Ring of Honor awaits stunned Studwell

MANKATO - Scott Studwell thought he was going to provide a personnel update to members of the Vikings' ownership group Monday afternoon when he walked into a conference room at the AmericInn Hotel.

But the team's director of college scouting quickly realized something was up when he saw his wife, Jenny, and son, Jack, had sneaked in a back door. It was then that owner Zygi Wilf revealed the real reason Studwell's presence had been requested.

The former Vikings linebacker and 33-year employee of the organization had been selected as the 18th member of the team's Ring of Honor. The normally stoic Studwell couldn't hide some emotion as he was informed he would be inducted into the Ring during halftime of the Bears-Vikings game on Nov. 29 at the Metrodome.

"To say I was flabbergasted is an understatement," Studwell said. "I choked up a little bit. It's hard to show appreciation for 33 years of being able to work with the same organization and just show all my appreciation that has been built up for so many people."

Studwell played for the Vikings from 1977 to '90 and is entering his 18th year in the franchise's player personnel department. Whether it be on or off the field, Studwell has been one of the organization's hardest workers. Monday was no different.

Studwell celebrated by going to a Noodles & Company in Mankato with his wife and son and then hopped into the car to make a drive to Nebraska so he could be in place to scout the Cornhuskers practice today. Studwell was reached on his cell phone while driving through Sioux City, Iowa.

"He was chomping at the bit to get going to the University of Nebraska," Vikings coach Brad Childress said. "It was a well-kept secret that he was going to be the guy that was going to be in. It's always great to be there for the surprise on his face. Obviously, it was well-deserved."

A ninth-round pick out of Illinois in 1977, Studwell finished as the Vikings' career leader in combined tackles (1,981), defensive tackles (1,928) and single-season tackles (230 in 1981). He was selected to two Pro Bowls and was named to the Vikings' 25th and 40th anniversary all-time teams.

And yet he admitted he never expected to be elected to the Ring of Honor.

"There's always that chance, but I've never taken anything for granted," Studwell said. "I never had those kind of expectations for myself either as a player or a scout. I never set myself up for a fall that way. It's almost unfathomable that your name is going to be up there with the great names in Vikings history with the guys that are just icons not only for us but in the league as well. I've never looked at myself in that light. It hasn't really sunk in yet, but it's just a phenomenal honor."