Viking For Life: A Four-Decade Football Love Affair

by Scott Studwell

Overview

An unforgettable look at a lifetime of Vikings football packed with Studwell's insights into the game, on and off the field.

In professional football, careers are often short and turnover is a constant. So when one man's career spans more than four decades with one organization, it is quite an achievement.

Scott Studwell did just that with the Minnesota Vikings. As a linebacker, Studwell totaled a Vikings record 1,981 tackles in 14 seasons, reaching two Pro Bowls. After retiring as a player after the 1990 season, Studwell moved into the Vikings' player personnel department and served as the team's Director of College Scouting.

In Viking for Life: A Four-Decade Football Love Affair, Studwell shares stories from the Vikings teams of the 1970s and '80s under head coaches Bud Grant and Jerry Burns, teams that reached two NFC championship games.

He also provides rare insight into his three decades in the Vikings' scouting department and draft room, during which he helped the Vikings identify countless stars, including Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson, and Harrison Smith.

In the pages of this striking memoir, Studwell shares a passion for the Vikings that he calls "a dream come true."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781641256889
Publisher:	Triumph Books
Publication date:	09/07/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	7 MB

About the Author

Scott Studwell played 14 seasons as a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings and was twice selected to the Pro Bowl. Following retirement, he joined the Vikings' front office, where he served as Director of College Scouting from 2002 to 2019.

Jim Bruton is the author of several books, including A Tradition of Purple, Gopher Glory, We Love Our Twins, and The Big House. Jim is an adjunct faculty member at several colleges and universities in the Twin Cities.

Table of Contents

Foreword Paul Wiggin 7

Chapter 1 A Great Childhood 9

Chapter 2 Training Camp 19

Chapter 3 A Vikings Regular 27

Chapter 4 Some Great Teammates 39

Chapter 5 Bud to Steckel to Bud to Burns 59

Chapter 6 The End Had Come 67

Chapter 7 Scouting 79

Chapter 8 The NFL Draft 107

Chapter 9 The Scout's Calendar 119

Chapter 10 Colleges and Universities-Scouting's Bread and Butter 135

Chapter 11 Game Ready 145

Chapter 12 Outside the Lines 165

Chapter 13 Rivals and Teammates 171

Chapter 14 The Coaches 189

Chapter 15 When the Cheering Stopped 195

Chapter 16 COVID-19 and the Game 203

Chapter 17 The Front Office 207

Chapter 18 Loves and Passions 215

Chapter 19 Extra Points 221

Chapter 20 Family 229

Chapter 21 Final Thoughts 233

Coauthor's Note 235

Afterword 237