1975 Vikings
 

1975 Vikings

This is my favorite team of all time. As a life long fan there were two Vikings teams I was convinced were going to win the Super Bowl, and of course I was dead wrong on both.

And that was the 1975 team and the 1998 team.

The 1969 team was great, but I was only 7 at the time, so my memory there is a bit cloudy. Was I rooting for them?... yes, but I didn't really know what the heck was going on. Looking back at it now, this is probably the Vikings' team that should have won a Super Bowl. The NFL was superior in the late 1960's to the AFL IMHO but Hank Stram simply out-coached Bud Grant. I think the shift to AFC power did not occur until 1972-73. Up until then I will argue with anyone that the NFL/NFC had the better stronger teams.

The 1973 Vikings team was just outclassed by the AFC. Several 1973 teams would have beaten the 73 Vikings in the Super Bowl that year IMHO. The Dolphins and the Raiders were both far superior that year. Especially up front on both sides of the ball. The Vikings were the best of a weak NFC field. They did play the 72 Dolphins tough during the Dolphins perfect season. Actually, it was probably the closest the Dolphins came to losing a game in 1972, but still the tide had turned somewhere during 1972 and the AFC was stronger. By 1973, it was no contest. Csonka simply had HUGE holes to run through in during that entire Super Bowl. I think Griese attempted something like 5 passes that day? Just crazy. The Dolphins dominated up front.

The 1974 team probably came the closest to winning a Super Bowl. But again, I believe the AFC was still a good step ahead in 1974. I think the Vikings almost won that game against the Steelers, but mostly because the Steelers came out incredibly flat (and vulnerable) the entire first half. Of course, they woke up later in the game, and, typically, the Vikings line got manhandled by the larger bigger AFC line on both sides of the ball. Franco Harris had HUGE holes to run through in the fourth quarter. The Steelers simply wore the Vikings down. I can still picture Fran Tarkenton running around for his life every time he tried to pass in that game. I think the 73 and 74 team was able to get through the weaker NFC playoff field, while the AFC was knocking each other on their butts in their playoff series. By the time of the 73 and 74 Super Bowls, it was a mismatch. The AFC teams were having to go through a mugging to get there and when they met the weaker Vikings on the field they were a mismatches. The AFC was tuning up for the big show by beating Heavyweights to get there. The Vikings got there by going through Middleweights.

I'll skip over 1975 for a second.

The 1976 Vikings, the team that got crushed by the Raiders? That Vikings team was simply past their peak. Their run defense was incredibly poor all season against a weak NFC field. The Vikes that year probably shouldn't have even made the Super Bowl, there were better teams in the NFC that year. I believe this was Bud Grant's best coaching job of his career. Just as Lombardi willed the 67 Packers to the Super Bowl victory when they were clearly over the hill, Grant did the same thing here with an over the hill Vikings team. Of course, the huge difference was Lombardi won his over the hill Super Bowl and Grant lost his. I give the 1976 Vikings a lot of credit. Especially Tarkenton and Grant. But they got to the Super Bowl on heart and not so much on talent. It was an old team.

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OK, now back to those 1975 Vikings.

Call me crazy, but other than 1998, I thought this Vikings team was the best. Many of the players of those great early 70s teams thought so too. The 1975 Vikings started the year 10 & 0 and, I cant put my finger on it, but I believe they were just determined to put the 1973 and 1974 losses behind them and win it all in 1975. I think they really thought they could have won the Super Bowl against the Steelers, the January before, and again, I'm probably crazy, but I think if they would have played them again in the 75 Super Bowl they would have beat them. They always seemed to play the tough teams a lot better the second time around. Of course, they never got that chance, on a slow gloppy field in Minnesota, at 48,000 seat Metropolitan Stadium, 28 degrees, December 28, 1975, two incredible miraculous plays at the end of the game against the Cowpukes...40 seconds to go....It was 4th and 17 at the Dallas 25 and Staubach to Pearson, out of bounds at the 40 for a first down...(Pearson came down clearly out of bounds but the refs ruled that he was pushed out)....and then...after a quick incomplete pass....35 seconds to go...Shotgun formation.... HAIL MARY down the right sideline... WR PUSHES OFF, offensive pass interference? Where is the call? Nate Wright pushed to the ground...Drew Pearson after the push-off, hooked the football on his hip with one hand and back stepped into the end-zone in astonishment, almost in gult....Touchdown Cowpukes...and away went the dream season. The crowd was comatized in silence. On the sidelines the Vikings players screamed and swore. Players running at the refs, "You dirty so and so, it was interference! Call it!" A ref got hit in the head with a bottle and they had to stop the game.
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Watching the game on TV alone in my living room in Edison New Jersey...This 13 year old cried his eyes out.

