1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Hey, Vikings fans, been over here. I'm so excited to 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: be a new Lifetime member, and so are my kids. 3 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: They love the tennis, the pickaball, the basketball, and of 4 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: course the yummy cafe. Check them out at Lifetime dot 5 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:11,319 Speaker 1: life to find a club nearest you. 6 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 2: Welcome to School Stories, presented by three M, the official 7 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:21,720 Speaker 2: science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. Tonight, we're reconnecting with 8 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:25,240 Speaker 2: this weekend's Ring of Honor inductee Bobby Bryant. 9 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:30,880 Speaker 3: Welcome Back to School Stories, presented by three M along 10 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:33,160 Speaker 3: with Mark Rosen. I'm Pete Persich, and it's only fitting 11 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 3: that tonight's guest joins the show on the kickoff of 12 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,519 Speaker 3: his Ring of Honor weekend. He was a defensive Ballhawk 13 00:00:38,560 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 3: who played his entire NFL career in Purple. I know 14 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,320 Speaker 3: you're going to enjoy tonight's conversation with Ring of Honor 15 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 3: and ductee Bobby Bryant. 16 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 2: Very excited to talk to Bobby Bryant. Bobby, you're going 17 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 2: in the Vikings Ring of Honor this weekend. Tell us 18 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 2: about what that phone call was like when you first 19 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,240 Speaker 2: found out, and just your feeling about getting in that 20 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 2: Ring of Honor this weekend. 21 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 4: Well, they didn't really go to any extreme to let 22 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 4: me know that I was being induccident at the Ring 23 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 4: of Honor. So they only had a couple of the 24 00:01:10,959 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 4: guys that you know, most people don't know, Alan Page 25 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 4: and Fran tarkinon. They had them call me up and 26 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:20,479 Speaker 4: tell me that. So that was a great honor, I bet. 27 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 2: So what are your feelings about, uh uh, the moment 28 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 2: and just you know, being with you know, you just 29 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 2: mentioned two of them, so many of your former teammates 30 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 2: celebrating this weekend and understanding your your place in Viking history. 31 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 4: Yes, well never entered my mind that I would be 32 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 4: chosen to be in the Viking Ring of Honor. But 33 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 4: I still don't know if that's where I really belonged. 34 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 4: But but I'm certain you do. Somebody thinks I do. 35 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 4: But it was just just a great thrill, you know, 36 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 4: to have Alan and Fran call me and tell me 37 00:01:55,480 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 4: that I had will be into the Ring of Honor, 38 00:01:58,840 --> 00:01:59,200 Speaker 4: is it? 39 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 3: Is it kind of humbling for you to be with 40 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 3: like Fran and Alan Page And what about those guys. 41 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 3: Obviously you guys are a great team, but what about 42 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 3: those guys made this Vikings team of the seventies, what 43 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:12,239 Speaker 3: they were. 44 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 4: Well, I don't feel humbled around. I feel like, you know, 45 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 4: we were part of the great Viking teams, and I 46 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 4: think even maybe the person with the least right to 47 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 4: be humbled, it's just great being able to fit and 48 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,239 Speaker 4: talk with Allen and Fran and many of the other 49 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 4: guys that I played with. 50 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 2: Well, let's let's face facts. You're being very humble yourself. 51 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 2: Bobby Troll bowler fifty seven total interceptions, number one really 52 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 2: with the Vikings history. Also taking a consideration of your 53 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:47,799 Speaker 2: postseason fourteen fumble recoveries, four touchdowns. You played the seventy 54 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 2: three NFC Championship Game, the seventy six NFC Championship Game, 55 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,959 Speaker 2: one hundred and seventy four games. Played just a stalwart 56 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 2: back there in the defensive backfield. But I want to 57 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 2: go back in time. You were a seventh round draft 58 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 2: pick by the Viking in nineteen sixty seven, the first 59 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 2: AFL NFL combined draft. Now there's a legend. You can 60 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 2: figure this, Help us figure this out. Jim Fakes, the 61 00:03:08,400 --> 00:03:11,640 Speaker 2: general manager, was apparently stuck in the hospital after having 62 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:16,000 Speaker 2: surgery and was drafting from his hospital bed with Stubby Easton, 63 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,239 Speaker 2: the longtime equipment manager. As you remember on the other 64 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: end of the phone, what do you remember about being 65 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 2: drafted by the Vikings under those circumstances in particular. 