Glanville Era Begins Today at Portland State

The Vikings went 6-2 in 2006 and tied for second place in the Big Sky Conference.

Portland State Head Football Jerry Glanville Photo courtesy: Portland State Athletics

PORTLAND, Ore. - A new offense, a new defense, and a new practice schedule will all be a part of the Jerry Glanville era, as it begins in earnest on Monday at Stott Community Field.

The Portland State Vikings will begin their preseason practice schedule that day in preparation for the 2007 season.

Glanville, the Vikings’ first-year coach, will lead his team onto the field for a 7:00 a.m. start.

Practices will run Monday through Saturday for four weeks leading up to the first game, Sept. 1 at McNeese State.

PSU’s early practice times will be just one of several changes for the Vikings in 2007.

Glanville is installing a new 3-4 defense, and has brought in offensive coordinator Mouse Davis to revive the Run-and-Shoot at Portland State – the same school where Davis made it famous.

The Vikings have already spent this past spring adjusting to the new systems.

Portland State returns 40 letterwinners and nine starters from last season’s 7-4 squad.

The Vikings were 6-2 and tied for second place in the Big Sky Conference.

PSU is tabbed for second again in 2007 in preseason polls of Big Sky Coaches and Media.

PORTLAND STATE FOOTBALL PRESEASON PRACTICE SCHEDULE

All practices take place at Stott Community Field on the PSU campus.

Week One: Aug. 6-11, 7-9 a.m.

Week Two: Aug. 13, 15, 17, 7-9 a.m.; Aug. 14, 16, 18, 7-9:30 a.m.; 1:30-4 p.m.

Week Three: Aug. 20, 22, 24, 7-9 a.m.; Aug. 21, 23, 25, 7-9:30 a.m.; 1:30-4 p.m.

Week Four, Aug. 27-30, 7-9 a.m.

Aug. 31 Practice in Lake Charles, LA

Sept. 1 Portland State at McNeese State, 5 p.m. PT

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS

Portland State has been a preseason favorite among many prognosticators.

The Vikings were ranked seventh in the Lindy’s Sports preseason poll, 11th in Phil Steele’s Football Preview, and 13th in the College Sporting News Preseason Top 25.

Opening-game opponent McNeese State was ranked fourth by Lindy’s, ninth by Phil Steele and 10th in the CSN poll.

The Portland State football team has been selected to place second in the Big Sky Conference preseason polls as voted on by both the coaches and media in the league.

Portland State, which was 7-4 in 2006, and tied for second in the Big Sky at 6-2, was picked to finish behind conference-favorite Montana in 2007.

Montana received all 33 media votes in the preseason poll. In the coaches poll, Montana received eight of the nine first-place votes as coaches do not vote for their own teams.

The Grizzlies were 12-2 last year, winning the Big Sky with an 8-0 record and advancing to the NCAA I Football Championship Subdivision semifinals. The Grizzlies return 18 starters and 54 lettermen from last year’s team.

Portland State returns 40 letterwinners, but just nine starters from the 2006 squad. However, the Vikings were the clear-cut choice for number two in both polls.

Based on the balloting, the November 3 Portland State at Montana game figures to be a big one in deciding the conference title.

Montana State and Northern Arizona flip-flopped and three in four in the polls. The consensus five through nine spots were Eastern Washington, Weber State, Sacramento State, Idaho State and Northern Colorado.

FIVE VIKINGS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE

Five Portland State football players were named to the Big Sky Preseason All-Conference team in a vote of league media.

A total of 29 players were selected on offense, defense and special teams.

The Vikings had two on offense, two on defense and one on special teams. Only Montana, with nine selections, had more players on the team than Portland State.

On offense, All-American offensive lineman Brennan Carvalho was chosen to the team for the second year in a row. Carvalho, a two-time All-Big Sky Conference choice, and consensus 2006 All-American, has earned honors as a left guard. The 6-1, 310-pound native of Kapa’a, Hawai’i is making a move to center for his senior season.

Sophomore Bobby McClintock was also named preseason All-Conference. McClintock, a 5-10, 230- pound fullback from Coos Bay, McClintock earned first team All-Big Sky honors as a freshman. He figures to thrive in the Vikings’ newly-installed Run-and-Shoot offense in 2007.

