Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier feels invigorated after meeting troops in Afghanistan
Minnesota Vikings head coach, Leslie Frazier, could have gone to the Bahamas or Hawaii to spend his vacation relaxing at the beach before returning to take the Vikings training camp, however, the head coach like a true patriot chose to visit US troops in
Afghanistan as part of the NFL-USO Coaches Tour.
Frazier is spending time with American troops and is amazed at the dedication and determination shown by the young troops to complete their duties.
Speaking to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune the head coach seemed awed by the conditions the soldiers face on a daily basis.
He said:
“So far this has been a tremendous experience.”
Adding further he said:
“I was expecting this to be an opportunity to boost their morale. But it’s actually been the other way. They’ve been invigorating me.”
The head coach is spending his time visiting different bases in Afghanistan to talk to the troops and seemed pleased to meet a number of Vikings fans during the trip.
He said that the number one question posed to him by the soldiers was on the fitness of star running back, Adrian Peterson, who is currently recovering from an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury.
They also asked him about the team’s chances for the upcoming season.
Frazier was impressed with the way the troops handled the unbearable heat and the rough terrain everyday and could not help but feel pride in their dedication to duties.
“This heat can be unbearable at times. But every day they get up and they go on their missions and they do their jobs. I kind of wish some of our players in the league could come over here and just see what our troops are going through and what they’re dealing
with.”
He continued:
“The attitude that our men and women that are serving our country take, it inspires you in so many ways.”
The coach also said that this trip has changed his perspective on practice sessions with players and said if they would have come on the trip they would have complained about training in the heat anymore.
It seems that the head coach has learnt much during his trip in the badlands of Afghanistan and training camp with the Vikings will be interesting to watch as Frazier brings some of his newfound inspirations into the team’s practice sessions.
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