Homecoming '86 should be rousing end to great season by Larry Sellers PSU's football team ends a very successful season under first-year coach Pokey Allen with a 1:30 p.m. homecoming game against the University of Montana on Saturday, Nov. 22 at Portland Civic Stadium. Despite starting 12 freshmen and sophomores because of mid-season injuries, the Vikings recently scored back-Io-back wins over Cal Lutheran and Cal Poly, beating the latter 66-7 for one of the biggest victory margins in Portland State history. Since it marked only the 5eCond win over Cal Poly in nine meetings, the Nov. 1 decision was especially enjoyable. Alumni and other football fans who turn out to see the Viks battle long-lime Big Sky rival Montana will not only be watching outstanding sophomore quarterback Chris Crawford but such classmates as 8arry Naone, Tim Corrigan, Mike Peterson, and Kevin Wolfolk from the cfass o( '89. They also will be witness to the first running back in Portland State history to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a single season. Junior halfback Kevin Johnson broke the school record of 870 yards held by Andy Berkis (1964) in the season's ninth game against Santa Clara. PSU will also be saying a fond adieu to all·league wide receiver Brian Coushay. offensive tackles Roland Aumueller and Ion Shields, defensive backs Howard Hornbeck, Tracey Brown, and David Etherly, and defensive tackles Bill Misi and Skee Bernhardt. Student body president Mike Erickson, PSU's fine punter and place-kicker, may elect to play another season, graduating mid-year in 1987-88. Appropriately, the P5U-Montana series has been the most attractive to Viking football fans. Not counting the 1983 opener against Oregon State, the Vikings and Grizzlies have drawn PSU's biggest home-field crowds at Civic Stadium. In 1976, 16,000 fans turned out to watch Coach Mouse Davis and quarterback June Jones lead the Vikings past Montana 50-49 in an all-time thriller, and 13,000 were there in 1969 when Coach Don Read had PSU's first record-setting quarterback, Tim VonDulm. The homecoming game will fittingly mark the return of Read and four 1985 Viking assistant coaches - Tommy lee, Bill Smith, Robin pflugrad, and Jerome Souers - who moved to the Missoula campus following last season. They have done well in their first year also, upsetting Idaho State, Eastern Washington, and blitzing Montana State in their big one, 59-28. The game truly promises the perfect match·up for a great Homecoming '86. Don't miss it! New coach goes for fast breaks Gregory Bruce, former assistant women's basketball coach at Notre Dame, has been named PSU's head women's basketball coach. Bruce replaces Jim Sollars who accepted a teaching and coaching position at the University of Portland aher three years at P5U. A nalive of Niantic. Illinois, Bruce has a bachelor's degree from Purdue University and a master's degree from Arizona State. During hiS two years at Notre Dame. he helped the Fighting Irish climb (rom 14-4 in 1984 to 20-8 in 1985 and 23·8 lasl season. Prior to hls50ulh Bend experience, Bruce coached at Thunderbird High School in Phoenix, Arizona between 1979 and 1984, leading Ihe leam 10 two state quarter-tinal and two state semi-final appearances, winning five league championships. "I'm naturally very excited about my first head job in college," said Bruce, 35. "I feel that there is very good administrative support for the program and the players have impressed me with their desire to do whatever it takes to wi n." Calling himself a defensive coach, Bruce plans to use the team's positive attitude to Improve fundamental skills and to continue lasl year's move toward a fast-break style o( basketball with a limited number of plays run out of a pattern offense. Pleased at his ".8' 10 I PSU Pe<spec1ive. Fall 1986 Basketball coach Greg BrUCf team's pre-season conditioning, he also seeks to improve the team's consistency on the court. "We may win or rose but we'll always play an exciting and challenging game," remarked Bruce. The Vikings' s e ~ t j O l 1 a J §Op/wmore quarterback Chris CriJwford has.a chance of ~ r p a s s i n g Neil Lomax's 62% completion record set in 1980. Aher eight pmes, Crawford had completed 64% of his passes. Grapplers hope to repeat '67 success "This team could be the best at Portland State since the 1967 championship team," is the bold assessment from PSU's head wrestling coach Marlin Grahn (,84). And he should know. Grahn has been on the scene-as wrestler, assistant coach and head coach-since he enrolled as a freshman in 1969 oul of Madison High School in Portland. But many observers outside the program agree with Grahn. USA Wrestling has picked the Vikings fourth in its pre·season NCAA-II poll, "with the chance to win it all." It is the caliber of new recruits that is causing comment. Top recruit is Dan Russell (158 Ibs.), never beaten in 95 matches at Gresham High and four-time state champion. He is joined by four other state champions. Grahn, who became head coach in 1984-85 after 10 years of assisting Don Conway and len Kauffman, once earned the nickname "Marlin the Magician" with his perpetual motion, octopus-like attack and 53-13·2 record while on the PSU team. last year, Grahn inherited a good team with little depth. Now, with a doubled roster full of talented recruits, Grahn may be filling the PSU gym with fans again - just like 20 years ago. Oregon volleyball teams to meet PSU will host the first Oregon Challenge Cup women's voUeybalf tournament on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 22-23, with Oregon's four major univerSities vying (or the. unofficial state championship trophy. Safeway, which last year underwrote a five-team lournament at PSU carled the Sa(eway Chalfenge Cup, is behind the new format that will bring together the University of Oregon, Oregon State, University of Portland and Portland State. First-round pairings on Friday will match Oregon against Portland at 5 p.m. and Oregon State and Portland State at 8 p.m. First-night losing teams will play for third place at 5 p,m. on Sunday, with the championship match set for 8 p.m. PSU, which IS awaiting an ; ~ ~ t _ ~ ~ ~ ~ n ~ l a ~ S ~ ~ : ~ ! 7 ~ ~ ~ ~ g two straight NCAA II national championships, will be co-favorites in the tournament along with the University of Oregon. The Vikings and Ducks went five games in their only meeting this ~ a s o n in Eugene before Oregon finally managed to eke out the win in an unbelievably close set of games, 13-15. 12-15, 15-12, 16-14. and 15-13. PSU defeated Oregon Srate in both meetings this season, but it took five games at Corvallis. The Vikings stand l ~ c l f ~ ; i ~ : t l , ~ O ~ ~ g o n Challenge Cup, PSU will prepare for the Regionals Dec. 5-6. The "final four" nat iona I tournament is set for Dec. 12-13 at Sacramento. SWIM & GYM Alumni Benet,ts (ard n9-4948
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