Vikings 1977-78 belt color research

Hey guys

I know belt color is an exciting topic. I been researching and still in the process of it for the above topic. i know I wrote once the vikings wore purple belts from 1971 to 78. Yet I am now more convinence the belts were purple from 1971-76 for all the players. and starting in 1977 the team started to use white belts with a few players still wearing a purple belt thru 78.

http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/running-back-chuck-foreman-of-the-minnesota-vikings-in-a-news-photo/80092914





http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/minnesota-vikings-running-back-rickey-young-carries-the-news-photo/81646856



1978 black arm band





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vLiC8RYPRE 1978 Vikings at saints





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvq0tPHWO_4 Vikings at Atlanta 1977


I don't know if this proves it but I see you have updated Pittsburgh and kc with notes. I would suggest for the Vikings 1977 and 78 to have a note saying white belts were also used. I do think white belts were the majority especially by 1978, but both white and purple belts seemed to be used by players in 77 and 78.

Most of the players seem to be wearing white belts, but there were a few holdouts, like Chuck Foreman.

1977 Week 1:


1977 NFC Champ Game:

wondering if this is enough info to update 77 and 78 Vikings to white belts with a not that some purple belts also in use

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152172895772836&set=pb.64444137835.-2207520000.1391275755.&type=3&theater from 78 season see black arm band

Thanks for the assistance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OXyeh-vH-Q
I don't know what was decided with this but it seems that in this game in late 77 anyway white was the color of the belts for the vikings

There is a massive update for the Vikings about to go in as well as a smaller one to follow that.
Stay tuned.

were the 2 updates the ones done on may 26? I didn't see anything about the 77-78 belt color being changed. just letting you know in case they were supposed to be changed.

We're looking into it a bit more.
Stay tuned.

okay thanks for hard work

I took a look through AP Images for the '77-'78 Vikings - the results appear to be mixed.

Minnesota @ LA Rams 10/24/77



Minnesota vs Cincinnati 11/13/77


Minnesota vs San Francisco 12/4/77


Minnesota @ LA Rams NFC Divisional Playoff 12/26/77



Minnesota @ Dallas NFC Championship Game 1/1/78


Minnesota vs Detroit 11/5/78


Minnesota @ Green Bay 11/26/78


Minnesota vs Philadelphia 12/3/78

With the exception of those last 2 photos of Francis, it seems that Chuck Foreman was the only Viking wearing a black belt.

Bill Schaefer wrote:With the exception of those last 2 photos of Francis, it seems that Chuck Foreman was the only Viking wearing a black belt.

Tarkenton was on-and-off with purple and white.

Minnesota vs Dallas 9/18/77

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/82064275-football-minnesota-vikings-qb-fran-tarkenton-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QRDUfPAdHfeyxaQhiMZfSyryPDgoA4VxVHYeKS4oD%2bNVrWfYeEdMQaK3I5QFtxZiQQ7jxKHdopzQ4Dm55ymGWhg%3d

it seems like the white belts started to replace purple belts (not black) for some players with some players ( older players) staying with the purple ones in '77. notice in the Oakland 77 game rookie tommy Kramer white belts. I think this was a process and you will see both white and purple in both years, I think by '78 it appears to me more white than purple. it may just be something of a note being placed on the 2 season some players had white belts some had purple

smith03 wrote:it seems like the white belts started to replace purple belts (not black) for some players with some players ( older players) staying with the purple ones in '77. notice in the Oakland 77 game rookie tommy Kramer white belts.  I think this was a process and you will see both white and purple in both years, I think by '78 it appears to me more white than purple. it may just be something of a note being placed on the 2 season some players had white belts some had purple

This phenomenon was not uncommon. The Steelers went through a similar phasing-in of yellow and phasing-out of black in the late '70's-early '80's.

http://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/dynamics/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2011/06/fran-tarkenton-scramble.jpg 1978 season play off game at Rams ( see arm band so you know it is from the 78 season) white belt. so some back and forth

bigbluelarry wrote:Minnesota vs Dallas 9/18/77

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/82064275-football-minnesota-vikings-qb-fran-tarkenton-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QRDUfPAdHfeyxaQhiMZfSyryPDgoA4VxVHYeKS4oD%2bNVrWfYeEdMQaK3I5QFtxZiQQ7jxKHdopzQ4Dm55ymGWhg%3d

can we be sure that is from 77? sometimes the dates are off on photos and with the lack any other players (Dallas) in the picture I wouldn't necessary say that is from 77

smith03 wrote:

bigbluelarry wrote:Minnesota vs Dallas 9/18/77

http://cache1.asset-cache.net/gc/82064275-football-minnesota-vikings-qb-fran-tarkenton-gettyimages.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=GkZZ8bf5zL1ZiijUmxa7QRDUfPAdHfeyxaQhiMZfSyryPDgoA4VxVHYeKS4oD%2bNVrWfYeEdMQaK3I5QFtxZiQQ7jxKHdopzQ4Dm55ymGWhg%3d

can we be sure that is from 77? sometimes the dates are off  on photos and with the lack any other players (Dallas) in the picture I wouldn't necessary say that is from 77

Getty is definitely a culprit in misdating photos, that's one of the reasons I prefer AP Images. They are not perfect either, but I trust they are more reliable and accurate.

Here are two from AP from the same date.



One thing we know for sure now - the Minnesota coaching staff all wore white belts!  

#73 yary looks like a white belt,

One thing. All of these pics indicate to me that only Foreman and Tarkenton are wearing the purple belts. Can anyone find a pic with someone other than Chuck or Sir Francis with a purple belt from 77 &/or 78?

Thanks in advance!

Minnesota @ Atlanta 10/30/77


Minnesota @ LA Rams NFC Divisional Playoff 12/31/78 - the player in the distance on the left (#20?) appears to be wearing a purple belt