12 October 2024
MANKATO, Minn — Gov. Tim Walz returned to his old stomping grounds Friday night to deliver a pep talk to Mankato West football players ahead of the Kato Jug game, the annual tussle with local rival Mankato East.
Leaning into his “Coach Walz” persona, the governor met quietly with Scarlets team captains on Friday night, Oct. 11.
It has been 25 years since he helped coach a Mankato West team to a state championship while he was a social studies teacher at the school.
Speaking with reporters Walz said there is nothing better than cross-town rivalry games such as Friday’s game against archrival Mankato East.
Gov. Walz makes guest appearance at Mankato football game
Gov. Tim Walz speaks to the media outside Mankato West ahead of a football game.
Gov. Tim Walz, center, cheers for a Mankato West touchdown in the West cheering section. Walz returned to Mankato where he once coached football.Jackson Forderer for MPR News
Gov. Tim Walz talks to his mother Darlene Walz before the start of the annual Jug Game between Mankato West and Mankato East at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato.
Gov. Tim Walz signs autographs for people in the stands before the start of the Jug Game between Mankato East and Mankato West.
Gov. Tim Walz listens to the head referee give instructions to the team captains for both Mankato East and Mankato West before the start of the annual Jug Game. Walz returned to the West sidelines where he once coached.
Gov. Tim Walz talks with friends in the Mankato West fan section before the start of the annual Jug Game against Mankato East.
“They are best friends with folks on the other side of town,” he said. “This is I think the best of America, across the country, this is truly Friday night lights happening here.”
Walz then departed for Blakeslee Stadium at MSU Mankato where he performed the coin toss before stands packed with football fans. As he went to his seat he was greeted warmly by several people including former students.
The Harris-Walz campaign has dispatched the governor to take on a series of stereotypically masculine activities in an effort to connect with young male voters, a demographic that recent polls show are siding with former President Donald Trump.
Walz is set to go pheasant hunting Saturday morning with a group of social media influencers. The pheasant hunting opener is an annual event hosted by the governor’s office. This year, the city of Sleepy Eye is hosting.
The campaign has also broadcast Walz’s rallies on the platform Twitch, which allows users to watch and interact with video games and other content.
This story was originally published on MPRNews.org.
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