Viking_Yearbook_91

SAYING GOODBYE Delgado leaves PSU after setting 15 campus records andranking sixth in the nation for yardage I t's hard to say who will miss Curtis Delgardo more - his coaches, or the legion of young fans he developed in five years of running a football for the Portland State Viking foot– ball team. Delgardo arrived at the Park Blocks in 1986 a skilled, but lightly recruited runner from Renton, Wash, Seems his 5-5, 175-pound frame was put down as a mark against him. In 1990, he completed a career which left him ranked sixth on the NCM's career all-purpose yardage list for all divisions with 6,942 yards. He also grabbed 15 PSU records for rushing, scoring and all-purpose yardage. His running backs coach, Tom Osborne, called him "The best all-purpose, above: Curtis Delgardo races away from his Texas A&l opponents. left: The Viking fans assist the team on a big play. Photo by Tom Boyd all-around back in Division II because of his abili– ty to run, pass receive and return punts and kick– offs." In 1988, he was named the Western Football Conference offensive player of the year, and led the Vikings to their second straight trip to the Di– vision II national championship game in Florence, Ala. A double-break of his left leg in the third game of the 1989 season at Montana put his future in doubt, but he returned in 1990 to lead the WFC in rushing for the third time, and was a can– didate for the Harlon Hill Trophy, given annually to Division ll's most valuable player. "Curtis has been everything for this team for a long time," said Viking head coach Pokey Allen. His speed, combined with a slashing, weaving running style, often left defenders ~ith nothing more than a handful of air and a view of his cleats receding upfield. If he was cornered, though, his runs invariably ended with shoulders squared for– ward, legs pumping. Althoughknown as a shifty speed runner, he could also be a workhorse, and carried the ball30 times in his final game, a 35-19 win over Southern Utah at Portland's Civic Stadi– um. The 'Smurf,' as he came to be known, was a crowd favorite, particularly of kids, who he also worked with as a gym instructor through the East County District. "It hurts, but I knew it was going to come one day," he said after his final game. ''Now, I just need to finish up school and see if I can get a job with a professional football team. But if that doesn't happen, I want to work with kids in the community." • • •J.R. Rardon Sports/Football •