66 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 4: Well, I enjoy telling people that the Vikings thought so 67 00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:31,200 Speaker 4: much of me as a draft choice that they had 68 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 4: the equipment manager called me to tell me that I 69 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 4: was drafted by the Viking. But you know that during 70 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 4: the draft, I think every available hand on in the 71 00:03:41,480 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 4: Viking organization had some job that they were doing with 72 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 4: the draft. So so it was. But Stebby was a 73 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 4: great guy anyway, And you know we always used to 74 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 4: kid Stubby with with his pig leg Oh yeah, but 75 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 4: you know, it was great to have Stebby call me. 76 00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 2: But that's funny, he said. 77 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 4: The fact that he would call me was not any 78 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 4: indication of how I imported my draft was. But it 79 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 4: was just like everybody in the organization involved in the 80 00:04:08,800 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 4: draft and calling and letting guys know that they had 81 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 4: been drafted. 82 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 3: So, Bobby, you were drafted by the New York Yankees 83 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 3: and the Boston Red Sox, and then the copment manager 84 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 3: from the Vikings calls you and you say yes to football. 85 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 3: Why you know why football over baseball. 86 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:28,120 Speaker 4: Well, I knew, and I find a contractor with one 87 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 4: of the major league baseball teams, that I would start 88 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:32,640 Speaker 4: out in the minor leagues. I didn't think I was 89 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 4: such a great pitcher that I would go right to 90 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:37,479 Speaker 4: the major league team, but I knew I'd be in 91 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 4: the minor leagues, or could have been a couple of years. 92 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:42,679 Speaker 4: It could have been longer than that, but I knew, 93 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 4: and if I signed with the Vikings, I would go 94 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 4: to training camp and I would either make the team 95 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 4: or not. And if I had got released by the Vikings, 96 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 4: I think then I would have tried to baseball route, 97 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 4: but it worked out with the Vikings. 98 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,479 Speaker 2: Well that's sixty seven draft. My goodness. I remember well 99 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:02,880 Speaker 2: Clint J Jean Washington from Michigan State, guy named Alan Page, 100 00:05:02,920 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 2: as you mentioned, Bob Grimm, yourself, and a lot more. 101 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 2: My goodness, you and Alan in particular hit it off 102 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,840 Speaker 2: and led to a lifetime friendship that still exists today. 103 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 2: And I remember you guys being heavily involved in the 104 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 2: union and trying to form a union, all the stuff 105 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 2: that was going on because you guys didn't have free 106 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,119 Speaker 2: agency at that time. What do you remember about meeting 107 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: Allen for the first time, and how you cemented this friendship, 108 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 2: because I believe you guys were roommates as well. 109 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 4: We were. Alan and I both played on the East 110 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 4: team in the East West Shrine Game, which was an 111 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 4: all star game and for college players who were graduating, 112 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 4: and so we were both on that team. So we 113 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 4: spent a week together out in California getting prices and 114 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 4: getting ready for the Shrine Bowl, and so we became 115 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 4: really good friends there. So then when we were both 116 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,880 Speaker 4: drafted by the Vikings, we had the training camp, we said, well, 117 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 4: why don't we room together, you know, and so we 118 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 4: did and that was that was how we became roommates. 