Minnesota Vikings: How Do Vikes Fans Become Friends with Green Bay Packers Fans?

I’m Lindsey, and I’m a Vikings fan.

End of story.

Born in 1988, I’ve been a Minnesota resident my entire life. And, truly my father’s daughter, football season is my favorite time of the year—you betcha. Being a true Vikings fan requires two things:

1. Cheer for the Vikings. Every time. Whether they break your heart or not (and there’s a good possibility they will).

2. Cheer for whatever team is playing the Packers. Every time.

You can imagine the feelings I’ve had instilled in me from Day 1: the Packers are bad; never pair green and yellow. Cheeseheads are the enemy.

For as long as I can reasonably remember, my aunt and uncle have called the state of Wisconsin their home. Post-Thanksgiving conversations transition into rivalry banter, and my cousin Josh and I had plenty of interesting dialogues during the Brett Favre era (that could earn itself a whole different blog).

For the first 18 years of my life, most of my friends (save for Chelsea Kopca and Ben Beecken) joined me in my support of the purple and gold. However, college brings individuals from all threads of life into your path.

Including Packer fans.

Enter Max Rymer.

Dustin Lewis.

Steve and Brita Pricco.

Let me tell you: One of the biggest challenges in my life has been to figure out what it looks like to have a friendship with someone who actually finds Aaron Rodgers attractive. I’m only being partially facetious right now.

Let me tell you…it’s a dangerous thing.

This is the first year that I’ve been in an apartment, and I have to admit there’s some bittersweet emotion that accompanies that. Dad and I chatted on the phone Thursday afternoon and discussed plans for Sunday, the first Vikings game of the season.

“You watching the Packers/Saints game tonight, hon?” He says.

“Of course, Dad!” (doesn’t he know he raised me right??) “I’m having some friends over to watch the game, too. Their TV hasn’t been working.”

When I tell him which friends will be joining me, he pauses. Then responds, “Aren’t those the hardcore Packer fans?”

He’s mostly joking, I know, and yet I can’t help laughing and admitting I feel like some sort of traitor. I’ve not only begun to fraternize with the enemy…I’m inviting them into my home.

I’m feeling pretty bummed about how well the Packers played on Thursday (as Dad said when he called during a timeout: “They’re looking sickly good”).

I’m sort of annoyed that New Orleans blew a last-minute chance to tie the game, and I’m not exactly thrilled that Randall Cobb had a 100-plus yard run back. I’m certainly not looking forward to facing the green and yellow on Oct. 23.

But, I had a great time. It was fun to open the door in my No. 4 Vikings jersey and offer a friendly glare to the couple sporting white Rodgers and Matthews jerseys. I loved having someone to talk statistics and plays with, and Brita and I also enjoyed the occasional “girly” conversation that can’t help but rear its head once in awhile. The Packers lineup sports several long-haired players, and there are some colored pants that just should not be worn.

I think it’s possible to make these relationships work, as long as each of us holds tight to our respective team’s pride…and I don’t see that being a problem.

After all, I’m sticking to my prediction of a 10-6 overall finish for my Vikings.

Optimistic? Maybe. But, hey…I bleed purple.