Pigskin digs: Fans show their colors

Dan and Beth Petermeier, Rogers

Hangout: Their home's lower level, which resembles a football-themed sports bar with an extra shot of Vikings. With seating for 35 and seven TVs, including a 10-foot projection screen, the space is designed for game-day crowds. "Every Sunday during football season we have people over -- from a handful if the weather is bad, up to 50 last Super Bowl," Dan said. The decor, which includes lifesize player decals, autographed jerseys, footballs and helmets, spills into the guest room, bathroom, home theater and hallway. The Petermeiers don't have children, but they do have a playroom where kids can congregate while their parents are watching the game.

Fan profile: Dan, a lifelong sports fan who started his own collectibles business while he was in high school, used to focus on baseball. But after a move back to Minnesota in 1998, his interest began shifting toward football. The Twins were struggling, he recalled, while the Vikings had a 15-1 season. "I thought, 'Wow! The Vikings are exciting to watch again.' " Beth is also a fan. "Not as big as me," Dan said. "But she's the biggest football fan who's female that I've ever met." She's the one who painted their walls the official Vikings colors and created an "end zone," complete with goal posts, pylons and Astroturf around the 10-foot screen. "I used to despise football," Beth said. "I was in marching band in high school and had to go to every game. But once I started learning about it, I became a fan."

Perfect seat: "I won't travel during football season," Dan said. "I refuse to be away on Sundays in the winter -- even if it's 20 below and I get free tickets." He also shuns live games. "I'd rather watch here," he said. "Why sit in a crowd watching tiny players in the distance when I can see lifesize people right in front of me?"

Favorite players: Dan's a fan of running back Adrian Peterson. "I followed him a little in college, and I was happy when they drafted him; he's an exciting player." For Beth, it's Brett Favre, who she admired "even when he was a Packer. I could see how much he enjoyed the game. He was like a little boy when he scored a touchdown."

Favre factor: Beth was "overjoyed" when the Vikings announced last month that the veteran quarterback would be joining the team. Within two hours, she'd already bought a No. 4 Vikings jersey. Dan was almost as enthusiastic. "I wanted it to happen last year. I welcome him with open arms. It's all good for the team."

Prized possession: For Dan, it's a toss-up between his autographed Adrian Peterson jersey and a helmet bearing the signatures of most of the 2004 players.

Homemade touch: The Vikings curtains, table skirts and seat cushions were sewn by Dan's sister, a regular at their game-day gatherings.

Fun fact: The Petermeiers take part in two fantasy football leagues.

The wrap-up: "Having a room like this that gets used one day a week, for only part of the year, a lot of people would call me crazy," Dan conceded. "But everybody's got their thing."

MARC AND SARAH PLESE, DELANO

Hangout: "Valhalla," Marc's nickname for their home's lower level, which is painted official Vikings colors (from Home Depot's Team Colors paint line) in a scale replica of the team's former jersey sleeve. Taping and painting the striped pattern took a month, Marc said. The finishing touches include purple vinyl letters on the walls spelling out the lyrics to the Vikings fight song, "Skol Vikings," plus team memorabilia and personal photos Marc has collected since childhood. "I plan a collage all down the wall to track memories," he said. Sarah contributed a big purple pumpkin with Vikings horns that she made in ceramics class.

Design compromise: "I wanted the whole thing purple," Marc said. But Sarah intervened, urging mostly gold with purple accents. "I told him, if we were going to paint our basement Vikings, it had to be classy," she said.

Fan profile: Marc is a lifelong Vikings fan who grew up attending games with his father at the old Met Stadium. In his teens, his family moved to Milwaukee, and he attended college in La Crosse, but his team loyalty didn't waver. "I remained a Vikings fan living in Wisconsin," he said. "I knew I'd come back to the promised land. It's nice to be with my people again." As for Sarah, "I'm in it for the food, the friends and the parties."

Favorite players: Marc, who played safety and nose tackle in high school, grew up idolizing Joey Browner, and his most prized possession is a Browner jersey he got when he was 17. His current favorites are defensive end Jared Allen and middle linebacker E.J. Henderson. "I like the guys who aren't spotlight guys, the guys who do the dirty work," he said.

Favre factor: Marc, who displays more than one photo of himself wearing a "Packers Suck" T-shirt, has "warmed up" to his former nemesis. "I've had a full year to get used to the idea, although I did think I was going to need professional counseling," he said. "He's our quarterback now. But I will not buy anything with Favre on it. I like to support the guys who've been here and built the program."

Stages of life: Marc has had to cut back on following the team to road games since marrying and starting a family. But he's gained two fans-in-training, Logan, 4, and Owen, 1 1/2.

Fun fact: Marc coaches a football team of 5th and 6th graders.

Collectible of note: A vintage pennant commemorating Bud Grant Day, Sept. 2, 1984. "It's rare. They were only given out that day," Marc said.

Offbeat find: Russian nesting dolls, in descending order, of Vikings players Dante Culpepper, Randy Moss, Nate Burleson, Marcus Robinson and Michael Bennett.

The wrap-up: "Football is the greatest sport ever invented," Marc said. "In our old house, we had a little Vikings room. This is much better."