Staats household full of the “Glory Days” as Winona looks for state title and Gophers try and upset Badgers

Winona alum played for ’87 state runners-up before heading to U of M

Like all parents with children, there’s bound to be some “glory days” talk once in awhile. 

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday, Joel Staats should be given a free pass to talk all the football he wants. 

Today, Staats will watch his former Winona Senior High School football team play for a state championship.

The Winhawks haven’t been to the championship since 1987, when Staats set a state record with a ridiculous 21 solo tackles as a linebacker – he also played offensive line. 

Winona lost that game 13-7 to Moorhead but Staats continued to play football, starting all four years for the University of Minnesota – a team that plays the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday in another huge game.

Wisconsin looks to close out the regular season with a win over Minnesota to clinch the Big Ten-West Division title, and keep Paul Bunyan’s axe – something the Gophers haven’t had since 2003.

“I did have my hands on it a couple of times,” Staats said earlier this week. Listen to the entire interview here. “I know what that axe feels like and I am sure the guys would love to have the opportunity to run across the field at Camp Randall and grab that axe away from the Badgers and bring it back home here to Minneapolis.”

Did I mention Staats gets a free pass to talk glory days? His wife and two children are probably already sick of it, and it’s only just begun. 

“We talk a ton of football the way it is,” Staats said with a laugh. “The Gophers are on, (my two brothers and father are) all texting each other. We’re doing a lot more texting with the Winhawks, as well, and talking about the fine season they’re putting together.”

The sixth-ranked Winhawks (11-1) play at 4 p.m. today against unranked Benilde-St. Margaret’s School (9-3) at U.S. Bank Stadium for the Class 4A title.

At halftime of the following game, Staats and other state-record holders will be honored during the Class 6A championship in honor of the Prep Bowls being played at the new Minnesota Vikings stadium.

When Staats played in the ’87 championship it was at the Metrodome, a facility that got really warm by the time the Winona and Moorhead played in the last game of the day.

The Dome, of course, became a familiar place for Staats having played there with the Gophers.

“Played with Daryl Thompson out of Rochester John Marshall,” Staats said. “He was a couple years older than I was, but I think most folks remember that name. Daryl had quite a career at the University of Minnesota.

“It was something else to be able to play for the Golden Gophers and represent my state for four years.”

Staats got calls from the NFL following his career as a linebacker at Minnesota. Unfortunately, with two games left in his senior season, he blew out his knee. And, back in 1987, that was kind of it. So, when those NFL teams began calling, Staats was still recovering.

He said it would have been a longshot to make a team – he was not drafted – but he would have relished in the opportunity.

Oh, the glory days. Some, like Staats’ memories, are just better than others.

You can download the entire interview on iTunes by searching “Obstructed View Rick Solem” or by clicking here.