Purple And Gold Pride In Packer Land
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The town of Denmark, Wis., sits just southeast of Green Bay, and it is home to a typical Wisconsin high school. Students, like freshmen Derrick Umentum, love the Packers.
"The Pack is one of my favorite teams," he said.
You'd suspect the home-team allegiance leaves no room for the purple and gold...but you'd be wrong. At Denmark High School, the Vikings' colors hang proudly both on the walls and students' bodies. Some Packer fans even find themselves rallying behind the Vikes.
"It's alright to cheer for the Vikings, when it's the school," said Hunter Tenor, a junior.
But the Vikings mentioned above might not be the ones you're thinking of. Denmark High School is also home to the ancient Norsemen.
"I know that we were around 40 years before the Vikings -- the Minnesota Vikings," said Bill Miller, the school's athletic director.
It's coincidence that's not lost on anyone.
"It's tongue-and-cheek, and we've been trying to change it for 20 years...but to no avail," Miller said.
That may be why, before a border battle, very few wear purple and gold.
"Because that would be bad, that's just wrong," Tenor said.
In Denmark, team allegiance is fleeting. In Packer country, green and gold reign supreme.
"As soon as we're off school pride, the Vikings stays at the door," Tenor said.