119 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 4: And that lasted until Allen wasn't considered good enough to 120 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 4: stay with the Vikings, so they released him, didn't try 121 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 4: to sign him. But I think part of that was 122 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,440 Speaker 4: the reason was there was some animosity because of Allen, 123 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,839 Speaker 4: and for a while there I was was his assistant 124 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 4: player representative, and so there weren't real good feelings between 125 00:06:23,720 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 4: a lot of the lot of the players in the 126 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 4: NFL and the teams that they were playing for, just 127 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 4: because of some of the restrictions about being able to 128 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 4: change teams or improve ourselves, you know, with the team 129 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 4: that we were with. 130 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 2: I don't know why I had this visual still of 131 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: you guys holding pickets signs up at the top of 132 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,279 Speaker 2: the hill at Minnesota State Makto or of course training 133 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:46,160 Speaker 2: camp was held forever and ever. I just remember that 134 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 2: one building. I remember seeing you guys holding up picket signs. 135 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 2: Do I have this right? I mean, was that was 136 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 2: there a moment where you guys were doing that? 137 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 4: Yes, we did. We had they what do they call 138 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 4: those placards? Those things, yeah, hobo stand on the corner. Well, 139 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:03,359 Speaker 4: oh yeah, do something for food, right, you know, But 140 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:06,000 Speaker 4: but we did, we did have those little signs on. 141 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 4: You know, we did picket, We did stand in ticket lines, 142 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 4: and we remember we grower up our pants legs and 143 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 4: we had some kind of apron on or something like that. 144 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 4: But I was Allen's his assistant as the representatives of 145 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:25,040 Speaker 4: the Vikings. So there was some ill feelings that came 146 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 4: with that, but it did finally pass over, you know, 147 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:29,200 Speaker 4: we got got over it. 148 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 3: And when you when you arrived with the Vikings, not 149 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:33,880 Speaker 3: only with with all those players and those names that 150 00:07:34,760 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 3: Alan page of the world, and you also were greeted 151 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 3: by a fresh new head coach for the Minnesota Vikings 152 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 3: and Bud Grant. So just what about Bud Grant and 153 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:47,800 Speaker 3: watching him grow, I guess as a head coach, what 154 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:50,720 Speaker 3: do you remember about Bud and what was he like 155 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 3: to play for? 156 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,400 Speaker 4: Well, Bud came from the Canadian League. He had coached 157 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 4: Winnipeg for years up there and had done really well, 158 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:02,679 Speaker 4: had won several or whatever they call the super Bowl 159 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:07,640 Speaker 4: equivalent in the Canadian League, and so he was he 160 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 4: was new with the Vikings also, So I was very 161 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 4: happy to be drafted by anyone. But as it turned out, 162 00:08:14,640 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 4: I was very fortunate to be drafted by Bud Grant 163 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 4: because Bud was a coach that was, you know, very 164 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 4: low key. He demanded that players be disciplined and if 165 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 4: you were, no matter how good a player you were, 166 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,080 Speaker 4: if you if you made a lot of mistakes or 167 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 4: it was or was not a disciplined player, you couldn't 168 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 4: play for Bud. So I grew up in a very 169 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 4: disciplined family. I was one of eleven kids, and so 170 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 4: we had the total line. And uh, I was very 171 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:43,280 Speaker 4: very disciplined as a player, and uh, I think Bud 172 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,680 Speaker 4: like that and uh, and I happened to be starting 173 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 4: with at the same time with as you said, Alan Page, 174 