to. 287 00:14:43,960 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: Make the other team's quarterback uncomfortable, right, I mean, but 288 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:51,360 Speaker 1: I think you successfully did that on Sunday with the Giants. 289 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 1: That that all that movement. 290 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 3: And virtus the movement and all that that that makes 291 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 3: makes you uncomfortable. It's not only that, it's the pressure 292 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 3: that to you, even the ones that don't sack you, 293 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:04,840 Speaker 3: the ones that gives you that little nudge while you're 294 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 3: throwing the ball, running your own offensive lineman in your 295 00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 3: path where you can't step into the ball. That's the 296 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 3: nature from what I began as a player in Minnesota. 297 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 3: I mean, it kind of came down from the Purple 298 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 3: People leaders. I was right after. Those guys were not 299 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 3: right after, but I was after and that whole feel 300 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 3: of coming down of defense, how disruptive you're gonna be, 301 00:15:31,840 --> 00:15:35,520 Speaker 3: how you're gonna the best way to stop a team is, 302 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 3: especially in the today's game, is to rattle the quarterback 303 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 3: and the way the movement and the pressure coming from 304 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 3: different angles or different people every other play you're dropping 305 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 3: back gonna make you. It's gonna make you uneasy. It's 306 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 3: gonna make you uneasy, and that's the goal of your 307 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 3: defensive line, our front. 308 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 2: So, Henry Thomas, you're still in Houston, Texas home, that's 309 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 2: home to you. And speaking of quarterbacks and teams, the 310 00:16:01,600 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 2: Vikings are on a proverbial collision course with a team 311 00:16:04,880 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 2: that's I'm sure the fans in your area are going 312 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:11,040 Speaker 2: crazy for the Houston Texans with CJ. Stroud and the 313 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 2: play up here at US Bank in a short time. 314 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 2: What are your thoughts about how the fans are embracing 315 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 2: what this Texan team is doing, in particular CJ. Stroud. 316 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 3: Well, when CJ and the head coach came in, it 317 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 3: was the team was in turmoil. There was no hope, 318 00:16:28,120 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 3: no aspiration of them doing anything and their first year 319 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 3: in the work that they put in the way they 320 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 3: went about it to get to the playoffs and win 321 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 3: a playoff game and move forward in the playoffs was 322 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 3: exciting and just energizing to the entire city and the 323 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 3: way they came out yesterday and started the game and 324 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 3: finished the game. Some defensive work that need to be done, 325 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 3: but they have so many offensive weapons now that it's 326 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 3: just you know, they got make running the ball. You 327 00:17:01,400 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 3: got ex Minnesota Viking digs as one of the receivers. 328 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 3: I mean, they got a lot of weapons there with CJ. Strout, 329 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 3: that is just it's exciting to see and you look 330 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:16,120 Speaker 3: forward to it week after week. 331 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, Daneil Hunter's there too. 332 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 3: Oh, that's right, And Danil even made a couple of 333 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 3: big plays in the game, made his presence known. 334 00:17:23,080 --> 00:17:24,920 Speaker 2: Well, it'll be a great it'll be a great matchup 335 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 2: at US Bank Stadium, no doubt about it with the 336 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:30,920 Speaker 2: Vikings chess match with Brian Flores trying to figure out 337 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:35,000 Speaker 2: those offensive weapons in particular that you that you mentioned. 338 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,000 Speaker 2: It's great to hear that things are going well for you, 339 00:17:38,400 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 2: uh and hearing you know the car business, the inventory 340 00:17:41,440 --> 00:17:44,199 Speaker 2: business and what's going on. You're always a staple of 341 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:46,640 Speaker 2: this community and definitely miss you up here. And I'm 342 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 2: sure you have some great memories of all your former teammates, 343 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 2: particular Johnny Randall. Johnny's Johnny's golf game is probably a 344 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 2: little bit I don't know. He's He's out there every 345 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 2: single day. Never imagine him ever hitting a golf Johnny. 346 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:01,879 Speaker 1: Johnny actually talks to people, which is pretty which is 347 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:02,480 Speaker 1: pretty amagic. 348 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:09,240 Speaker 3: Even then he went from golf playing golf too now. 349 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 3: I think the last time I played with him was 350 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,240 Speaker 3: maybe a year ago. He and I played together here 351 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 3: in Houston, and he was hitting his irons and after 352 00:18:19,359 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 3: every good shot he'd say, I'm surgical with this, I'm 353 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 3: surgical with this. 354 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:25,159 Speaker 4: I just like him. 355 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:30,520 Speaker 3: And so and we had a blast. But uh, yeah, 356 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:34,000 Speaker 3: I look forward to coming up there in the near 357 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 3: future and hanging out and enjoying. I always enjoy Minneapolis 358 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:41,280 Speaker 3: is one of my favorite cities. And everybody says why, 359 00:18:41,359 --> 00:18:43,399 Speaker 3: and I said, you have to go in the summertime. 360 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:46,000 Speaker 2: It's beautiful right now. 361 00:18:46,119 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 4: Exactly. 362 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:49,040 Speaker 2: Well, Henry, it's been a pleasure catching up with your Thanks, 363 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:51,480 Speaker 2: of course for sharing your school stories. With us today 364 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 2: and take care as always. 365 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 3: Hey, thank you so much for having me in uh scold. 