(Photo courtesy MinnTim)
KLUWE’S NOT HAPPY
There’s really not much to say about this game, so here come’s Chris Kluwe to the rescue! The Vikings punter has taken to Twitter to complain about the field conditions at TCF Bank Stadium after the team walkthrough today:
Serious time – All respect to the people that cleared the field and got it ready, you did an amazing job. That being said, it’s unplayable.
The field is as hard as concrete an hour and a half after they took the tarp off, and anyone that hits their head is getting a concussion.
I find it interesting that the NFL can claim an emphasis on player safety, and then tell us the field is fine. It’s beyond hypocritical.
I can only hope, however unlikely, that no one gets catastrophically injured at the trainwreck that’s about to take place tomorrow night.
To everyone – that was a totally serious post on the field conditions. It is like walking on concrete. They took the tarp off at the same…
…time they’ll take it off before the game. The problem isn’t heating it, it’s retaining that heat.
@NecroGhoul What can we do? They already shot down Chicago’s petition (and that’s a team used to these conditions).
RT @PaulCharchian: @ChrisWarcraft So, you’ve been on the field?– We just had our walkthrough down there.
Like a lot of you are saying, hopefully the snow will at least provide a cushion tomorrow night 🙂
@PaulCharchian Without a doubt. It’s worse than that old AstroTurf they used to have (and got rid of for safety reasons).
@MinneMike The difference between TCF and fields you mentioned is they were built for cold weather. They have heating coils so no freezing.
I’ve been asked not to tweet anymore about the field so as not to distract teammates (who were there) and I will honor that. Time for WoW.
…and the drama continues…
40,0000
The number of cubic yards of snow removed from TCF Bank Stadium. It took 15,000 hours of work to remove it.
WEATHER
The weather forecast for Monday calls for 25 degrees and snow, which doesn’t sound all that bad except that the wind will be blowing at 16 mph, which makes it feel like 12 degrees. But from my experience, that “Feels Like” number is typically pretty generous.
Whatever the temp at kickoff, it’s gonna be sunless and coooolllllld.
WANNA WATCH SOMETHING BORING?
The University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium website features a webcam with live footage of the snow removal!!!
Seriously.
Or you could just watch the time-lapse video of the snow removal that the Minnesota Gophers athletic department posted to Facebook. Found at YouTube from lnorgins.
WALKING WOUNDED
Vikings: Left guard Steve Hutchinson (broken thumb) and safety Tyrell Johnson (knee) have been ruled out. Running back Adrian Peterson (ankle/knee, thanks Tarvaris!), defensive end Ray Edwards (ankle) and safety Jamarca Sanford (concussion) are questionable. But it is likely both Peterson and Edwards will play.
Cornerback Asher Allen (ankle) and quarterback Joe Webb (hamstring) participated fully in practice and are listed as probable.
Bears: Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) was limited in practice and is questionable.