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 4: Alan and I had met in the East West Ryan Game. 175 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 4: We played on the East team in that game, and 176 00:08:55,600 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 4: so we got drafted by the Vikings. We decided to 177 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 4: room together, which was on you as well. I think 178 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:04,800 Speaker 4: there were several black and white players on NFL change 179 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 4: at room together before us, but it wasn't a real 180 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 4: common occurrence. But we had we had become friends in 181 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 4: the East West Running game, and so we got to Minnesota, 182 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 4: we decided to room together and we did for as 183 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 4: for as long as we played well. 184 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 2: Again, we're talking to Bobby Bryant, former defensive back, perennial 185 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 2: All Star, peranial Pro Bowl player going into the Vikings 186 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 2: Ring of Honor coming up this weekend, and you mentioned 187 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 2: you and Allen part of the Vikings for Super Bowl teams. 188 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,679 Speaker 2: Unfortunately you didn't have free agency, but you did have consistency, 189 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 2: and you guys were coming back with a really great, 190 00:09:40,120 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 2: amazing group of individuals that became as consistent as any 191 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 2: team in the history of the NFL. Being back in 192 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:50,480 Speaker 2: the Big game multiple times. What made you guys click 193 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 2: When you think of you know, the Jim Marshall's and 194 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 2: the Carl Ellers and Wally Hilgenberg's and especially on defense, 195 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 2: Paul Krause, it was, you know, a year and year 196 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 2: out the fans related to the work ethic that you 197 00:10:02,520 --> 00:10:04,439 Speaker 2: guys put out every every game. 198 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 4: Well, when you look at those teams and just some 199 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:10,760 Speaker 4: of the names you just mentioned Tarkenton and Bill Brown 200 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 4: and mad Rashad on the offensive side, and defensive players 201 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 4: like Alan Page and Jim Marshall and Carl Eller and 202 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 4: Doug Sutherland and uh Jeff Seaman. So many great players 203 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 4: Paul Krauss, and then throw a little skinny guy from 204 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:30,640 Speaker 4: South Carolina in there. Some great players on those teams. 205 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,439 Speaker 4: And so that that was the reason we were so successful. 206 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 4: And uh we had you know, we were so good 207 00:10:37,800 --> 00:10:42,000 Speaker 4: that we got to the last important game four times, 208 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:44,319 Speaker 4: but unfortunately we never did win it. There was kind 209 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 4: of a stigma on the Vikings by well they were 210 00:10:47,320 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 4: they were pretty good, but they couldn't win the big one. 211 00:10:49,800 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 4: So we can't put them on the up there with 212 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:54,719 Speaker 4: the best teams ever. But I think if you look 213 00:10:54,720 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 4: at our defensives, our team back then, especially the defensive team, 214 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:01,600 Speaker 4: we were as good as any team that ever played so, 215 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 4: but it was anyway that was the reason for our 216 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 4: success was starting with the foundation of the front four, 217 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 4: Alan Page, Jim Marshall, Carl ell Or, Gary Laws and 218 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 4: then Doug Selgun came in with it later, but that 219 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:19,559 Speaker 4: was the foundation for the Vikings be on one of 220 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 4: the best teams I've ever played. 221 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,800 Speaker 3: And Bobby, when you when you think back, what games 222 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 3: pop out in your head when you think back on 223 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 3: your career with all these guys, Are there any particular 224 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 3: games that you'll never forget? 225 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 4: Well, I remember telling my wife Ted when I had 226 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 4: forty nine interceptions, I said, if I got one morey interception, no, 227 00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 4: I'm going to throw you a kiss from the field. 