Blair Walsh doesn’t have to look far around Minnesota to find people who aren’t currently fans of his work.
But thanks to an inspired first-grade teacher, he’s going to be surrounded by fans today.
Via Claude Peck of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Vikings kicker is visiting a class of first-graders who wrote him letters of support after he missed a potential game-winning field goal last week against the Seahawks.
Northpoint Elementary teacher Judie Offerdahl asked her class to write letters and draw pictures to take Walsh’s mind off the fact he missed a 27-yarder which would have sent the Vikings onto the divisional round.
“Dear Blair Walsh,” wrote one student. “I know that it can be hard to get through things that are sad. But you have to try and try again. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. One time I made a mistake when I was doing a cartwheel. I felt embarrassed. You can still help the Vikings win the Super Bowl next year. Your fan, Sophia Doffin.”
Walsh is going to see the class today, giving them a chance to take pictures and sign autographs.
But by learning to express some support and empathy instead of just sending hate-filled screeds on social media like the alleged adults that fill the internet, the kids have already proven to be winners this postseason.