Vikings Country Featuring Blake Brandel

This time of year. Gifts can be traditional, they can be nostalgic. They can also be well, a little boring. So why not shake things up with scratch games from the Minnesota Lottery. Don't give socks, necktizer and coffee mug get a little excitement with holiday scratch tickets instead. Lottery tickets make amazing gifts. They're fun, festive, and a super easy way to That's right, shake things up, Minnesota Lottery. I'm in must be eighteen year older to play.

Sponsored by Pfizer.

It's time for Vikings Country, brought to you by Miller Lyte. Now here's your host of Vikings Country from KFAN and the Vikings Radio Network.

Mus Welcome to Savage, Welcome to mccws. Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to Vikings Country. Look at this huge crowd we got going on here in mcceughs. Yeah, unmuss your hosts with Miller like the official beer spon of the Minnesota Vikings. It's Vikings Country and we're here with number sixty.

Four, Blake Branda.

Ladies and gentlemen, Thank you, everybody, Thank you so much.

Everybody saw you walk in.

It's almost impossible, not too Yeah, I know six seven, are you the tallest on the team.

This is an ongoing debate between Brian O'Neal and me.

We'll go I to eye and oh yeah, I get that mic nice and close. Uh you know, some days Brian's Brian's taller, other days I am.

Because he's wearing pumps.

Is that what you said?

Lifts?

I think he's cheating. So, you know, Brian the tall guy. I like to think I'm taller. But yeah, between the two of.

Us, six seven, three fifteen, man, that is a that's a huge man.

Yes, it is. I knew what I was going to be doing pretty early on.

I mean I knew I was built to be a football player, that's for sure.

Did you I mean, like, were you always just a tall kid or was it one of those where you know, I was like five eight until eighth grade and then all of a sudden, this huge spurt.

No, I mean I was always a big kid, so I came out big. I ate a lot, and I was one of the bigger kids that was also really clumsy. You know, I'm not super coordinated, and that that came on with time. But uh, yeah, that one thing I've always been it's been big.

So came out big. So you owe your mom and apology.

Yes, yes, yeah, yeah.

My dad reminds me, you know, your mom did a lot for us before you're even really here, So thank you, mom.

I love you so much.

So now you're from Oregon and I said that right right, Oregon?

Yeah, because a lot of us here, so like say Oregon.

Yeah, which is crazy to me that people could say a state. You know, you got fifty of them, and people say a state wrong. Sometimes I mean, I respect it and lets me know you're a Midwesterner, but yeah, Oregon, Oregon.

Is it is in Milwaukee or is it Milwaukee?

It's it's Milwaukee. But I like the way you said it the second time. Maybe we could get that change.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's fancier. That's fancier.

It makes it so really good.

What's it like growing up in that area of the country there, you.

Know, the Pacific Northwest is just absolutely beautiful, but.

You get a lot of rain.

You go there this time of the year and you're gonna get a lot of rain, thirty five forty hit some wind, it's going.

To be cold.

So as beautiful as it can be outside, you spend a lot of time inside. Oh yeah, yeah, kind of like Minnesota.

It's weird. Yeah.

Drafted in the sixth round twenty twenty draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Of course, out of Oregon State, you were a Beaver.

I was, yep.

And you know, it's it's devastating what's going on with Oregon State right now. PAC twelve disabandoning, Absolutely terrible and as a yeah, as a former Beave. And I'm sure all my Washington State cook fans who are tuning in right now, I'm sure there's.

Many of them.

Yeah, it's it's just devastating, and college football as a whole seems like it's really changing.

So growing up in Oregon and playing in Oregon State, is it safe to say that you're an outdoorsman?

You know, I'd like to say I was an outdoorsman or am, but no, I I like sitting on the couch watching football, watching basketball, playing video games, just hanging out with the boys, hanging out with my wife. No, I would not classic myself as an outdoorsman. I like playing golf, That's about it.

Oh nice, Yeah, But no mountain biking, no kayaking. You're not hiking, You're not like yeah, like survival senses.

You haven't. You don't have a beaver pelt, do you.

I'm far too big for any of that.

That's uh, we got major issues if I go down on a mountain bike right now.

So, yeah, could you survive in the woods, I mean if you had to just I mean just through osmosis from growing up that way.

I would really like to think I could, But if I'm being completely honest, I don't think i'd last long.

Yeah, I don't know how to build a fire.

I'd like to think I could like use my strength to like really make a nice maybe like fort or shelter lean to. Yeah, but other than that, it's gonna be tough sledding.

So yeah, I don't say much of a chance.

Uh.