:(

In retrospect, the real killer in that game though, and NOBODY talks about this, but with 2 minutes to go in the game, Vikes up 14 to 10, the Vikings had a 3rd and 2 at their own 48. I dont know what they were thinking, but from a goal line type everyone tight formation they tried some crazy Tarkenton roll out to the right ...pass play, I think he was going to try and throw to Marinaro or Foreman rolling to the right flat...well, when he rolled out.... no one was there...there was confusion...and Tark went down in a five yard loss in the arms of SS Charlie Waters. They say Waters blew the assignment, he should have been covering the flat, but he didn't do that, he came in and messed the whole thing up, and with it, he messed up the whole Vikings dream season. The Vikings punted after that play and then.....well, the series described above. If the Vikings get that first down, they run the clock out and the Hail Mary never happens. Crazy, no one ever talks about this play and Charlie Waters.

:(


:mad:

To the Vikings
 

I always liked the way the name sounded, "Minnesota Vikings",and their colors and uniforms. I'm an Oilers fan only,but I feel your pain because we lost some heartbreaking losses when I thought we were better than anybody in the early 1990's. Especially the team when we had Buddy Ryan an our Def. coordinator. But here's to your Vikings and my tribute to them.One of my teams I had as a kid thirty years ago,but repainted them about twelve years ago myself.

vikes
 

yea even though im not a viking fan I hated it when the media called the vikes losers during that time my god it takes alot to get to a supebowl..same thing with the bills under jim kelly

Fran Tarkenton also lost his father that day in 1975. His Dad, 63 year old Preacher, Rev. Dallas Tarkenton of Savannah, Georgia, who had been watching the game on television.

Every Viking fan in America died a little bit that day.

Tarkenton is my favorite Viking of all time

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1975
 

1975 Vikings

WR - Jim Lash 82 6'2" 199
LT - Steve Riley 78 6'5" 258
LG - Charles Goodrum 68 6'3" 256
C - Mick Tingelhoff 53 6'2" 240
RG - Ed White 62 6'3" 268
RT - Ron Yary 73 6'6" 255
TE - Stu Voigt 83 6'1" 225
WR - John Gilliam 42 6'1" 195
QB - Fran Tarkenton 10 6'0" 190
RB - Chuck Foreman 44 6'2" 207
RB - Ed Marinaro 49 6'2" 212

LE - Carl Eller 81 6'6" 247
LT - Doug Sutherland 69 6'3" 250
RT - Alan Page 88 6'4" 245
RE - Jim Marshall 70 6'4" 240
LLB - Roy Winston 60 5'11" 222
MLB - Jeff Siemon 50 6'2" 230
RLB - Wally Hilgenberg 58 6'3" 229
LCB - Nate Wright 43 5'11" 180
RCB - Bobby Bryant 20 6'1" 170
LSS - Jeff Wright 23 5'11" 190
RFS - Paul Krause 22 6'3" 200

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PK - Fred Cox 14 5'10" 200

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1975 Vikings
 

Thank you for posting this...it actually brought a tear to my eye! I have been a VIKINGS fan since 1967. I was just a wee lad when I was in the school library and saw the cover of a Sports Illustrated which had the Vikings and Rams in the trenches with steam from the cold at HHH stadium. I was so impressed that I instantly became one of the Norsemens die hard fans. I got my first EFL game the next year and played the Vikings in all my games with the fellas from my school. I have been up and down, cried tears of joy and frustration but deep down, my blood is purple! I have seen them come and go, but as long as they are wearing the horns, they will always be.....MINNESOTA VIKINGS!! Thanks again for reaffirming why I love those VIKES!!!

one of my favorite teams
 

the 1970's Vikings were one of my favorite teams of all time. They just didn't play well in the big game (as so many others have done since). Chuck Foreman was my favorite RB along with OJ at that time.

K-Lo

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Once I get this team created I'll post photos.

I'm working on getting a set of 22 "Reggie" figures minimum for league play.

