Portland State football is making a special offer to all Oregon State fans who had plans for a college football weekend. This Saturday, when the Vikings host Carroll College, anyone showing their tickets to the postponed Oregon State vs. Nicholls State game can receive a free general admission ticket to the Viking game. One free ticket will be given for each OSU game ticket shown at JELD-WEN Field. Reserved seats will be available for sale. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:07 p.m.
Portland State kicks off a highly-anticipated 2012 season this Saturday when it hosts Carroll College (1-0) in a non-conference game at JELD-WEN Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:07 p.m. The game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet Northwest (ch. 37/HD 737) and airs on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. The pregame radio show begins at 4 p.m.
The Vikings come off a 7-4 season in 2011, its best mark since 2006 (also 7-4). Third-year Head Coach
Nigel Burton welcomes back 13 starters and 51 letterwinners from that team. Burton's Vikings were the most improved team in the Big Sky in 2011 with five more wins than the previous season. PSU went 5-3 in league play and placed third.
This season, the Vikings have been picked to place fourth in preseason polls of the newly-expanded Big Sky Conference. There are now 13 members in the league (Southern Utah, North Dakota, UC Davis and Cal Poly have joined), and each team will play eight of a possible 12 opponents.
However, before that can begin, the Vikings will play three nonconference games. Following this week's clash with Carroll, PSU travels to North Dakota on Sept. 8 (in a game not counting in the league standings), then face the University of Washington on Sept. 15 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
Portland State went 4-2 at JELD-WEN Field in 2011. The Vikings are 33-21-1 in home openers dating to 1958 (complete home/away schedules not available prior to '58). PSU has never played Carroll College.
Carroll College is a member of the NAIA and the Frontier Conference. The Fighting Saints have been a perennial powerhouse at the NAIA level, winning six National Championships (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2010). In 2011, Carroll reached the National Championship game again, but lost to St. Xavier, 24-20. Carroll has won 12 straight Frontier Conference titles and has a 36-6 playoff record over the last 12 years.
In 2011, the Fighting Saints were 13-2 overall, 9-1 in conference play. Carroll has 10 returning starters.
Head Coach Mike Van Diest is now in his 14th season and has a 158-22 record. Carroll comes off a season-opening win over Montana State-Northern, 31-6, last Friday. The Fighting Saints feature reigning NAIA Player of the Year Chance Demarais, who rushed 17 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
VIDEO PREVIEWS
Friday, August 24 - Viking Offense
Monday, August 27 - Viking Defense
Thursday, August 30 - Viking Special Teams
VIKINGS IN THE MEDIA
Coach Burton feature in Helena Independent Record
Tonight, Coach Burton will appear live on "Talkin' Ball" at 6 p.m. on Comcast SportsNet (ch. 37/HD 737)
GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR THIS WEEK: The Vik Walk begins on the Park Blocks with the team two and a half hours before every game. The team will walk to JELD-WEN Field and fans are welcome to join. They will pass the Viking Tailgate area on SW 18th and Salmon and the Cheerful Bullpen... at every game, fans can check in at JELD-WEN Field on facebook or tweet with the hashtag #goviks to win a GoViks wristband, located at the marketing table by Gate 1... all youth football participants get in free if they are wearing a jersey and accompanied by a paid adult ticket.
VIKINGS ON THE RADIO: All Portland State football games can be heard on Freedom 970 AM and www.freedom970.com. The Viking Pregame Show begins one hour prior to kickoff each week... Tom Hewitt (play-by-play) and
Mike Lund (analyst) call the action.
VIKINGS ON TELEVISION: Portland State will appear on television a record nine times in 2012. PSU and Comcast SportsNet have teamed up to present six Viking games, including four self-produced home games and two that will be picked up from opponent feeds. The home games will feature veteran broadcaster Bob Akamian and Portland State coaching legend Mouse Davis in the booth. Trysta Krick will be on the sidelines.
THIS YEAR'S GAMES TELEVISED IN THE PORTLAND AREA
Sept. 1, Portland State vs. Carroll, 5 p.m., CSNNW
Sept. 8, Portland State at North Dakota, 4 p.m. PT, CSNNW (opponent feed)
Sept. 15, Portland State at Washington, 1 p.m., FX
Sept. 22, Portland State vs. Southern Utah, 5 p.m., CSNNW
Sept. 29, Portland State at Northern Arizona, 2 p.m. Fox Arizona Plus (satellite TV)
Oct. 6, Portland State vs. Idaho State, 5 p.m., CSNNW
Oct. 20, Portland State at Cal Poly, 6 p.m., CSNNW (opponent feed)
Nov. 10, Portland State at Montana State, 12:30 p.m. PT, Root
Nov. 17, Portland State vs. Eastern Washington, 1 p.m., CSNNW
• Comcast SportsNet is available in the Portland area on Comcast cable systems, channel 37/HD 737. Other metro-area affiliates aside from Comcast are: Beavercreek Cooperative Telephone SD 38/HD 638; Canby Telcom SD 33/HD 733; Oregon Cable Group SD 53/HD 753; Frontier Communications SD 77/HD 577; Wave Broadband SD 37or 45(depending upon location)/HD 737.
VIKINGS ON THE INTERNET: Live streaming video of all Portland State home and Big Sky Conference games can be seen free at www.b2tv.com... Live stats for Portland State home games are at www.GoViks.com and have a mobile phone feature.
TICKETS: Tickets for all home games can be purchased in prices ranging from $14 to $50, with youth prices as low as $7. Groups of 15 or more get special admission prices. Tickets are subject to service charge. To purchase tickets by phone, call 1.888.VIK.TIKS or 503.725.3307. Tickets are on sale at the PSU Ticket Office, located in Smith Memorial Student Union, 1825 SW Broadway. You can also purchase tickets on-line at www.GoViks.com or at all TicketMaster outlets.