228 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 4: So we were playing and I got my fiftieth interception, 229 00:11:46,080 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 4: and I was true to my word. I gave the 230 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:51,599 Speaker 4: ball to the official and turned to the stands and 231 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 4: threw a kiss from our beautiful wife, Stephanie, who was 232 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 4: way up in the second day. She didn't even see 233 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:02,680 Speaker 4: me do it. She didn't have a chance to see it. 234 00:12:02,760 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 4: Later on, it was on I think we sew it 235 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:08,040 Speaker 4: on instant replay on TV or something. She saw it, 236 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 4: but that was one of the highlights of my career 237 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:13,680 Speaker 4: is of being able to do that. 238 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 3: So stick around for more from Ring of Honor inductee 239 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 3: Bobby Bryant right here on school Stories presented by three M, 240 00:12:20,920 --> 00:12:23,719 Speaker 3: the official science partner in the Minnesota Vikings. We'll be 241 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 3: right back after the break, but first Unreal is back 242 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:31,079 Speaker 3: with their Limit edition Vikings. Drop headt u NRL dot 243 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 3: com for more details. 244 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 2: Welcome back to tonight's edition of school Stories presented by 245 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,199 Speaker 2: three M, the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. 246 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 2: From the field to the roof and everywhere in between. 247 00:12:45,000 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 2: Three M, the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings, 248 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 2: is here. Visit Vikings dot com slash school Science to 249 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 2: learn more. Now let's get back to our conversation with 250 00:12:55,520 --> 00:13:00,040 Speaker 2: Vikings Ring of Honor inductee defensive back Bobby Bryant. I 251 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 2: was a young reporter. I'll never forget the nineteen seventy 252 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 2: three NFC Championship game in Dallas. You had a couple 253 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 2: of interceptions sixty three yarder off of Roger Staubach and 254 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:12,080 Speaker 2: may have been I've taught argue that they have been 255 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,000 Speaker 2: one of the greatest games. The Vikings as a franchise 256 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 2: has ever played under those circumstances because Dallas was favored. 257 00:13:18,840 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 2: They had they were loaded with the future Hall of famers, 258 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 2: and the Vikings beat them and beat them soundly in 259 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 2: Dallas that day. 260 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 4: Yes, that was one of my better games. I had 261 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:31,840 Speaker 4: a couple of interceptions in that game and did return 262 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 4: one for the I think sixty three yards for a touchdown. 263 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:39,439 Speaker 4: But you know, our defensive front forward and linebackers when 264 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:42,840 Speaker 4: they blitched, they didn't get quarterbacks very much time to 265 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 4: throw the ball, So the quarterbacks knew they couldn't hold it, 266 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:47,559 Speaker 4: so a lot of time they would throw the ball 267 00:13:47,640 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 4: right to our secondary guys, and so it was easy 268 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:54,360 Speaker 4: to get interceptions when the Vikings had their great pass 269 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:58,880 Speaker 4: rush on. So I attributed my success with interceptions to 270 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,559 Speaker 4: be mostly because of the great pass rush that we 271 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 4: got from our front four. 272 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:05,000 Speaker 2: Bobby, a lot of fans listening right now who are 273 00:14:05,000 --> 00:14:07,840 Speaker 2: not born, we're not around from the Mets stadium days. 274 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 2: If you could relate what it was like to play there, 275 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 2: not in September, but in December, Buds. You know, order 276 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 2: about no heaters, no gloves, cold's a state of mind, 277 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 2: all that other stuff For a guy who grew up 278 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:27,280 Speaker 2: in South Carolina. What was that like to play at 279 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:30,280 Speaker 2: Mets Stadium against the Rams and other teams when the 280 00:14:30,280 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 2: temperature hovered around you know, five above or temblow windshield, Well, 281 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 2: it was. 282 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 4: It was cold. I'll tell you boy from South Carolina 283 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 4: who played at South Carolina and who played a couple 284 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:44,640 Speaker 4: of games at the end of the season in pretty 285 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 4: cold weather. But nothing compared to the winners in Minnesota. 