For Owatonna H.S. Football Team, Playing At U.S. Bank Is A 'Dream Come True'
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – With the opening of the brand new U.S. Bank Stadium this fall there have been a lot of firsts.
Of course, that includes the first state tournament for high school football in the new building.
Owatonna coach Jeff Williams took his team to the state tournament three times in the Metrodome. But, U.S. Bank Stadium, he said, brings things up to a whole other level.
"To come in here, and just the expansiveness of the place, I think our kids were in awe," Williams said.
Yes, the billion dollar 'Bank' is playing host to high school football for the first time this season. And the kids who get to play in the brand new palace said it's almost surreal.
"I would say it was just a dream come true. It's crazy watching the Vikings and then playing out there," Owatonna player Sam said. "It's such a cool experience. Especially the first year it's been open."
"The place is massive. It's really nice. And, I remember watching the Vikings-Packers game here and just to play on the same field, it's crazy," Blake, another Owatonna High School player, said.
"It's loud, on both sides. But the sound actually carries better here than it does in the Metrodome. We were able to communicate with our kids a little bit more than we typically are. It seemed like the voices carried a little bit better," Williams said.
Getting to play in there is rivaled only by getting to win a state title in there. An experience not every team will enjoy. Like Owatonna, who was knocked out in the semifinals. Their season didn't end the way they wanted it to, but at least it ended at U.S. Bank Stadium.
"Like I told them in there, losing to end your season is always a bad thing. Those losses are difficult to overcome. But to lose in this place? You know, it's hard to feel too sorry for yourself, when the end of your season is in U.S. Bank Stadium," Williams said.
The best experience a billion dollars can buy.
