Once upon a time...

[Alan1]

So now with our ever shrinking fan base we are banished to the 'burbs. Once upon a time the Viking football was a big deal in Portland and beyond: http://articles.latimes.com/1989-10-12/sports/sp-341_1_portland-state

 

[VikNut]

Three conditions set this perfect Viking storm , Ducks and Beavs were still struggling with limited TV exposure, Viks were winning, but most importantly, Pokey transcended from sports to entertainment. I have believed for a long time that PSU needs to run its athletic department (from a marketing and promotional perspective) more like minor league baseball and less like "traditional' college sports programs. Mandatory donations to purchase season tickets at this level is counterproductive. The total lack of vision by the revolving door of ADs not only didn't capitalize on that momentum but, I think, has intentionally tried to steer clear of that approach. Inexperienced ADs who just copy what the big schools do hoping for success has proven to be fruitless. Having an entertaining product that captures nonalumni is the only way to grow interest in the program. Going winless only makes it that much harder, but even making the playoffs a couple years ago did not move the needle.

 

[Pounder]

Three conditions set this perfect Viking storm , Ducks and Beavs were still struggling with limited TV exposure, Viks were winning, but most importantly, Pokey transcended from sports to entertainment. I have believed for a long time that PSU needs to run its athletic department (from a marketing and promotional perspective) more like minor league baseball and less like "traditional' college sports programs.

Theoretically, that's why David Hersh was brought out of mothballs. He came up with a couple ideas. He sought to fight people. People fought back. End of experiment.

Furthermore, where's another Pokey Allen? One of the things that became a topic in Boise as Allen toned down the circus act (on his way to the untimely Hodgkins) became "do you even know another football coach like that?" Football people are so (1) racked with pressure and (2) confident of the sport's status that finding someone like him is probably impossible. Although the Barnum radio ad (the dating service-kind) was really rather memorable, it obviously didn't have much staying power.

10 years ago, I moved back here while a bunch of young people were moving here, very likely displacing many former residents. Now there's a serious gentrification issue while richer people are moving in and kind of pushing out the former youth. I think that only compounds the challenge.

 

[GreenGiant]

There are things we will never see again in college and professional sports.

1) The Blazers arriving to back to Portland after a big playoff win, with several thousand (me included) fans waiting for them to come through the public concourse at 2:00 AM.

2) another Pokey Allen.

 

[Alan1]

A great story in the Hawaii Warrior World on Mouse Davis and the Run and Shoot offense: http://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/football/more-run-and-shoot-mouses-offense-clicked/