Blake Brandle as my guest here Vikings Country with Miller Light, the official beer sponsor of the Minnesota Vikings, and we're giving away tickets in the Miller Light Lounge to watch the Vikings uh kick the crap out of the Packers on New Year's Eve. So who in the offensive Lineman room would you say is least likely to actually uh be able to handle themselves outdoors?

Brian O'Neil without a doubt. We always give Brian a hard time. His uncle is the uh is the governor of Delaware, and so just knowing that and knowing Brian, who's a great guy, but Brian's just to eat for whatever reason, is the easiest guy to give a hard time. So, uh, I'm gonna I'm gonna put that one on Brian. You know, I just don't think it's quite enough outdoors, mean grit to really get through there. So uh yeah, I'll pin that one on Brian.

Big man, soft hands.

Yeah, yeah, sure. Oh, Brian's gonna love that.

I hope it's listening because that's hilarious.

Uh So your wife, guys got married in the spring of twenty twenty one.

We did congratulations so much, sorry about it. I'll get you a gift. It'll be late, but you know it'll be really nice.

I thought that counts, right.

Who's who's the better decorator and gift shopper this holiday season?

My wife, without a doubt.

Yeah, she she loves decorating the house. She always knows what I want to which is I think it's just a guy girl kind of thing to me. I'm not totally sure, but you know, she is just She is just the absolute best, and it's it's something else to have a wife like her, So I feel extremely fortunate.

I'm gonna say, my wife does all of the gift shopping, and so it's kind of fun because I get two Christmases because not only am I surprised by the gift that I get, I'm surprised by the gifts that we gave everyone else.

So it's a two Christmas bit that that sounds like my household as well.

She is, uh, yeah, we both sound pretty lucky.

Then. So the offensive line room we're gonna get in is more of this with you coming up here in just a little bit of Vikings Country and also the five typically stupid Vikings Country questions. Oh I love Yeah, you'll enjoy that. But the online gift exchange, how does that work? Is it like kind of a white elephant thing? Do you draw names or do you have to get every guy a gift?

So what we do?

We do two We do a white Elephant, and we do a Secret Santa, and we'll be doing the gifts on Friday. So it's a big day for the line and we all really look forward to it, and guys care a lot about it, so they do a good job with the picking out of the gifts. Some guys just will straight up and say this is what I want for whoever has me, and that way there's no surprises. They know that they're going to be satisfied with whatever

Know what I want.

So whoever has Garrett is going to be in a lot of stress and I feel sorry for them.

But hopefully come Friday he really likes what he's gonna get.

Do you guys have any other traditions for the holidays?

So every month, starting with October, the rookies decorate the room, which is a ton of fun. So right now you know we've got the Christmas room and that entails We've got several Christmas trees inflatables. We've had like the toy train tracks. All the seats are wrapped in gift wraps. So I mean it is it is everything you can imagine it more and they do a really good job.

It's a winter wonderland. It's a lot of fun.

Here's the other thing for you, four different starting quarterbacks. Yep, does that also mean that you guys will be getting four different gifts from those starting quarterocks because that's normally ray isn't that the thing that the quarterbacks normally get an offensive lineman gifts?

You've had four different ones.

That is an awesome idea, and I think that you should get a hold of the quarterbacks and make sure that they know that that is something that all the offensive lineman would life. I have no idea, and I never you know, you just never assume, and whatever you get, you're happy with. So uh yeah, I guess come Christmas, or maybe it's after Christmas, maybe it's before, we'll uh.

We'll find out. But yeah, that's a that's a great question.

Yeah, I have no I I mean, at the very least, cousins should be given out some coals hurt.

Oh yeah, and the boys would go crazy for some coals coles cash, So uh, one can only hope.

That would be awesome.

We got Blake Brandall hanging out with us here at number sixty four at mcceughes four, Miller Lite. We're here with Vikings Country. We got more coming up on the way. In fact, we'll get to those five typically stupid Vikings Country questions, but also we will talk a little football. Obviously, we got a big game coming up here at home against the Lions, and then maybe, just maybe we'll dabble just a little bit in the Bengals game. Probably not, but we'll have all that coming up on the way.

That's next.

Hold up, I'm eating breakfast right now and you need to hear about this. Have you ever tried Daily Harvest? My mind is literally blown. I'm enjoying a strawberry peach smoothie made with strawberries, peaches, gojiberries, raspberries, and gluten free oats. Wow, just wow, it's a fruit explosion. I also got this oatpal from Daily Harvest. So delicious. There's real fruit in here and even some veggies. It's not freeze dried or

On my Heart Radio, it's time for Vikings Country, brought to you by Miller Lyte. Now here's your host of Vikings Country from Kfan and the Vikings Radio Network.

Muss you bet here.

