What do the Minnesota Vikings and the Eden Prairie High School football teams have in common? In addition to being located in suburban Eden Prairie, located 17 miles southwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota, they both have been led by Coach Grant.
The Minnesota Vikings were led by Coach Bud Grant for 18 years from 1967 to 1985. Bud's son, Mike Grant, has coached the Eden Prairie Eagles for the past 17 years, including this year's Class 5A state champions. Mike's winning record is better than his legendary dad, having won over 95% of the games he has coached at Eden Prairie High School, including seven (7) state titles since 1996.
Ranked 55th in the nation in 2011 according to the MaxPreps Freeman poll, the Eagles had a record of 12-1, avenging its only loss of the season with a 13-3 victory over conference rival Wayzata to capture the Minnesota 5A championship.
Some might think that winning gets to be "old hat" for Grant and the Eagles, but the MaxPreps Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard ceremony proved winning is always special at Eden Prairie - and this year, a big deal.
In front of a full house at an Eden Prairie boys' basketball game on Friday, January 06, 2012, Coach Mike Grant (who also serves as the school's Athletic Director) introduced Max Preps representative, Dan Wilder at the half-time ceremony. Wilder noted the accomplishments of the 2011 Eagles and then introduced Sergeant First Class Kyle Kalphake of the Minnesota Army National Guard. Sergeant Kalphake presented Coach Grant with the prestigious Army National Guard national ranking trophy (a "Minuteman" symbolic for excellence and dedication) and the championship rafter banner.
"It is a great honor for our players this year to be recognized as one of the top teams in the nation," said Grant. "I am grateful to Max Preps and the Army National Guard for making this trophy presentation possible."
With over half of the team's 94 member roster in attendance, the celebration was on! Decked out in their new white Tour of Champions shirts, the photo ops, congratulations and appreciation continued out in the lobby well into the second half. Parents with cameras and kids with their cell phones all captured the moment - holding the "Minuteman" trophy with their buddies.
Mike Grant beamed throughout the evening, accepting congratulations and enjoying the moment with his players. While his dad, Bud, wasn't there, this honor can now be added to the Minnesota Grant football coaching legacy.
