Portland State opens its home schedule and the Big Sky Conference season in simultaneous fashion on Saturday as the Vikings host Idaho State at Hillsboro Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. The game can be heard on Freedom 970 AM and seen on a live internet video stream at www.b2tv.com.

Saturday's game is a big one in many respects. First-year Head Coach Nigel Burton will make his debut in front of the home fans. In addition, the Vikings have a chance to make an early impact in the Big Sky Conference race as conference favorites Montana, Eastern Washington and Weber State have already taken a league loss. PSU also wants to avenge a 2009 season-ending loss at Idaho State, 41-34.

Portland State is also making its home at a temporary venue - Hillsboro Stadium - as the Vikings permanent home - PGE Park - undergoes renovation. The move is not without precedent as PSU played at Hillsboro during the 2000 season under similar circumstances. This year, capacity at Hillsboro will be 7,825.

The Vikings begin Big Sky play coming off a bye week with a 1-2 record in non-conference games. PSU lost a pair of games to Pac-10 opponents - Arizona State and Oregon - but picked up a solid win at UC Davis, the Great West Conference favorite, on Sept. 11, 41-33.

Idaho State enters Saturday's contest with a 1-3 record, 0-2 in the Big Sky after losses to Northern Colorado and Northern Arizona. The Bengals also come into this week's game having lost 23 straight on the road.

Portland State will play eight straight Big Sky Conference games through Nov. 20. The schedule will feature alternating home and road contests including: at Montana State (10/9), Montana (10/16), at Weber State (10/23), Eastern Washington (10/30), at Sacramento State (11/6), Northern Colorado (11/13), at Northern Arizona (11/20).
       
FOR OPENERS
A breakdown of Portland State football throughout history in home-opening games:
• PSU is 31-21-1 in home openers dating to 1958 (complete home/away schedules not available prior to '58)
• The Vikings are 10-4 in home openers since moving to the NCAA I FCS level and joining the Big Sky.
• Portland State is 8-6 in Big Sky Conference home opening games.
• PSU has won two straight home openers, but lost two straight Big Sky home openers.

PORTLAND STATE AND THE BIG SKY CONFERENCE
Portland State begins its 15th season as a member of the Big Sky Conference. The Vikings are 49-58 all-time in Big Sky games, 31-23 at home and 18-35 on the road.

Former coach Tim Walsh (42-41) led the Vikings through the first 11 years, and Jerry Glanville (7-17) was the head coach for the last three seasons.

The Vikings have never won a Big Sky title, but tied for second four times, tied for third twice, and tied for fourth twice under Walsh. The Vikings finished sixth, sixth and eighth under Glanville.

PSU has made one NCAA I playoff appearance (2000) after placing second in the Big Sky.

GAME WEEK ACTIVITIES
VIKING MEDIA: All Portland State football games can be heard on Freedom 970 AM and www.970.am. The Viking Pregame Show begins one hour prior to kickoff each week... 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.
NIGEL BURTON WEEKLY ON 95.5 THE GAME: Viking football Coach Nigel Burton can be heard every Monday at 2 p.m. on 95.5 FM The Game. Burton will review and preview Viking football games.
VIKING COACHES LUNCHEONS: Viking Coaches Luncheons are scheduled for Monday, Oct. 4; Monday, Oct. 11; Monday, Oct. 25; and Monday, Nov. 8 from noon to 1 p.m. Coach Burton, Viking players, and coaches representing other sports will be on hand to speak and take questions. Luncheons take place at The Old Spaghetti Factory at 0715 S.W. Bancroft in Portland. The cost is $10.00 per person and includes lunch and a non-alcoholic beverage.
TICKETS: Tickets for all home games can be purchased in prices ranging from $12 to $35, with youth prices as low as $6. Groups of 15 or more get special admission prices. 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. 
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR OCT. 2: Saturday's game will be Livestrong Day as Portland State Athletics will honor cancer survivors... the first 1000 fans through the gates will receive a Viking Rally Towel... there will also be post-game fireworks.

CAREER AND MILESTONE WATCH: SR DT Travis Beckley holds the distinction of having played in the most games (36) and making the most starts (25) of any Viking, although he shares those marks with SR TE Rory Richards and JR CB DeShawn Shead, respectively... SO K Zach Brown has 25 career field goals in just 14 games to rank sixth all-time for the Vikings. Here is a look at the active leaders in respective stats for the Vikings (and their all-time PSU ranking where applicable):

Games Played: Travis Beckley/Rory Richards, 2007-10, 36
Games Started: Travis Beckley/DeShawn Shead, 2008-10, 25 (both consecutive)
Receptions: Ray Fry, 2008-10, 106
Receiving Yards: Ray Fry, 2008-10, 1,527 yards
Rushing Yards: Connor Kavanaugh, 2008-10, 464 yards
Passing Yards/TDs: Drew Hubel, 2007-10, 6,358 yards (4th all-time)/42 TDs (6th all-time)
Tackles: Ryan Rau, 2008-10, 120
Tackles For Loss: Travis Beckley, 2007-10, 13
Sacks: Travis Beckley, 2007-10, 8
Interceptions: DeShawn Shead, 2008-10, 9
Field Goals: Zach Brown, 2009-10, 25 (6th all-time)

HOOV: In 2010, the Portland State football team is wearing a helmet decal that says “Hoov”, while Viking coaches have “Hoov” stitched into the sleeves of their coaching shirts. The recognition is for former Portland State football assistant coach Jeff Hoover, who died tragically in an automobile accident last Nov. 28. Hoover, who was coaching at Eastern Illinois, was traveling home from a playoff game. He was the Vikings' offensive line coach from 1995-99, then returned to be offensive coordinator in 2006. A good man, with a great sense of humor who was popular with the entire staff and the Portland State community, Hoover died at age 41.

THE ROSE: A rose logo also appears on Viking helmets, on the GoViks.com website, in department publications, at sporting venues and anywhere that Viking sports participate. The rose symbolizes Portland State Athletics' deeply integrated relationship with Portland, Oregon - The City of Roses. For more on the rose and the “Our Town, Your Team” program go to GoViks.com and click on Inside Athletics.