Tim Walz’s visit sparks protests and silent treatment at a football game at the school where he once coached

MANKATO, MINNESOTA: In a nostalgic return, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made a special appearance at Mankato West High School during the much-anticipated Friday Night Lights. This visit marked a trip back to his roots, as Walz previously served as an assistant coach for the Mankato West football team.

Watching the intense rivalry game gave the governor a sense of homecoming, but the atmosphere was somewhat complicated, reflecting the community’s mixed emotions. As Walz reconnected with familiar faces, the night highlighted both the excitement of high school football and the nuances of his relationship with the area he once called home.

Governor Tim Walz returns to Mankato West High School

As Walz sat in the stands, pro-Palestinian protesters made their presence felt outside the stadium. Inside, it was a mix of reactions for the governor. Several clips captured him talking to families, with the high school class in the background. But it wasn’t exactly all smiles and joy.

Some people seemed to pay him no attention, staring blankly into the distance as he mingled. Others were more receptive, striking up a conversation and even giving the governor a hug or two.

One of the rare times Walz was able to provoke a reaction was during the pregame coin toss. He joined both teams on the field, and there was some applause from the Mankato West crowd when the announcer called his name. It wasn’t exactly a thunderous ovation, but it was something. For most of the night, however, the reception was quite lukewarm.

Even before the game, there was already some backlash surrounding his scheduled appearance.

Former Republican congressman Jeremy Munson took to X (formerly Twitter) days before the game, encouraging people to come out and boo Walz.

Yvonne Simon — chairwoman of the Blue Earth County Republican Party — even called the visit a sign of “desperation” in an interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

The visit to Mankato West was more than just a trip down memory lane. It was part of a broader plan by Harris-Walz’s campaign to remind people of his time as an assistant coach for the school’s football team in the 1990s.

Walz played a major role in the team’s 1999 state championship, and that achievement has been a major point of discussion since he teamed up with Kamala Harris on Aug. 7.

He even gave a shout out to the championship team during his speech at the Democratic National Convention on August 21. Walz brought in members of the old team as he officially accepted the vice presidential nomination.

Internet mocks Tim Walz

Critics on social media wasted no time mocking the muted response Tim Walz received.

“That’s embarrassing,” one joked about X, while another said: “Let’s be honest, none of these players like him.”

Others saw it as a sign of hope. “After all, there is hope for future generations,” wrote another person.

Another added: “The kids are going to be fine.”

Not always a warm welcome in the campaign

As receptions go, Tim Walz’s night at Mankato West wasn’t the worst he’s ever seen. It was much harder when he attended a college game between Minnesota and Michigan in Ann Arbor on September 28.

As he was leaving, fans made it clear with a chorus of boos that they weren’t very happy to see him. One heckler even yelled, “Get out of here!”

Regardless, Walz has drawn on his coaching experience as part of his public identity. He even drew some comparisons to Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, who has a more serious football resume, having coached at several top NCAA programs such as Auburn.

Tuberville led teams to victories at Ole Miss, Texas Tech and Cincinnati, and even won an SEC championship with Auburn in 2004, the New York Post reported.

At a fundraiser in Boston in early August, Walz joked about his new role — positioning himself as the “anti-Tommy Tuberville.” He joked: “I feel like one of my roles in this now is to be the anti-Tommy Tuberville, to show that football coaches aren’t the dumbest people.”

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