11 painted in Dark home jerseys for offense and 11 white away jersey players for the defense.

ftbll$

w/ bench
 

1975 Vikings

Starting lineup:

WR - Jim Lash 82 6'2" 199 Black
LT - Steve Riley 78 6'5" 258 White (S.Riley on jersey)
LG - Charles Goodrum 68 6'3" 256 Black
C - Mick Tingelhoff 53 6'2" 240 White
RG - Ed White 62 6'3" 268 White
RT - Ron Yary 73 6'6" 255 White
TE - Stu Voigt 83 6'1" 225 White (careful on spelling Voigt)
WR - John Gilliam 42 6'1" 195 Black
QB - Fran Tarkenton 10 6'0" 190 White
RB - Chuck Foreman 44 6'2" 207 Black
RB - Ed Marinaro 49 6'2" 212 White

LE - Carl Eller 81 6'6" 247 Black
LT - Doug Sutherland 69 6'3" 250 White
RT - Alan Page 88 6'4" 245 Black
RE - Jim Marshall 70 6'4" 240 Black
LLB - Roy Winston 60 5'11" 222 White
MLB - Jeff Siemon 50 6'2" 230 White
RLB - Wally Hilgenberg 58 6'3" 229 White
LCB - Nate Wright 43 5'11" 180 Black
RCB - Bobby Bryant 20 6'1" 170 White
LSS - Jeff Wright 23 5'11" 190 White
RFS - Paul Krause 22 6'3" 200 White

Off the bench:

QB 2 - Bob Lee 19 6'2" 195 White
OL 6 - Andy Maurer 66 6'3" 247 White
OL 7 - Steve Lawson 65 6'3" 265 Black
OL 8 - John Ward 72 6'4" 258 White
RB 3 - Brent McClanahan 33 5'10" 202 Black
RB 4 - Dave Osborn 41 6'0" 208 White
RB 5 - Robert Miller 35 5'11" 204 Black
TE 2 - Steve Craig 84 6'3" 230 Black
WR 3 / KR - Sam McCullum 80 6'2" 203 Black
WR 4 - Clint Haslerig 87 6'0" 191 Black

DL 5 - Bob Lurtsema 75 6'6" 250 White
DL 6 - Mark Mullaney 77 6'6" 242 White
LB 4 - Fred McNeill 54 6'2" 229 Black
LB 5 - Matt Blair 59 6'5" 229 Black
LB 6 - Amos Martin 55 6'3" 228 White
LB 7 - Bob Stein 52 6'2" 235 White
CB 3 - Joe Blahak 21 5'10" 188 White
CB 4 - Pete Athas 45 5'11" 185 White
S 3 - Terry Brown 24 6'2" 205 White
S 4 - Autry Beamon 27 6'1" 190 Black

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Misc:

PK - Fred Cox 14 5'10" 200 White
P - Neil Clabo 12 6'2" 200 White

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hlmt$

This one goes out to Big Franco
 

Although I am a die- hard Cowboys fan, there was a very brief time in my life when I did like the Vikings...it was hard not to. Fran Tarkenton, Allen Page, Chuck Foreman...all those guys...how could you not love the effort they put in every week. I for one could not see how this team never won a Superbowl, but you know what...their shear determination to win and come back year after year...it was inspiring. It just goes to show that even if you don't reach your ultimate goal, it is the journey that builds character for a life time, not how many championships you win....

Thank you Big Franco for bring back the magic of the Vikings...as a gift I have posted the only time I ever wore a Vikings tee shirt...I hope it shows that although I love the Cowboys...I love the sport of football even more...

Don't focus too much on past failures Vikings fans....your team is turning it around and I can see Adrian Peterson leading you to the promised land. You just need to get a QB....or Tarvaris Jackson needs to up his game. The "D" is pretty good now. In fact, I started rooting for this team....I needed a second team to root for....my lowly Dolphins are really dragging me down these days.

But reaching back to yesteryear, I feel your pain. I was a Rams fan for many years as well. I will not root for the traitors now though. Man, 1979 was such a cool year....but the 4th quarter and Lynn Swann in the Super Bowl ended that dream. Or how about 1977(?)....my then hometown Broncos had a truly charmed season....gadget plays and great defense took them to the Bowl....for a drubbing by "America's team:mad: ."

Vikings in progress
 

Chris,
Offense is complete . Defense is half complete.
I will contact Beenutt for the decals. Did you get the rest of your figures yet?
I used some 67 big men on offense with FF.com figures that I created for you.
With a couple other figures custom made for you.
Will post some pics as soon as I get some decals.
Also need some facemask.
Joel

Awesome Joel! I am VERY excited.

lffng$

Tark
 

........ppls$

Chuck Foreman
 

........ppls$

Other faces in the 75 backfield
 

...........ppls$

This was a great post, especially with all the Vikes pics! Thanks. I think a lot of people were on the purple people eater bandwagon in the 70s. I had a Vikings helmet lamp even though I was a Packer backer. And....just so happens the VIKINGS were my first expansion team in 1969. And, they even won the Super Bowl in my EF world! Purple is my favorite color, and as far as I'm concerned, you can't beat that purple and gold combination on any uniform!