286 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,480 Speaker 4: But you know, we practiced every day and no matter 287 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:53,560 Speaker 4: how cold it was, but had a rule that we 288 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 4: would go out inside and practice at least for an 289 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,240 Speaker 4: hour outside before we would go into one of the 290 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 4: So we had to go to one of the local 291 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 4: high schools to practice in their gyms, right, just for 292 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 4: an hour outside. We would then go inside. So we 293 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:11,040 Speaker 4: got used to it. But we knew, we knew that 294 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 4: we were going to be more acclimated than the teams 295 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,880 Speaker 4: that especially to the teams from the South, that we 296 00:15:16,920 --> 00:15:19,160 Speaker 4: would be playing in Minnesota and that kind of weather. 297 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:22,760 Speaker 4: So we were just sadistic enough to think that, you know, 298 00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 4: that was really a neat, neat thing to know that 299 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 4: we could go out there. We knew we weren't gon't freeze, 300 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 4: so we knew that we were going to have an 301 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 4: advantage on the team that we were playing because you know, 302 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 4: we were net used to it and we had the 303 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:37,360 Speaker 4: practice in it every day. So that was the way 304 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 4: we looked at it. 305 00:15:38,520 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 3: Bobby, what was what's the last Vikings game that you've attended. 306 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 3: Have you had a chance to see the new stadium 307 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:47,760 Speaker 3: and just take a look around and think about how 308 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 3: much things have changed since since you were here when 309 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 3: you played. 310 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 4: Yes, the new stadium. You know, it's really funny. They 311 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 4: opened the first Dome two years after I retired, So 312 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:01,840 Speaker 4: I think nineteen eighty it was my last year, and 313 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:04,360 Speaker 4: I think it could have been a year. It might 314 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 4: have been two years to kind of remember two years 315 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:10,440 Speaker 4: when that new dome or that first dome opened where 316 00:16:10,440 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 4: they moved inside. We always thought that was pretty ironic 317 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:16,120 Speaker 4: because you know, we played outside all those years, and 318 00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:18,520 Speaker 4: all of a sudden, you know, the year we some 319 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 4: of us we retired, that was when they the next 320 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 4: year they opened the dome, the first dome, and so 321 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:26,400 Speaker 4: but it, you know, it changed the game a little bit. 322 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 4: There was a certain mistake about how we could go 323 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 4: out there and play as well as we did in 324 00:16:32,480 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 4: freezing weather. But it was because we got used to it. 325 00:16:35,800 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 4: But I'd say, we're going to learn how to play 326 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:39,680 Speaker 4: in co weather, and we did unbelievable. 327 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 2: I mean, I think about again, going back to the 328 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 2: Viking defense talking to Bobby Brian going in the Vikings 329 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:46,880 Speaker 2: Ring of Honor this weekend, you and Paul Krauss were 330 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,120 Speaker 2: quite the combination at the back end of that Viking 331 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 2: defense that Paul had what fifty three interceptions with the 332 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 2: Vikings only you had your fifty one and fourteen seasons. 333 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 2: How did you guys feed off each other and communicate 334 00:17:01,560 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 2: in those games and make you such a lethal pair 335 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 2: for the Minnesota Vikings. 336 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,480 Speaker 4: Well, Paul did steal a couple of interceptions from it, 337 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 4: so I should have. 338 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 2: Of course he did. 339 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 4: But he was Paul was a great safety and a 340 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:18,359 Speaker 4: great interceptor and uh was he played free safety, so 341 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 4: he had free reign back in the secondary, and but 342 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 4: he he played the position better than anybody else that 343 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 4: ever played it. 344 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,560 Speaker 3: Hey, Bobby, did you ever have to cover someone like 345 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:29,919 Speaker 3: Justin Jefferson back in the day or who was his 346 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 3: equivalent back in the day when you were playing. 