‘Disco Darrin’ Starting to Step Out for Vikings

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — While Marcus Allen has been collecting 1,000-yard rushing seasons like a philatelist collects stamps, Minnesota Vikings running back Darrin Nelson has averaged only a little more than 500 rushing yards a year.

So the fact that the Vikings drafted Nelson in 1982 -- ahead of the Heisman Trophy-winning Allen, who has gone on to star for the Los Angeles Raiders -- hasn’t always pleased Minnesota fans.

“I can remember my first couple of years, they wanted to know why I wasn’t getting 1,500 yards like Marcus Allen,” Nelson said. “What am I supposed to do, get 1,000 yards by carrying 150 times? Pretty nice average. (Critics) were looking at that instead of what kind of offense I’m in.”

Except for the quarterback, Minnesota’s offense does not revolve around any one player. Again this season, Nelson has been its most versatile performer, with 163 carries for 649 yards and 40 receptions for 433 yards. He has scored five touchdowns.

Minnesota’s offense uses short passes to its backs to open up a running game that features mostly quick traps off tackle.

The Vikings thought the attack was perfectly suited to Nelson, a nifty 5-foot-9, 183-pounder whom the scouts described as an “impact player” because of his ability to produce any time he touches the football.

After becoming the first player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 50 passes in a season, which he did three times at Stanford, Nelson was the first running back taken -- ahead of Allen, Gerald Riggs and Joe Morris, to name a few -- and the seventh player drafted overall in 1982.

At first, Nelson did not want to play in Minnesota. Even before visiting the state, he said the Twin Cities were not for him because there were no discos here. Fact is, there are discos here. Minnesotans were offended and “Disco Darrin” earned a nickname.

Vikings defensive line coach Paul Wiggin, who was head coach at Stanford during Nelson’s last two years there, said Nelson has matured since then. He also called Nelson a beautiful person who meant no harm by his statement.

“Darrin created a lot of magic for us at Stanford,” Wiggin said. “He was truly loved there, as a player and as a human being, and when I talk to people from out there, all they ever want to know is, ‘How’s Darrin doing?”’

Nelson, who dislikes cold weather, warmed up to the Vikings when he realized he would be playing inside the Metrodome. And he has gone on to have a productive, if not spectacular, five-year career.

“When you think about football, it really is specialized,” said Nelson, whose Vikings will get a shot of cold weather Sunday when they visit the Green Bay Packers. “But here on the Vikings, it’s really not. There’s no, per se, ball carrier. If you’re here, you’re going to be in there on first down, second down, third down and you’re going to catch the ball. I don’t know if I’d like to do ... like Joe Morris, carrying on first or second down, then going out. I like being in there.”

And now that Nelson has matured and accepted the fact that he probably never will be a 1,000-yard rusher, Vikings coaches such as Wiggin like having him in there, too.

“He’s a productive player, that’s all,” Wiggin said. “I think he’s had to overcome some things. Like being drafted ahead of Marcus Allen.”