With just seconds left in the game and trailing by one point, the Minnesota Vikings lost all hope of victory when kicker Blair Walsh missed a 27-yard field goal Sunday.
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The Vikings kicker pays a visit the Minnesota elementary school whose youngsters showed remarkable kindness after a heartbreaking loss. But, while the reactions that have made their way through the Internet are entertaining to watch, no one feels worse about it than Walsh.
“Kids like you are willing to do kind things like that for somebody you don’t even know”.
Messages from the kids include “For Blair Walsh”.
“When I watched the game, I knew that half my class was going to be crushed and then I saw Blair Walsh’s interview after the game and just how classy he was”, Offerdahl said.
The letters had some solid advice and the kids showed they were really able to level with the pro athlete.
Since Sunday, Walsh has taught his own lesson in responsibility and has not made any excuses for missing the kick.
Teacher Judie Offerdahl at Northpoint Elementary in Blaine used Walsh’s miss as a teachable moment in empathy.
Blair said that life has “its ups and downs” but told the children if they continue to be good people and try their best, they can persevere. He has already expressed that he felt he let everyone down because of it. However, seeing that his teammates and the kids of Minnesota are there to encourage and support him should mean a lot to the Vikings kicker.
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Walsh answered questions from students (Sample: “Do you have a guinea pig?”) and signed trading cards, miniature Vikings helmets and other items.
