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Coach Burton

Coach Burton at the Big Sky Kickoff

Head Football Coach Nigel Burton took a couple min at the Big Sky Kickoff to speak with Root Sports on the upcoming season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpRJxLJI9FU" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Coach Burton on the Travis & Wilcox show (1080 The Fan) today:

http://www.1080thefan.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=5957413" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
scooter said:
Coach Burton on the Travis & Wilcox show (1080 The Fan) today:

http://www.1080thefan.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=5957413" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Heard that today. Good to see that he's getting some play on that station, although it'd be nice to see him get some air on the 3-7 show.
 
Special thanks to Mike Lund for this article highlighting Zach Brown & Justin Monihan, but also for giving us a heads up into the upcoming times and broadcasts for interviews with Coach Burton.

http://www.goviks.com/news/2012/8/1/FB_0801123710.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
"Burton tough and determined and doing it his way"

http://www.oregonlive.com/vikings/index.ssf/2012/09/portland_state_coach_nigel_bur_1.html#incart_river_default" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Really interesting to read this in hindsight.

http://www.uwdawgpound.com/2008/12/29/704132/taking-a-closer-look-at-ni" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This was a UW thread about hiring Nigel as their DC back in 2008 when he was still at Nevada.

This was one of the posts....

Still prefer a more experienced DC but..
I thought Burton’s defensive schemes on the first two levels was good….a stunting, attacking style with up to 9 guys in the box before the snap….but that secondary was terrible, especially safety coverage and run support . Maybe Burton didn’t have much to work with there at Nevada but if you make him Huskies DC there needs to be a very strong DBs coach that can gameplan with Burton.

by 206 on Dec 31, 2008 12:32 PM PST up
 
 
Playing football like a Viking

Portland State football coach Nigel Burton joins the Bald Faced Truth with John Canzano to talk about how the Vikings’ football season has progressed. Currently sitting at 2-3 in the Big Sky Conference, the Vikings are experiencing some turbulence. Yet last weekend, the Vikings began to right the ship by putting forty-nine points on the UC Davis Aggies.

Coach Burton and John discuss how he deals with a player who has suffered a concussion or a head injury. Burton emphasized that he does not make the call when an injured athlete will play. Instead he leaves that decision exclusively to the team’s medical staff. Coach Burton then explains why the Vikings will continue to build after this fantastic win over UC Davis. He also talks about how the Vikings were able to bounce back after several disappointing losses.

The Vikings only have three games left in the regular season. This weekend they face the Northern Colorado Bears at JELD-WEN Field. Hear the play-by-play of the game on Freedom 970 AM at 1 p.m.

For the interview:

http://www.kxl.com/10/29/12/Playing-football-like-a-Viking/landing.html?blockID=643397&feedID=10528" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Viks coach keeps his cool

http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sports/134976-viks-coach-keeps-his-cool" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I’ve never met a coach who didn’t think he was on the right track — at least until the day he gets fired.

This is not to suggest that Nigel Burton is in trouble as he enters his fourth season as head football coach at Portland State.

I have no qualms about Burton’s coaching acumen or his portfolio at the tender age of 36. Having had coaches such as Tim Walsh, Mike Riley and Chris Ault as mentors means he has been shown the right way. Burton — whose Vikings begin spring practice on April 8 — is bright and personable and engaging and a solid representative of the PSU athletic community.

But coaches are judged by win-loss results, and last season’s 3-8 ledger (2-6 in Big Sky Conference play) raises some eyebrows about whether or not the Vikings are headed in the right direction.

Burton exudes confidence that his ship is indeed in good shape, though when asked about next season, he tempers his remarks with caution.

“I feel like we have continued to make progress, but next season is still so far away,” he says. “Coach Ault once told me the biggest job of a head coach is to manage expectations. It’s a little early to talk about that now.”

So in a 20-minute conversation, Burton explores what happened last season and some of the components he believes will make a difference for the Vikings this fall.

After a 2-9 (1-7 Big Sky) opening campaign at PSU under Burton in 2010, the Vikings showed promise with a 7-4 record (5-3) in 2011. Then came the downturn last season when many within the program thought they might contend for a conference championship.

“It’s disappointing when you don’t have the record you were hoping for and with expectations we put on ourselves,” Burton says. “Part of it is we couldn’t figure out how to close games.

“But in the grand scheme of things, it might benefit us in the long run. Because we had so many injuries, a lot of the freshmen in a class that was so highly regarded had to play. Now they have game experience. The silver lining is, because we were in nearly every game to the end, our coaches and players have a sense that we’re very close to getting to where we want to be.”