347 00:17:33,119 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, we had, well, we had a few guys. There 348 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,359 Speaker 4: was there was one guy, he was semi fast. His 349 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,399 Speaker 4: name was Bob Hayes. He was a world champion in 350 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,480 Speaker 4: a hundred meters. You might you might remember that. Yeah, 351 00:17:43,680 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 4: but uh, there were a few guys that were pretty 352 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:49,879 Speaker 4: fast like Bob Hayes. But Harold Jackson from from the 353 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:54,240 Speaker 4: l A. Rams was was was a real fast receiver. 354 00:17:54,400 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 4: And you know, we played against a lot of guys 355 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 4: that were fast. Most of the receivers had pretty good speed. 356 00:17:59,040 --> 00:18:01,880 Speaker 4: But uh, as I said before, with our front four, 357 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,679 Speaker 4: the rush that they put on passers, quarterbacks didn't have 358 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:07,640 Speaker 4: time to sit back there and just wait for guy 359 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:10,040 Speaker 4: to get opened. They had sometimes they had to throw 360 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:13,359 Speaker 4: them before they wanted to, and some of those cases 361 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 4: they threw it right to plus the defensive backs back there. 362 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:18,840 Speaker 2: Well, it's gonna be a great weekend, and it's got 363 00:18:18,840 --> 00:18:21,160 Speaker 2: to be humbling, to say the least. As we started 364 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:23,480 Speaker 2: our discussion, we can end it with this as well. 365 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,479 Speaker 2: But seeing your name up there forever and ever, up 366 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:30,000 Speaker 2: there with the likes of Frank Tarkenton and Jim Marshall 367 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:32,399 Speaker 2: and Allen Page and the rest of the game that 368 00:18:32,520 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 2: made the Vikings who they are today, the legends that 369 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:36,320 Speaker 2: the Will family is. 370 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:38,840 Speaker 4: I was just thinking about being in that stadium and 371 00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 4: seeing that around the stadium, the names of the players 372 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:44,879 Speaker 4: who are who are in the Ring of Honor, and 373 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:48,680 Speaker 4: so yeah, that's that's an elite group and I am 374 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:52,480 Speaker 4: humbled to be a part of it, but very grateful. 375 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 2: Well well deserved, Bobby, and we're very excited for you. 376 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:58,240 Speaker 2: Enjoy the weekend, every every moment of it, and it 377 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:00,080 Speaker 2: was great catching up with you. We'll see again and 378 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 2: soon this weekend. 379 00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 4: You're welcome. 380 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,400 Speaker 2: Thanks again to Bobby Bryan for joining the show tonight. 381 00:19:07,840 --> 00:19:10,200 Speaker 2: I look forward to seeing all of the legends down 382 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 2: at US Bank Stadium all weekend long for the festivities, 383 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 2: and it definitely will be festive here on Sunday, Well, fans, 384 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 2: the Vikings kept the home win streak against the forty 385 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 2: nine Ers alive with that twenty three to seventeen win 386 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 2: on Sunday. This felt like the team was being opportunistic 387 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 2: and capitalizing on manufacturing mistakes that the Vikings defense was 388 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 2: generating against brock Purty and that very tough forty nine 389 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:36,199 Speaker 2: Ers offense. What's impressed you most or what surprised you 390 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 2: most through these first two games, Pete, And then we 391 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:41,160 Speaker 2: can turn the page to start looking forward to playing 392 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:43,040 Speaker 2: another really good team, the Houston Texans. 393 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,639 Speaker 3: I think I think the defense has surprised me a 394 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:50,399 Speaker 3: little bit. You bring up Van Ginkel, who just seems 395 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 3: to be in the right places at the right time. Cashman, 396 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 3: you know, Mattelis. Those guys are just in the right 397 00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 3: places at the right time. And then you know Patrick Jones. 