We are mcques with Miller Light, the official beer sponsor of the Minnesota Vikings. We got so many people here tonight that actually have birthdays.

Going on today, which is super crazy.

So that's a lot of fun and everybody's just having a great time on a Tuesday night. I am Musk and our special gus here at Vikings Country. Blake Brandle number sixty four, give it up for big Man here.

School absolutely right, love it all right.

We're gonna get to some stupid stuff. But four different quarterbacks in twenty twenty three, that is a team slash organization record to start four different quarterbacks in a single season. What goes through the team the locker room is the feel with all of a sudden, I mean, there's so many injuries on so many different rooms, in so many different positions, but at quarterback, it's just there's more of a feel.

How do you guys go through that?

It's tough. Man.

The great thing is we've had four guys going and play that have all done a good job, and you know, you feel you feel confident going out into a game with guys like that who are so team focused, team oriented, all great leaders, and so you know, it's been tough, and typically, you know, you want to get into a groove and Kirk, you know, was in his groove and I can't remember what week it was, but when we lost him, it's just, you know, it's devastating. And Kirk

To win games. And so losing Kirk.

Was you know, it was devastating, you know, And you don't go into Lambeau and have a I can't remember how much we won by, but you don't go in and you beat the Packers and then you come into the locker room and it's it's it's quiet.

In there that that doesn't happen.

So I think that just speaks to what Kurt kind of means to the team and how much.

It sucks losing him.

But you know, football, it happens, and it's the next man up kind of sport. And Jaron came in and we're ready to roll.

And Jaren did a great job on that first drive. It's a.

Great and then and then just he gets a concussion. It's like, oh man, we just got Josh Dobbs a week ago. I could not imagine going in and playing a line for a fan a franchise that I got there a week and that and that's a line. And the fact that Josh was able to come in and play quarterback in a system that he had never been in before is just unreal.

And so he did a great job.

And now we're rolling with Nick, and you know, Nick is just this guy that is all about preparation, and I think there's a lot of similarities between Nick and Kirk in terms of, uh, you know, kind of what their focus is and approach to the game.

So it has been an absolute roller coaster, but you.

Know, I'm ready to ride with whoever we put out there.

Garrett Bradbury's just got to be super confused because that's a lot of hands up underneath it is.

And I'll tell you what, it's a different feel too.

I mean, you'd be surprised you think that they're just resting in there, but how far they're going in, how far they're out, like you.

Know, pressure, all that stuff.

So yeah, there's a lot of different things that go into that quarterback center even offensive line connection.

You know, when you are around a lot of football players and stuff like that. And I've been doing this for fifteen years with Vikings Country, and there's something about offensive linemen that you guys like traveling packs. You guys do everything together more so than probably any other position room, and so you guys are super super tight.

What I was wondering is that, you know, when.

You do have the increasing, you hate to see that happen, But when you get a Quesnberry to be able to step up, when you've had chances to step up, how much support do you get from that group?

You know, the guys who are sitting there.

Going, okay, we all want to play, but you know we get to play.

Because someone went down.

Yeah, it's tough. I mean, you know, but that's what you practice for. And as you know, I've been a career backup offensive lineman. But you practice every week with the intention that something is going to happen and you're gonna go into the game, and you know, you try to go in there and coach O'Connell talks about all the time with no flinch, no matter what happens on the field, you just got it.

No flinch.

You know whatever's next is gonna happen, and you just kind of got a roll with it.

And uh, you know, being able to go in there. You know, I got to play, and I got to play.

Next to Garrett and Brian and DQ, and it was just like those guys, you know, they have confidence in you and you have confidence in them.

And at the end of the day, it's just football.

It's it's what you've been doing for a long time, and so you just kind of go out there and cut it loose and uh yeah, I mean it's.

It's a ton of fun.

So all right, here we go, ready for the five typically stupid Vikings country questions. I can't wait, Like Brandle is our guest here by the Way Friday Football Feast coming up here this Friday, and you could join Paul charch In along with Pa and a host of others that will be hanging out there. It's sponsored by Coors Light. You can find out the locations easily at kfen dot com and Vikings dot com as well.

But here we go. Number one. They say caroling is really good for you. They say that, you know, it gets.

See endorphins going, the releases, the feel good hormones and stuff like that.

Have you ever gone to watling?

No?

Never?

Once?

Never.

That is a that's just not something that I could ever see me or my parents you know growing up.

Do Yeah, No, just not my thing.

I love that you didn't even shudder at the watling.

I mean, I try to use contact clues that I'm assuming that means yes, okayrol okay, okay.

It's in a bunch of songs.

Who would you say is probably the least likely that should to go a wostling in the offensive line room?

