Sports
Students anticipating Monday night showdown
The Pointer
Dneck184@uwsp.edu
After playing three games with the Minnesota Vikings and maintaining a firm grip on the most-consecutive starts record, Brett Favre will complete another career first on this week’s Monday Night Football by starting against the Green Bay Packers.
After playing with the Packers for 15 seasons and cementing his legacy, Favre will have the opportunity to prove himself against his former team. With both teams looking strong, the NFC North division will have a battle that carries a personal grudge.
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point students and football fans across Wisconsin are gearing up for a rivalry match with extra incentive. Fans are eager to see Favre’s legendary status tested against a rebuilt Green Bay team.
Some Packer fans still give Favre respect, but do not want to see him on a rival team.
“The Vikings haven’t done anything right in their entire existence,” said UWSP student Ben Kain.
“Favre is the only player they’ve ever had, and I think he’ll give up plenty of interceptions against Green Bay.”
”They have our old quarterback, but we know how to work him,” said UWSP student Ben Sturm. “I think it will be really emotional for Favre, after playing with the Packers for 15 years, he’s going to want to get back at Ted Thompson and the rest of the team for letting him go after a season that was one game away from the Super Bowl.”
“I just wish he wasn’t in the same division as us. It’s good that he’s still playing, but I don’t think he’ll be able to put up big numbers against Green Bay,” Sturm said.
Sturm also expressed satisfaction with the Packers’ passing game.
“Aaron Rodgers is looking good this year. I was disappointed after last year when he wouldn’t finish the games, but this year he’s stepped up,” Sturm said. “He’s doing what Favre used to do-throwing the bombs.”
There is no shortage of Vikings fans on campus, and they are more than happy to have the former Packer on their side.
“I think the Vikings are the best I have seen them in a long time. They have talent everywhere,” said UWSP student Tyler Gagner. “I don’t think there is any Vikings fan who can badmouth Favre after last Sunday’s game. His performances have been everything we could have asked for.”
“I expect the Vikings to shut down the Packers’ pathetic run game and it will come down to putting pressure on Rodgers to interrupt their pass game,” Gagner said.
Two well-developed teams will face-off on Monday, but the added significance of Favre’s history with a team that let him go is what fans are really looking forward to.
“He’ll be shaking a lot of hands with people on the other team. He has a lot of personal relationships there, but I don’t think it will affect his skills,” UWSP student Matt Flintrop said.
“He’s going to know more about the opponent and their defense. I think his ability to pull through in clutch situations will come through, just like last week’s game-winning pass in the final seconds.”
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN’s Monday Night Football.