Kenneth Mackins, a second-team All-Conference choice as a wide receiver and special teams player, earned preseason All-Conference honors at the Special Teams position this year. Mackins averaged 24.7 yards per kickoff return with a touchdown in 2006. He also had eight tackles and two forced fumbles on coverage teams.

Defensively, seniors Jordan Senn and Cole Smith were both named preseason All-Big Sky Conference. Smith was a second-team All-Conference choice at defensive end in 2006. A 6-3, 265-pounder from Springfield, Smith had 28 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles last season.

Senn, a 5-11, 225-pound linebacker from Beaverton, had 75 tackles, two sacks and two interceptions in 2006. He was also named second-team Academic All-American.

A NEW LOOK

Portland State has an incorporated a new secondary logo for the football program that will be featured on the Viking uniforms and helmets.

The stylized Viking spear does not replace the current Portland State Athletics logo, it merely serves as an alternative for the football program.

The Viking spear was developed by sports-apparel giant Nike, and will run over the crown of the helmet. Nike has also produced new Viking uniforms for the 2007 season.

THE GLANVILLE ERA BEGINS

New coach Jerry Glanville took over on Feb. 28 when he was named the 12th head coach in Portland State history. Glanville brings a strong background of coaching in the NFL and college.

In 2005 and 2006, Glanville was the defensive coordinator at the University of Hawaii under former Portland State quarterback June Jones. The Warriors improved from 5-7 in 2005 to 11-3 in 2006, winning the Hawaii Bowl over Arizona State.

The Warriors also improved statistically on defense, allowing 61 fewer yards and 11 fewer points per game. Glanville’s time at Hawaii followed a long and successful NFL coaching career and broadcasting career.

Glanville coached in the NFL from 1974 to 1993. He spent his final eight seasons as a head coach for the Houston Oilers and the Atlanta Falcons, leading his teams to four playoff appearances.

Although this is his tenth year in the collegiate coaching ranks overall, it is his first position as a collegiate head coach.

A LEGEND RETURNS

Re-joining the Vikings is former head coach and new offensive coordinator Mouse Davis.

The Viking head coach from 1975-1980, Davis introduced his version of the Run-and-Shoot offense to the football world, led the PSU program to a 42-24 record, and the Vikings set numerous offensive records along the way.

After coaching at PSU, Davis went on to coach in the Canadian Football League, the now-defunct USFL, the NFL and the Arena Football League.

The past three seasons, Davis has been an assistant coach for June Jones with the University of Hawaii. The Warriors employed the Run-and-Shoot to great success, averaging 559.2 yards of total offense, 46.9 points and a 10-3 record in 2006.

Hawaii led the nation in passing offense (441.3), total offense, scoring offense and pass efficiency (185.95).

Originally from the northwest, Davis claims Independence, Oregon as his hometown, and he is a 1955 graduate of Western Oregon University (then Oregon College of Education).

Davis spent 15 seasons coaching high school football in Oregon, culminating in a 1973 state championship at Hillsboro High School. Davis also was head coach at Sunset and Milwaukie High Schools, building a combined 79-29 record among those three.

LOOKING FOR A FEW STARTERS

Portland State will have 40 returning letterwinners, but just nine returning starters. The Vikings have five starters returning on offense and four on defense. Six other returning letterwinners have started at least one game at PSU.

STAFF CHOICES

Jerry Glanville filled out his Viking coaching staff during the month of March as he prepared for 2007 Spring Football. Glanville will serve as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator.

His defensive assistants are Josh Fetter (defensive line), Kevin Emberton (outside linebackers), Bobby April (inside linebackers/special teams coordinator), and Alundis Brice (secondary). Mouse Davis is the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

The remainder of the offensive staff includes Brian Smith (offensive line), Frank Geske (running backs), Jim Craft (wide receivers/recruiting coordinator) and Kevin Strasser (wide receivers). Anthony Peerenboom is the team’s video coordinator. Fetter, Geske, Craft and Peerenboom are holdovers from previous coach Tim Walsh’s staff.

ON SCHEDULE

The Sports Network has ranked Portland State’s non- conference schedule (at McNeese State, UC Davis, at San Diego State) as the ninth-toughest in the FCS.

