Owatonna production company produces documentary on Purple People Eaters

Unfortunately, when it comes to the Vikings, Minnesotans understand losing.

But an Owatonna production company is creating documentaries about the positive side of sports, including their current project.

"Purple People Eaters" focuses on the dominant defensive line of the Vikings in the 1970's under the watchful eyes of Producer Hamid Torabpour and Director Nick Hagan.

"What they've done, what those guys have done for the sport of football in the NFL, is almost unmatched," explained Torabpour.

The Purple People Eaters was a nickname for the defensive line of the Minnesota Vikings from 1967 to 1977, consisting mainly of Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, Gary Larsen, and Doug Sutherland. Page, Eller and Marshall were the mainstays with both Page and Eller in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All three have been inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor.

"This documentary is about celebrating the absolute gridiron definition that they through, you know, to get to four Super Bowls," says Hagan. "That's impressive."

These men were and are more than just athletes.

"One thing we tried to focus on is the humanity of these people, because there's so much more to them than just tackling the quarterback," Torabpour says.

These were extraordinary players and men. Page went on to become a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice. Eller made a career post-football out of being a licensed drug and alcohol counselor. Marshall owns the career records for most consecutive starts (270) and most games played (282) by a defensive player.

Larsen retired in 1974 and was replaced by Sutherland.

The project is also a push for Jim Marshall to finally be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"Everybody we interviewed, we asked them whether it was Ahmad Rashad or the Purple People Eaters themselves, everybody says they cannot understand how this man is not in the Hall of Fame," says Hagan.

"Yeah, we, we would love for him, he needs to be in the Hall of Fame," adds Torabpour.

They believe the project will be done by this fall with a release at a later date.