Are the Minnesota Vikings Done with Ragnar?

Shortly after the Vikings victory yesterday afternoon, I jumped onto Twitter to read up on what my fellow followers of the purple and gold were saying about the win.  But what I noticed instead was both Facebook and the Twitterverse were buzzing with Vikings fans wondering what happened to Ragnar?!

Ragnar, whose real name is actually Joseph Juranitch, moved to Minneapolis back in 1986 and has served as a security officer at Minnetonka High School until 2000 when he became Assistant Dean of Students in the Hopkins School District.

But it's what Juranitch does on Sunday's that he's most known for.  Every week you'll no doubt spot the animated, bearded, dressed in fur and hat with horns mascot Ragnar, as he's been on the field revving up crowds with the purple faithful since 1994... except this past Sunday, when he was noticeably absent from the sidelines.

Most people, like me, noticed a post published on his Ragnar Facebook page with a photo of his forlorn, helmet-clad self, and wrote, “It doesn't feel right sitting at home. This is not by my choice...I don't make those decisions..At this point it was made for me. I miss all my fans and your support... let's all stay positive as we move forward.”

Well wishes and comments from fans multiplied beneath the post, even the hashtag #bringbackragnar.

I'm as clueless as the next fan on what exactly is going on, but it's my hope that he returns to the sidelines sooner than later!  I LOVE watching him perform with the cheerleaders and just making the experience that much better at a Viking's home game.

Keep your head up Ragnar, and in the meantime keep showing your horns and purple pride!  #SKOL

(Source: FOX 9)