Portland State averaged 438 yards total offense and 34.8 points a game last season. Since the Viks gave up at least 37 times six times, it would seem defense was the overriding problem.

“Not necessarily,” Burton says. “Yes, we need to improve on the defensive end, but football is a team sport. In the end, we didn’t score enough points, we didn’t stop the (opponent) enough, and we didn’t improve in special teams the way we were hoping.”

Two games into last season, Burton fired defensive coordinator Eric Jackson — a close friend — and assumed the duties himself. Unspecified internal problems were tied to Jackson’s dismissal.

“Hardest thing I’ve had to do as a head coach,” says Burton, a cornerback coach under Walsh at PSU and Riley at Oregon State and D-coordinator under Ault at Nevada. “It’s one of those things you struggle with. You don’t want to ever have to do that at that point in the season.

“I’m not going to be a head coach who runs around firing people, but you have to do what you have to do.”

Burton’s new D-coordinator is Jaime Hill, whose last coaching job was in the same capacity from 2006 to ’10 at Brigham Young under Bronco Mendenhall. Hill worked from 1993 to ’97 as secondary coach and then D-coordinator under Walsh at PSU and also coached three years with the San Francisco 49ers, as well as a couple of stints in the Canadian Football League.

“Of the candidates I interviewed, Jaime was the guy I felt brought the most to the table not only as a coach, but with his love for the university,” Burton says. “I’ve enjoyed my time at South Florida, Oregon State and Nevada, but when you’ve coached at Portland State, it’s a completely different deal. It’s a special fraternity. When you add all that in with Jaime, it was a no-brainer hire for me.”

Portland State returns 47 lettermen, including 11 starters. There are holes to fill on the offensive line and in replacing last year’s No. 2 and 3 receivers, Justin Monahan and Nevin Lewis, along with All-America linebacker Ian Sluss.

Among those returning are quarterback Kieran McDonagh, a 6-2, 245-pound sophomore who threw for 2,187 yards and 14 touchdowns and ran for 406 yards and nine scores a year ago, tailback DJ Adams, a 5-10, 210-pound senior who rushed for 967 yards and a dozen TDs last season, and receiver Thomas Carter, who caught a team-high 32 passes for 313 yards in ‘12.

Burton says all three, and virtually every other returning first-stringer, must prove themselves again this spring and in the fall.

“We don’t care who is a returning starter, we’re always going to have a competition,” he says. “We let things play out. That philosophy works for us. It’s how Kieran got his job last season. He was originally going to grayshirt.

“Kieran is going to have to bust his hump to be the starter when you consider how well Collin Ramirez played behind him, and we have Paris Penn, too. We have three or four, maybe five guys who can play tailback, including Shaquille Richard and Steven Long. It’s getting fun around here.”

The Vikings are bringing in several transfers who are expected to play right away, including 6-0, 275-pound defensive tackle Joe Lopez (Oregon State), 6-4, 255-pound tight end Hayden Plinke (Boise State) and 6-4, 225-pound linebacker Jake Woolley (College of the Canyons).

“I have Coach Riley’s philosophy — you don’t bring in a transfer for depth,” Burton says. “We’re bringing in five or six guys who will be given the opportunity to start right away.”

Burton says he will continue to employ OSU’s 4-3 defense and Nevada’s pistol offense, “with a few tweaks both ways, maybe more on the defensive side,” he says.

The 2013 schedule features only one “money” game — the Sept. 7 opener at California — and eight Big Sky games that will include a home date with Cal Poly and a visit to ’12 FCS semifinalist Eastern Washington.

The Vikings aren’t scheduled to face the other two Big Sky powers of a year ago, Montana State or Northern Arizona.

“But it’s all difficult,” Burton says. “This conference is so much different than it was the first time I coached at Portland State (2001-02). You’re battling every week. There are no gimmes. It’s like Big Ten basketball. We beat the snot out of each other.”

Burton maintains a confident air about the prospects of his Vikings.

“We continually seem to have better and better offseasons, this winter in particular,” he says. “The guys set unbelievable records in the weight room. We’re continuing to develop depth. I know the program is better than when we started.

“In the end, it’s not going to win games, but it’s a step. It’s still going to come down to how we play in September and October and, most importantly, in November.”

And, if Burton, his coaches and his players have their way, in December, too.
 
