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Most people tend to associate the month of October with Halloween, and not enough seem to remember the real reason for the season: the skeleton war. What is the skeleton war, you ask? Well if you have to ask, you are part of the problem.
Thankfully, the Minnesota offensive line is here to help educate the general public. Starting center Conner Olson led the charge on Twitter yesterday, taking a moment on October 1st to celebrate the start of Spooktober by issuing a rallying cry to his fellow big men:
Happy Spooktober everyone!! So begins another hallowed celebration. Where were you for the skeleton war? pic.twitter.com/TqAQMBQovF
— Conner Olson (@connerolson6) October 1, 2020
Many answered the call, including starting left guard Blaise Andries, who recalled summoning spirits from beyond the grave to serve under the wordless leadership of Michael Myers (otherwise known in the annals of history as the Hero of Haddonfield):
I was calling upon the ghosts in the graveyard to do what is right and join the battle under Lt. Michael Myers! https://t.co/hA6G1Gexr4
— Blaise Andries (@BlaiseAndries) October 1, 2020
And right guard Axel Ruschmeyer, who took up arms against the Headless Horseman:
I was at the battle of ghosts creek fighting the army of headless horseman. Where were you for the skeleton war? https://t.co/MtN9aN7iIn
— Axel Ruschmeyer (@Axel_Ruschmeyer) October 1, 2020
Newcomer Jackson Ruschmeyer, younger brother to Axel and a true freshman offensive lineman, referenced the unpopular Dead Draft that was implemented to enlist reinforcements for the soft-spoken, machete-wielding Jason Voorhees:
I was recruiting new members for the Voorhees platoon. Rumor has it that if your grave doesn’t say “R.I.P” on it you are automatically drafted into the skeleton war. Sorry, I don’t make the rules. https://t.co/WjpRrlGcNh
— Jackson Ruschmeyer (@jrusch68) October 2, 2020
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t include tight end Ko Kieft’s contribution:
— Ko Kieft (@KoKieft) October 1, 2020
I have to say, it is refreshing to see student-athletes who are so passionate about honoring a period of history that frankly does not get nearly enough attention, and I think it speaks to the culture that P.J. Fleck has created at Minnesota.