However, TSN also lists the Vikings game with the Aztecs as a good chance of an upset possibility against an FBS team. The Sports Network ranks the opener at Southland Champion McNeese State as the best non-conference matchup between FCS teams as two top-25 programs square off in Jerry Glanville’s debut.

A preseason polling of FCS fans by the College Sporting News has also picked the Vikings’ game at McNeese State as the “Game of the Week.”

THE HYPE

SR C Brennan Carvalho was tabbed as a preseason All- American by Lindy’s. The Sports Network rated Carvalho as the top center in the nation in its preseason positional rankings. SO FB Bobby McClintock was rated as the fourth-best fullback in the nation.

BRAINS AND BRAWN

SR LB Jordan Senn is the top returning tackler on the Viking defense this year after making 75 stops (Adam Hayward led the team with 104). Just as impressive is Senn’s honor as an Academic All-American. He became the fifth Viking football player in history to earn the award when he was named 2nd team ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-American at the conclusion of last season. His 193 career tackles also ranks the most among all returning players.

SAME GAME, NEW NAME

Portland State football and the Big Sky Conference now compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). That is the new name for 1-AA football.

It is important to note that football is the only sport to compete at separate levels within NCAA Division I. The FCS is a 63-scholarship level.

The Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) is an 85- scholarship level. All other sports in NCAA Division I - Portland State’s level of competition - vie for the same national championships.

ONE MORE TRIP AROUND THE SUN AS A VIKING

A key member of the 2006 Portland State football team successfully petitioned the NCAA for an additional year of eligibility due to previous injury and transfer circumstances.

SR WR Tremayne Kirkland, the Vikings’ leading receiver in 2007, has gained another year of competition. Kirkland played two seasons at UNLV, had one redshirt season, and one injury redshirt season prior to transferring to Portland State. In 2006, Kirkland caught a team-high 38 passes for 533 yards and seven touchdowns.

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE

Portland State led the Big Sky Conference in seven different defensive categories in 2006 including turnover margin (+9), pass efficiency defense (99.7), sacks per game (2.7), tackles for loss per game (7.0), 3rd-down defense (39-139, 28.1%), 4th-down defense (6-23, 26.1%), and red-zone defense (26-40, 65%).

HAYWARD GOES FROM THE VIKINGS TO THE BUCS

Portland State LB Adam Hayward completed his eligibility in 2006 by being named the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Hayward was a consensus All-American and finished fourth in the Buck Buchanan Award balloting for the National Defensive Player of the Year.

His reward?

Hayward was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft this spring by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He recently signed a four-year contract with the Bucs.

FAREWELL TO A GOOD MAN

Former Head Coach Tim Walsh left Portland State last February to become the offensive coordinator at Army.

In his 14 seasons at PSU, Walsh compiled a 90-68 record. He led the Vikings to three Division II playoff appearances and a successful transition to Division I. The Vikings reached the NCAA playoffs again in 2000. PSU was 7-4 in 2006, 6-2 in the Big Sky Conference.

In fact, the Vikings had seven winning seasons in Walsh’s last eight years at the helm. Walsh coached and won more games than any other football coach in PSU history.

2007 SEASON PREVIEW

“You’re gonna love this...”

That has been the mantra of new Portland State Football Coach Jerry Glanville to anyone who will listen - and the people of Portland have definitely been listening.

With the promise of Glanville’s unique sideline presence, hard-hitting 3-4 defense (not to mention his quotability), and the return of Mouse Davis’ Run-and-Shoot offense, Viking fans eagerly anticipate the start of the 2007 season.

Indeed, the Vikings will have a new look on offense, defense and the sidelines.

It all started with the big off-season news that 14- year Head Coach Tim Walsh left PSU for a job at Army and was replaced by Glanville.

The well-known Glanville is renowned for his punishing defensive schemes over a three-decade career in the NFL and collegiate ranks, and colorful commentary in another lengthy stint as a professional football broadcaster.

Glanville brought instant excitement to the Park Blocks on the day of his opening press conference and remained quotable throughout the spring, as he prepared his team for the 2007 season.

The most prominent move Glanville made after signing on to be head coach, was to bring back Mouse Davis, a former Viking Head Football Coach and the mastermind of a revolutionary offense.