Who's the worst singer.

I might be up there? I mean, we've got there's not a bunch of guys that sing. I'll tell you who would be good?

Austin Schlottman is the guy that knows every lyric to every song and can. I mean, it doesn't matter what comes on in the locker room. So I think if I had to pick somebody, I picked Austin. And if someone were to be the worst, I don't know. To take your pick, it's not gonna be pretty.

How about this number two, best Christmas gift that you had ever gotten as a kick, Like, if you're looking back, you got some gift that you wanted so badly. I got a stretch Armstrong. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. And within moments my brother, who got drumsticks, no drums, just drumsticks, stabbed my stretch Armstrong to see what's inside it. And you can't duct tape a stretch stretch Armstrong.

Well that's awesome. First of all, I never got a stretch Armstrong, so kind of bragging right now. No, I would say, uh, do you guys remember Guitar Hero? Oh yeah, Oh so I got Guitar Hero and it was it was all over from there.

I mean, it was the best thing ever.

That was one of those ones where like you you rip it open and you're like, oh my god, this is Guitar Hero and all the other presents go to the side. You put it in and you start playing. And so I vividly remember playing Guitar Hero with my sister cousins. You know that that's got.

To be up there. That was a pretty good one.

What was the song that you was shred on?

That's tough. I mean, Freebird's on there. And I'm a big believer in Freebird.

I love Freebird, so uh yeah, I'm.

A big belief.

Oh yeah, I think not enough people know about free Bird. More people need to listen to free Bird.

Yeah, free Bird.

As it turns out, as we're here at mcq's with Miller Light and Vikings Country, we are literally just blocks away from my house where often I like to have garage beers. Your opinion on garage beer or you just hanging out in.

The garage and just having beers.

I think that there's not enough garage beers to go around.

I think there needs to be more garage.

Beers drink in this country, in this state, in Minneapolis, more garage beers there.

I said, very.

Strong, Free Bird and go hand in hand, Guitar Hero, garage beers, free Bird.

Are you are you a nauger. Do you like eggnog? No, no either.

No, not a huge fan.

I mean, if I'm gonna be drinking any sort of alcoholic beverage, I think the last thing I want to add to that is cream. That just seems like a bad idea. So yeah, not a believer in an ignog.

Big fan of egg, but when you put it together, it's the nog part.

It's just not a fan. Anybody that comes up to me and say, hey.

You want some nog, no no, I do not take your nog somewhere else, sir.

I'm gonna I'm gonna go listen to some freebird. You have some garage beers, all right. When a play is called and it comes in.

This is number four, Is it actually called tush push?

That's a great question. I don't. Well, we only call them the huddle.

We've got different variations of sneak, and there's multiple ones that have a chance of someone pushing the quarterback from behind. We do not call it the toush push, but we'll refer to it as that.

That's probably what the Eagles call it. I'm not totally sure though, Yeah.

Yeah, oh yeah, the brother the shove, Yeah yeah, we will go too deep into that one there and number five traditions for Christmas with your family and now with your wife. I mean, do you guys sit there and is there a movie they.

Absolutely have to watch?

No? I mean growing up, we always did, you know, presence in the morning, and then I came from a smaller family, so it was really just kind of my mom and dad and grandparents. But you know, you kind of got through things quick on Christmas, and so we were always a family that would go to the movies on Christmas Day.

Oh nice, and so.

Kind of whatever was out and it could be a bad movie, good movie. And I think actually my wife mentioned today, she's like, maybe we could just see a movie on Christmas Day because we don't, you know, no family out here.

So yeah, all right, three.

Games remain, all three NFC North games, Lions, Packers, Lions. It's a big stretch especially and none of those you look ahead of lover ahead too, but more importantly taking on the Lions coming up here on Christmas Eve.

Yeah, I mean, it's it's playoff football. It's playoff football right now, and we just got to make a big push.

We need all the Viking nation to come out and support us because yeah, these are some big games.

We got ahead, all.

Right, ladies and gentlemen.

That is our guest here, Blake Randle, number sixty four, Vikings Country.

Because I told you this was easy, so easy.

Thank you guys, so much.

More garage bears, more free bird. I love this guy.

We got more coming up on the way here, Eric Kfa And in fact we'll be getting back to sports of all kinds next.

On the thing.

This time of year, gifts can be traditional, they can be nostalgic. They can also be well a little boring. So why not shake things up with scratch games from the Minnesota Lottery. Don't give socks, necktieser and coffee mug. Give a little excitement with holiday scratch tickets instead. Lottery tickets make amazing gifts. They're fun, festive, and a super easy way to That's right, shake things up, Minnesota Lottery. I'm in. Must be eighteen year older to play.