Portland State Picked Second In Pre-Season Football Polls

Portland State returns 41 letterwinners, but just 10 starters from the 2006 squad.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

PORTLAND, Ore. - 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.

The 2007 season begins a new era for Portland State football as Head Coach Jerry Glanville took over this past spring, installing the 3-4 defense he was famous for at numerous coaching stops.

Viking legend Mouse Davis has returned to be the offensive coordinator and installed the Run-and-Shoot offense for the 2007 season.

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 41 letterwinners, but just 10 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.

Portland State begins football practice on Aug. 6.

The opener is Sept. 1 at McNeese State, with the home opener on Sept. 8 against UC Davis.

Big Sky Conference Preseason Polls

Coaches

Rank, Team, Points

1. Montana (8), 64

2. Portland State, 55

3. Montana State (1), 47

4. Northern Arizona, 42

5. Eastern Washington, 41

6. Weber State, 23

7. Sacramento State, 22

8. Idaho State, 21

9. Northern Colorado, 8

Media

Rank, Team, Points

1. Montana (33), 297

2. Portland State, 237

3. Northern Arizona, 192

4. Montana State, 190

5. Eastern Washington, 166

6. Weber State, 143

7. Sacramento State, 89

8. Idaho State, 86

9. Northern Colorado, 43

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