398 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 3: We heard about him on preseason how well he's doing 399 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:03,159 Speaker 3: and it's really showing up. We didn't see much of 400 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 3: him on the field, but we heard from the coaches 401 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 3: how how much he's you know, he's progressed. But like 402 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 3: Jonathan Grenard, you know he's he's just he does so much. 403 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 3: I mean, he has one sack I think so far, 404 00:20:16,880 --> 00:20:19,520 Speaker 3: but there's so many other things that he does to 405 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 3: get to get the guys where they need to be. Right. 406 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 3: He's making an impact, even though it may not be 407 00:20:25,600 --> 00:20:28,159 Speaker 3: huge in the stat line. You know, having Garnard out 408 00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 3: there is a big deal. Like guys like Jihad Ward 409 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,480 Speaker 3: right right, who we brought in from New York is 410 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:37,119 Speaker 3: a two hundred and eighty five pound outside linebacker, but 411 00:20:37,200 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 3: he's really an interior rush guy in third down. He's 412 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:43,760 Speaker 3: very specialized and I think the versatility of the of 413 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:46,880 Speaker 3: the players that we brought in is really starting to show. 414 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 3: And Flores loves. 415 00:20:48,119 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 2: That another entertaining team coming to town. You talk about 416 00:20:51,480 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 2: Houston Texans, Danial Hunter, Stefan Diggs and company. It's gonna 417 00:20:55,160 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 2: be a homecoming of sorts. But it should be a 418 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,000 Speaker 2: lot of fun matching wits with the Texans. 419 00:21:00,440 --> 00:21:03,160 Speaker 3: It should be in you know, their defense, very physical, 420 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:03,680 Speaker 3: looks good. 421 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 4: C J. 422 00:21:04,119 --> 00:21:05,640 Speaker 3: Stroud is the guy that you have to start down 423 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:11,160 Speaker 3: and we have this defense has fared well against younger quarterbacks. 424 00:21:12,000 --> 00:21:14,359 Speaker 3: Although from what I understand, CJ. Stroud is a is 425 00:21:14,359 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 3: a bookworm. He loves watching film. He's gonna he's a 426 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,679 Speaker 3: very smart player, so they're gonna have their work cutoff 427 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:21,760 Speaker 3: for him. And he does a lot of damage when 428 00:21:21,840 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 3: you blitz or try to pressure him, and he can 429 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 3: extend to play with his legs and his athleticism. The receivers, 430 00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:29,320 Speaker 3: He and the receivers are all on the same page. 431 00:21:29,720 --> 00:21:32,719 Speaker 3: So there it's more reminiscent of what we saw with 432 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:35,360 Speaker 3: Rogers years ago. And you get him on the run 433 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:37,679 Speaker 3: and the next thing you know, you boom. You know, 434 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:40,520 Speaker 3: he beat you for thirty It's it's it's in that respect, 435 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 3: that's what I think they have to look out for. 436 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:45,879 Speaker 3: But very yeah, very talented, very talented team who's on 437 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,640 Speaker 3: a roll playoff team. Maybe they have high expectations. Right, 438 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:53,240 Speaker 3: they're not the Texans of old, so to speak. So 439 00:21:53,359 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 3: this is gonna be a good football game. And I 440 00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 3: don't think if you heat up the dome and let 441 00:21:58,200 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 3: it get hot, it's gonna matter to these guys from Texas, right, 442 00:22:01,240 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 3: They're used to it well. 443 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:04,680 Speaker 2: The two and zero Vikings leading the NFC North back 444 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 2: at home once again on Sunday and is a noon 445 00:22:06,760 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 2: Central Time kickoff from US Bank Stadium. The TV broadcast 446 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,320 Speaker 2: will be live on your local CBS affiliate. You can, 447 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 2: of course, also catch Paul Allen, Ben Lieber, Pete Versus 448 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:19,760 Speaker 2: right here all across the Vikings radio network. The Vikings 449 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:23,720 Speaker 2: Football Sunday pregame show starts at ten am on Kfan, 450 00:22:23,800 --> 00:22:26,879 Speaker 2: so check your local listings for details. Pete's always a 451 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,640 Speaker 2: pleasure to catch up, especially when you're winning. Nothing wrong 452 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 2: with that puts everybody in a great keep the ball rolling. 453 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:35,840 Speaker 2: Thanks again to Bobby Bryant for joining the show, and 454 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,720 Speaker 2: thank you fans for tuning into another edition of Skull 455 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,320 Speaker 2: Stories presented by three M, the official science partner of 456 00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:45,240 Speaker 2: the Minnesota Vikings. We'll see you all again next week.