Oct 16, 2005 1:29 pm US/Central
Mike Tice Unplugged
by Mike Max
(WCCO)
WCCO Radio's Mike Max got the first one-on-one interview with the Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice since allegations arose regarding an X-rated boat party involving members of the team.
Tice revealed how he was feeling after one of the team's most embarrassing weeks ever, his respect for owner Zygi Wilf and how his family dealt with the allegations of misconduct by some of his players.
"Just the allegations hurt you and tear at you, not just a little bit, a lotta bit," he said.
Tice, the head coach since January 2002, said even though the allegations tore him up, he never considered quitting.
He stressed that while the allegations against the team are serious, nothing has been proven. He said he hasn't punished players yet because he needs to follow league rules first.
Oftentimes, Tice said he and Vikings consultants Paul Wiggin and Bud Grant, talk about the "old days" of football and how money has changed things for players now.
"When I played the game in the early '80s, I played, first and foremost because I loved to play football, it just so happened I got paid," Tice said. "I think some athletes nowadays play the game because they get paid and then they happen to enjoy it sometimes."
Tice described a deep respect and admiration for Vikings owner Zygi Wilf, who bought the team from Red McCombs in June.
"I believe that our owner, Mr. Zygi Wilf, is a man of great character, of great family, of great pride, of great passion," Tice said.
He said he thinks fans will admire Wilf as "the man to take this franchise forward in the right direction, for all of the fans that deserve a Super Bowl championship in this region."
Although this week has been tough, Tice said the community has always been good to him and his family.
"I'm the luckiest guy in this region, not just the state because I am the head coach of the Vikings and I get a chance to come to work everyday to a job that I love, around people I love and I think this week I still found myself very lucky, but I didn't have any fun." Tice said.
Although this has been a difficult time to lead the Vikings, Tice said people often come up to him and make supportive comments. He thinks the best are when he's with his wife, Diane.
"I think it gives her some solace that not every single person thinks I'm a moron or a bum," Tice said.
He said explaining the allegations to his children was challenging because they don't quite understand why some athletes do some of the things they do. He credited his wife, Diane, for doing a "great job" raising them.
Tice is the sixth head coach of the Minnesota Vikings in the 44-year history of the franchise. He is also the first head coach to have played for the team before he coached.
(© MMV, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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