366 00:18:55,880 --> 00:18:57,640 Speaker 3: You know I'm gonna be on the fence when when 367 00:18:57,640 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 3: the Texans come. 368 00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:01,480 Speaker 2: Because I'm a homemark under the extendive. 369 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 3: Vikers, so I'm gonna be whatever side's winning. 370 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 2: That's my side, understandable. Well, thanks again to Henry Thomas 371 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:13,080 Speaker 2: for joining the show to night. Always fun to catch 372 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 2: up with him whenever we get the chance. Hardware Hank, 373 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:17,439 Speaker 2: as he used to call it, well weak ones in 374 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 2: the books, The Vikings started fast, finished strong in the 375 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 2: Big Apple, the twenty eight to sixth victory over the 376 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 2: dysfunctional looking New York Giants. Sam Darnold played great, Aaron Jones, 377 00:19:27,119 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 2: the new acquisition from Green Bay got the ground game moving, 378 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:33,640 Speaker 2: which was much needed, and defensively they were opportunistic Pete 379 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,920 Speaker 2: Bursus enforcing key turnovers, especially Van Ginkle's reception as a 380 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:40,360 Speaker 2: former linebacker yourself. Now, of course we have the talented 381 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,880 Speaker 2: forty nine ers coming to town for the home opener and. 382 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 4: A little different animal. 383 00:19:45,359 --> 00:19:48,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, they beat him here last year. That was maybe 384 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 2: a little a little of a unusual situation. But let's 385 00:19:52,080 --> 00:19:54,080 Speaker 2: talk about the Giants game. First of all, what impressed 386 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:55,399 Speaker 2: you the most about the way they played? 387 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:57,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like you walk away from the Giants game 388 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,159 Speaker 1: and you think are the are we that good or 389 00:20:00,200 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: the Giants that bad? And usually it's always somewhere in between, right. 390 00:20:04,480 --> 00:20:06,640 Speaker 1: I think what impressed me is how the defense never 391 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 1: let Daniel Jones get into a rhythm. In the last 392 00:20:09,520 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 1: two seasons, he was under pressure forty percent of the 393 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:15,120 Speaker 1: time on his dropback throws. His offensive line had given 394 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: up eighty five sacks. So he's been hit to the 395 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:20,720 Speaker 1: point where you wonder, and you look at him play 396 00:20:20,720 --> 00:20:23,479 Speaker 1: and you go, he might just be permanently scarred, like 397 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: permanently just damaged from all the hits that he's taken. 398 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 1: Because you've seen it before, Rosie, you play again. We've 399 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 1: seen it with Aaron Rodgers and with Farbes and with 400 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 1: some of the great quarterbacks. You might get him off 401 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 1: for a series or two where their timing is just 402 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:40,320 Speaker 1: not there, maybe a quarter, but then they always figure 403 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: it out and then they come back in that third 404 00:20:42,040 --> 00:20:43,800 Speaker 1: and fourth quarter and make a couple of good. 405 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:47,719 Speaker 4: Runs at you. Jones never righted the ship, and they 406 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 4: had him running the football called right. 407 00:20:49,880 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 1: He just never got on track, so that it's a 408 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 1: tough place to be right now if you're. 409 00:20:55,440 --> 00:20:58,920 Speaker 2: Different animal on Sunday against the forty nine ers where 410 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,240 Speaker 2: Sam Darnold was a member of that team last year, 411 00:21:01,280 --> 00:21:04,359 Speaker 2: and we know how fundamentally strong they are. Yet the Vikings, 412 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,400 Speaker 2: I'm sure Ko she would love to have that same 413 00:21:06,440 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 2: balance almost equal number of runs and passes against the Giants. 414 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:13,960 Speaker 2: That's the kind of you know, situation you're looking for offensively. 415 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:16,199 Speaker 1: Absolutely, that's the magic formula. You know, you look at 416 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,200 Speaker 1: Aaron Jones and his five yard red zone touchdown run, 417 00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: that's what we needed. We didn't have that last year. 418 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: How long did it take us to get a rushing 419 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:26,919 Speaker 1: touchdown last season? It took like eight games. Right, The 420 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 1: play was was was blocked perfectly, and you know the 421 00:21:32,000 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: vision and the speed, and that's where Aaron. 422 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,320 Speaker 4: Jones is amazing. His vision is just amazing. 423 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:38,320 Speaker 1: Those are the things that needed to be fixed, and 424 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,359 Speaker 1: I think he's you know, he's doing that for Donald 425 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: very very efficient. They once they started, you know, protecting 426 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:45,679 Speaker 1: him and giving him that pocket. The Giants did a 427 00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:49,000 Speaker 1: great job early of the defensive ends, keeping the edges tight, 428 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:52,000 Speaker 1: and then you know you're getting that rush up the 429 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,320 Speaker 1: middle from Dexter Lawrence. He couldn't step up, he couldn't move, 430 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: but he managed to complete what his first twelve passes. 431 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:01,040 Speaker 4: I believe he was twelve for twelve. That's good that. 432 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 2: The game, of course, is Sunday at noon Central, kick 433 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,840 Speaker 2: off from US Bank Stadium live in your local CBS affiliate. 434 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 2: You can also, of course catch Paul Allen, Ben Lever 435 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:13,560 Speaker 2: and Pete Bursus right here all across the Vikings radio network. 436 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:16,359 Speaker 2: The Vikings Football Sunday pregame show starts at ten am 437 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:20,040 Speaker 2: on KFN, so check your local listings for details. Pete, 438 00:22:20,040 --> 00:22:22,359 Speaker 2: it's always a pleasure as always, and thanks again to 439 00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:24,920 Speaker 2: Henry Thomas for joining the show. And thank you fans 440 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:28,720 Speaker 2: for tuning into another edition of Skulls Stories presented by 441 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:32,440 Speaker 2: three M, the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. 442 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 2: We'll see you all again next week.