The Vikings special teams units already are trying to get acclimated with their new home at TCF Bank Stadium, which can be a challenge.
The wind intensifies in the horseshoe-shaped stadium and can create headaches for punters and kickers. So Blair Walsh and Jeff Locke paid a visit to the stadium before the university began installing the new turf.
Walsh said the idea came from Vikings special teams coordinator Mike Priefer at the end of last season. Walsh and Locke reached out to redshirt junior punter Peter Mortell and former Gophers kicker Chris Hawthorne, who started last season.
"The field is definitely not conducive to hit straight balls," Walsh said. "The ball is going to move no matter what with that wind, but you can definitely conquer it, master it and sort of make it your advantage. And that's the way we're going to have to look at it from a positive outlook on it."
The stadium is built east-and-west, rather than north-and-south, so the Minneapolis skyline is in the background of the west end zone. According to Hawthorne, TCF Bank Stadium was one of the toughest Big Ten stadiums to kick in during his career.
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