The man who made the Run-and-Shoot offense famous at Portland State in the 1970s is the Vikings’ new offensive coordinator. Davis worked most recently at Hawai’i where the Warriors were the nation’s top offensive team in 2006.

In his stint as head coach at PSU from 1975-80, Davis compiled a 42-24 record, while his teams averaged 38 points, 500 yards of offense per game and led the nation in scoring three times.

Glanville’s defensive schemes and Davis’ tricky offense will accentuate what has been a strong Viking football program.

PSU was 7-4 in 2006, 6-2 in the Big Sky Conference. In fact, PSU football has had seven winning seasons in its last eight years. But, Glanville aims to get the Vikings “over the hump” and capture a first-ever Big Sky Conference title in 2007.

VIKING OFFENSE

The key - of course - for the Portland State offense, is to grasp an all-new offensive philosophy - the Run-and-Shoot. That will start at quarterback, which becomes an even more vital role than usual in Davis’ offense.

SR Brian White (6-5, 225) and SO Tygue Howland (6-3, 220) will battle for the starting role. Howland returns from a knee injury suffered at Cal last season, while White is a transfer from Colorado who saw action in four games in 2006.

“It’s going to look a lot like Hawai’i,” said Davis. “We’re going to be a four-wide team and base our offense off the pass. I like the looks of the quarterbacks here. Both of them throw the ball well. That will be the basis of getting things going.”

Glanville likes the sound of that, saying, “You run the football for toughness. You run the ball to tell the opponent that you’re as tough as they are. But you throw the ball to ring the bell.”

Incoming freshmen quarterbacks Connor Kavanaugh (6-0, 180) and Drew Hubel (6-5, 195) were two of the best in the state of Oregon in 2006. They figure to be the future at quarterback for PSU.

The receiving corps should be tall, talented and deep. SRs Tremayne Kirkland and Kenneth Mackins return. Kirkland led the Vikings with 38 catches for 533 yards and seven touchdowns, while Mackins had 24 catches for 424 yards and four touchdowns and was the Vikings leading kick returner (24.7 pr, 1 TD).

Joining them are SOs Matt Smith (6-5, 200) and Marcel Thompson (6-3, 210), who have only scratched the surface of their abilities, as well as SR David Lewis (5-10, 180).

Transfers Zach Tarver (JR, 6-5, 215, Oregon State) and Reggie Joseph (JR, 6-0, 190, Colorado) should also be key players in an offense that runs a four-wide set.

In the backfield, PSU will move to a full-time one back set, using a fullback; or S-back in Run-and-Shoot terminology. The Vikings should have plenty of talent to call upon.

Bobby McClintock (SO, 5-10, 230) has the inside track to start at fullback after a stellar freshman season and a strong spring in the new offense. McClintock (34-167 rushing, 4-55 receiving) was named first team All-Big Sky Conference as a freshman. Olaniyi Sobomehin (SR, 6-1, 230) is another fullback who can offer excellent experience and talent. He produced when called upon at both backfield positions in 2006 (51-200-1).

Redshirt freshman Kyley McCrae (5-10, 190) possesses the “make-you-miss” that will be valuable in an offense which will spread defenses all over the field. His abilities will be evaluated at both fullback and slotback.

A strength of the Viking team in recent seasons, the offensive line, should be so again in 2007. PSU has two returning starters, both of whom are seniors and All- Conference players. SR Brennan Carvalho (6-1, 310) was a consensus All-American after being selected as the top OG in the nation prior to the 2006 season. He will make the move to center in 2007.

SR RT Daren Heerspink (6-5, 310) earned second team honors in 2006, his first full season as a starter. SR Cody Feakin (6-6, 295) should contend for a starting role at left tackle, while Moses Punzal (SO, 6-3, 315) moved into the vacancy at left guard during the spring.

That group gives PSU perhaps its biggest offensive line ever with an average of 305 pounds per man.

Although PSU has a senior-laden line, it is also built for the future. Transfers Clayton Rios and Matt Gray were Junior College All-Americans. The Vikings also added three very talented high school linemen from the Portland area. They include 6A first-team All-Staters Jasper Croome (Lake Oswego) and Adam Kleffner (Jesuit), and Chris Weitzel of Gresham.

VIKING DEFENSE

Portland State had an outstanding defense in 2006, leading the Big Sky Conference in seven statistical categories.