:( Hey, I'm not frowning, it was just the only purple icon to pick from! LOL!
rfr$

Awesome post
 

I just thought I'd bump this up because this post and these Vikings fans have a lot of passion. I did not know purple nation was out there. ppls$ ppls$ ppls$

When I first set out to make a custom Vikings team out of Reggie figures I was going to make a 1975 Vikings team, then I saw where a bunch of guys were making All-Time teams, so I switched up the project and made an All-Time Vikings team. They are done except I am waiting on the Jennings face-masks right now.

Some day I'll post pics. I still dont have a camera that can take MF pictures.

The All-Time Vikings thread is also out there some where deep in this forum.

I have about 40 players on that team. Joel Pritchard did a bunch of frankensteining on those figures and also did an awesome paint job for me. Before I started it, I even solicited real life Minneapolis beat writers and authors who wrote books about the history of the Vikings and got their input on who should be on the roster and who should not.

Pretty cool.

$cch$

this is cool, i just recieved a late 70's Dark offense and white jersey defensive squad of vikes, cant wait to let them play my alltime rams and my alltime cowboys.

Brother And Son
 

MY BROTHER TIERRE AND SON are both VIKINGS FANS. even though JaRon does not know the history my brother does. he knows the pain. Ihave my sons VIKINGS as SB4 VIKINGS.
I do agree pearson did push off should have been called for OFF PI.


BRONCOMAN

Mike Jonez
 

Look at the first page and you'll see them Vikings you will be getting buddy.

Memories!
 

Man, this post brings back memories. I was a HUGE Vikings fan during the 70's. My brother loved the Cowboys and we had some heated disputes during that decade. And btw, Person pushed off big time.

Hey...do any of you guys remember when Ed Marinaro played on Hill Street Blues?

Cousins Fav team
 

The Vikings were the team for my cousin Rick. Foreman, Tarkenton, Page, Eller, and so many more. Brings back great memories of times we spnt together playing football (Electric, Marx and for real out in the yard). He was the influence and inspiration for me to play for real!

Excuse me Mike
 

I'm not talking about you getting my Vikings squad with the hand painted fab 5 team. I meant for you to see the actual players from which your Vikings team will be done through. I did not mean to scare ya.

I hated the Vikings. Of course because I was/ am a Rams fan LOL.
I hate this parity era now in football . In my opinion it makes everyone weaker with all the free agency. I point that out because
the Rams- Cowboys and Vikings basically owned the 70s and their divisions.
It was always ,Rams have to play Minnesota at Minn- in the playoffs.

and the one year the Rams got to play at home in the coliseum,
it rained heavily-viking weather-

I like the purple- but they need to tone down the new uniforms-
they look like a prince/disco band-

This is my favorite team in Viking history. I think overall, they were better than the '98 team. Not as good of offense bet better defense. Thanks for starting this thread.

Where is BigFranco??? Maybe he is busy playing with these guys against a very nice Chiefs team he has also.
I had a very enjoyable time creating this team for him. One of my best. Dirty uniforms and all.

Joel

More Vikings bandwagon stuff
 

I must say I was fired up again when the Vikings wore that throwback uni the game before this last one! That was a super looking uniform.

I was so mad at Lombardi for quitting the Packers after Super Bowl II that I picked a new favorite team for 1969--it was the Minnesota Vikings! I remained a Viking fan all the way through 1972 and rooted for the Vikes in the 73 Super Bowl against the Dolphins.

It was really cool in 1969 when the Vikings were not only the first team I ever ordered from Tudor (even though they were blue! LOL!), but they also won my Super Bowl that year. Of course, all they had to do was beat out the Colts and Packers, since those were the only teams I had at the time.

This post is loaded with great Vikings pictures. You really did a great service for everyone in bringing back some super memories of one of the most fun teams in the history of the NFL.

ppcrn ltsplbll :rnt; :chr:

the viking squad i got was from MGuttman, they are very beautiful, combination of BB and haiti repro's. they are the '75 vikes, offense in dark, defense in white, totally decalled. they will be scrimmaging my 22 man BB dark rams done by raveena Al, they are sweet, yellow numbers and names.


if Al and Guttman r listening, they may have pics of my teams they did and can post them.