Vikings kick off busy first full day of training camp Saturday
EAGAN, Minn. (KMSP) - The veterans joined the rookies at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota for the first full day of Minnesota Vikings Training Camp Saturday.
It was the first day with the full team and camp had a brand new feeling as the team started a new tradition in Eagan after years holding training camp in Mankato, Minnestoa.
The fans are still getting used to the new scene, but many of the players are liking sleeping in their own beds, staying in their own homes and driving their own cars to practice.
“Being here day one, I wouldn’t change it,” said Defensive End Everson Griffen. “I wish we had camp here for the last nine years.”
Wide Receiver Laquon Treadwell agreed, saying, “Look at this place, it’s amazing.
Treadwell added that Mankato was great, but the new Eagan facility is “bigger and improved.”
Coming together
The team is making the most of their first day of camp, especially since Friday was spent remembering Coach Tony Sparano, who died earlier this week.
In Sparano’s place, Head Coach Mike Zimmer announced this morning that Clancy Barone and Andrew Janocko will serve as co-offensive line coaches for the 2018 season.
Barone was previously the tight end coach for the team, and Janocko served as assistant offensive Line coach prior to the death of Offensive Line Coach Tony Sparano last Sunday. They also announced Todd Downing will coach the tight ends.
For Zimmer, naming coaches familiar with Sparano’s style was important.
“For the last two years, we’ve worked really hard on the footwork and techniques and schemes we were running, so I felt like it was important to continue to do that whatever we decided to do. I didn’t want to change the players, terminology, footwork, any of that stuff,” he said.
A different kind of football
In a little bit of fun Saturday, the Vikings welcomed Italian soccer club AC Milan to practice.
AC Milan is in town to face off against Tottenham Hotspur at U.S. Bank Stadium July 31. Saturday, however, the team tried out some American football, kicking some field goals.
Gameday Live returns
Vikings Gameday Live kicks off for the 2018 season Sunday morning at 10 a.m. on Fox 9.
Hobie Artigue and Ron Johnson will be live in studio where they will welcome some Vikings players.