Well, I suppose that puts to rest the presumption that Coach Hill will go to the 3-4 Defense. But with all the talk and excitement around seeing the 2011 class beginning to make an impact, I forgot all about Steven Long. We really are loaded with some exceptional young skill position players, and with this recent incoming class (both H.S. and transfers) of formidable trench guys, this is going to be a fun year on the Park Blocks. Every team loses very good, experienced players to graduation. It will be a blast to see these young players make a name for themselves!
 
forestgreen said:
The 2013 schedule features only one “money” game — the Sept. 7 opener at California
It's called a "money game," Sport, and It is a continuous disappointment to read the "sports rehash" in Portland newspapers because the writers and editors are either too uncreative or lazy to dig in to provide the full, rich sustenance of a story. Portland will always be a fourth-rate sports city so long as this is the modus operandi of sports writing.
9781449427351_p0_v1_s260x420.JPG
a213_n17.jpg
 
scooter said:
Well, I suppose that puts to rest the presumption that Coach Hill will go to the 3-4 Defense. But with all the talk and excitement around seeing the 2011 class beginning to make an impact, I forgot all about Steven Long. We really are loaded with some exceptional young skill position players, and with this recent incoming class (both H.S. and transfers) of formidable trench guys, this is going to be a fun year on the Park Blocks. Every team loses very good, experienced players to graduation. It will be a blast to see these young players make a name for themselves!

I'm glad to hear that we'll most likely be rolling with the 3-4 this year.
 
martymoose said:
scooter said:
Well, I suppose that puts to rest the presumption that Coach Hill will go to the 3-4 Defense. But with all the talk and excitement around seeing the 2011 class beginning to make an impact, I forgot all about Steven Long. We really are loaded with some exceptional young skill position players, and with this recent incoming class (both H.S. and transfers) of formidable trench guys, this is going to be a fun year on the Park Blocks. Every team loses very good, experienced players to graduation. It will be a blast to see these young players make a name for themselves!

I'm glad to hear that we'll most likely be rolling with the 3-4 this year.

Actually Marty I think Nigel said he was sticking with the 4-3. Burton says he will continue to employ OSU’s 4-3 defense and Nevada’s pistol offense, “with a few tweaks both ways, maybe more on the defensive side,” he says.

I don't know how common it is to incorporate the two formations, but I've always liked the idea of a nose tackle and an extra backer. Maybe that's not what he meant about "tweaks". I wonder if Spring practice will give any indication?
 
scooter said:
martymoose said:
scooter said:
Well, I suppose that puts to rest the presumption that Coach Hill will go to the 3-4 Defense. But with all the talk and excitement around seeing the 2011 class beginning to make an impact, I forgot all about Steven Long. We really are loaded with some exceptional young skill position players, and with this recent incoming class (both H.S. and transfers) of formidable trench guys, this is going to be a fun year on the Park Blocks. Every team loses very good, experienced players to graduation. It will be a blast to see these young players make a name for themselves!

I'm glad to hear that we'll most likely be rolling with the 3-4 this year.

Actually Marty I think Nigel said he was sticking with the 4-3. Burton says he will continue to employ OSU’s 4-3 defense and Nevada’s pistol offense, “with a few tweaks both ways, maybe more on the defensive side,” he says.

I don't know how common it is to incorporate the two formations, but I've always liked the idea of a nose tackle and an extra backer. Maybe that's not what he meant about "tweaks". I wonder if Spring practice will give any indication?


Doh, type-o. I meant 4-3. I think that a base defensive scheme change would just add complications with us getting our defense where it needs to be.
 
Interview with Coach Burton today on 1080 The Fan:

1080 The FAN ‏@1080TheFAN
Here's the full @CoachBurton_PSU talk with T&W: http://podcast.1080thefan.com/kfxx2/4041809.mp3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …
 
Nigel Burton: Coming Close "Doesn't Count"

Portland State Head Coach Nigel Burton joined The BFT Friday afternoon to talk about fall camp and the potential of an AFL team coming to Portland.

Headed into the 2013 season Burton clearly has high expectations but this year he needs results.

"Our team was very close last year, we almost got over the hump the year before," he said. "But in the end it's about W's and L's.

"Coming close doesn't count anymore."

The 2013 season marks Portland State's fourth year under Coach Burton since taking over for Jerry Glanville after the 2009 season.

Portland State opens play Thursday, Aug. 29 against Eastern Oregon.

Click here to listen to the interview.

http://www.750thegame.com/pages/landing?Nigel-Burton-Says-Coming-Close-Doesnt-Co=1&blockID=707507&feedID=9710" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
750 The Game @750TheGame
HOUR 3 of the #BFT with @Fletch_Johnson guesting today; @kevin_nealon , @carlreiner , @CoachBurton_PSU all come on: https://soundcloud.com/kxtg-the-bald-faced-truth/bft-podcast-06-18-14-hour-3" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

https://soundcloud.com/kxtg-the-bald-faced-truth" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 

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