The bad news is the Vikings return only four starters from a unit that did not lose a single start to injury all of last year. The good news is Glanville has instilled his own brand of physical defense to the squad in a 3-4 package that highlights the Vikings talented linebackers.

“We will be the hardest-hitting football team on the West Coast,” said Glanville. “Those who don’t want to hit people, we’ll help them transfer.”

The hitting starts up front with SR DEs Cole Smith (6-3, 265) and Casey Tyler (6-6, 310). Both have been starters the past two seasons. Smith was named second team All-Big Sky Conference as well as Academic All- Conference and All-District.

On the inside, DTs Dave Howell (6-4, 310) and Philip Humphrey (6-2, 295) will also see significant time. Howell had two starts in 2006 and made 11 tackles on the season. RS FR DE Travis Beckley (6-4, 255) has developed his game and should compete for a starting role as well.

DEs Jonathan Benjamin-Nichols (6-3, 250) and Josh Evans (6-4, 255) have experience and should convert to the outside backer spots up front.

Academic All-American Jordan Senn (SR, 5-11, 225) returns at linebacker and should be a team-leader for the Vikings. A past All-Conference selection, Senn is the top returning tackler with 75 stops in 2006. He has nearly 200 tackles in his career.

The key on the second row will be replacing All- American and Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Adam Hayward (104 tackles) and DJ Robinson (91 tackles, 6 sacks). Veterans Branden Brooks (SR, 6-3, 225) and Aaron Dickson (JR, 6-1, 205) appear ready for that responsibility. Junior transfer Andrew Schantz (6-1, 235, San Diego State) is expected to start on the inside with Senn. Brooks, Dickson and RS JR KJ McCrae (6-1, 225) will all compete at OLB.

Speaking of replacements, the Vikings will need to replace three of the four starters at defensive back who were seniors last year. One of those starters was a first team All-Big Sky Conference selection at cornerback, Dominic Dixon. Honorable mention CB Odell Jackson and FS Charles Manigo are also gone.

A pair of letterwinners waiting for their opportunity at the corners are JRs Stanley Jackson (5-9, 175) and Addarious Ross (5-9, 170). JR Jordan Brown (6-0, 180) is another returner who had a great spring and may play a lot in 2007. Redshirt Steven Murphy (5-10, 180) will also compete for playing time.

SR FS Micheal Dorsey (6-2, 205) comes off a brilliant year - his first as a starter - in which he had 54 tackles and four interceptions. SRs Damion Porter (6-0, 195), Condrew Allen (6-2, 190) and Benny Schenk (6-2, 210) are all looking to replace Manigo, as is RS FR Jake Fetzer (6-2, 220), one of the top signees from 2006.

VIKING SPECIAL TEAMS

Portland State will seek out its kicking game during fall camp. K Eric Azorr and P Andrew Levers both graduated, leaving vacancies at those positions.

Squad members Todd Walker and Nikolai Hristov are waiting in the wings to compete for the kicking role, while Jarred Kearsley is tryng to be a walk-on punter.

Two junior college transfers, Chris Chalmers and Danny Urrego, will compete for the open punter/kicker duties.

While the Vikings lost all-time punt return leader Brendan Ferrigno to graduation, SR Kenneth Mackins will be back for kick return duty. Mackins averaged 24.7 yards per return and had a kick return touchdown against Montana.

2007 SCHEDULE

Portland State will have a more conventional schedule in 2007. The Vikings will play five games at home and six on the road, with one FBS opponent in San Diego State, rather than the three FBS opponents in 2006.

PSU will open on the road at Southland Conference Champion McNeese State, then come home for a game with Great West Conference foe UC Davis. The San Diego State game takes place on Sept. 22. The Vikings will also have an open week at mid-season (Oct. 13).

Despite the return to a more conventional schedule, Portland State’s non-conference schedule is still rated as the ninth-toughest in the country by The Sports Network.

PSU will have Sacramento State (Sept. 8), Northern Arizona (Oct. 6), Weber State (Oct. 27) and Montana State (Nov. 10) as conference home games. The Vikings play Eastern Washington (Sept. 29), Idaho State (Oct. 20), Montana (Nov. 3) and Northern Colorado (Nov. 17) on the road.

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