Viking_Yearbook_93

T he man that turned Portland State’s moribund football program around in the mid-1980s and put the excitement back into the Park Blocks left PSU for the bluer pas­ tures of Boise State in early December. Former Viking football head coach Ernest “Pokey” Allen decided enough was enough the week after PSU lost in the Division II semifinals for the second straight year to championship twice, in 1987 and 1988, where they lost both times to Troy State and North Dakota State. The former defensive coordinator for the now defunct USFL’s Portland Breakers, Allen ended up as Portland State’s all-time leader in games won among PSU coaches with a record of 63-26-2. Every season the Vikings never had a losing record while under the Utah graduate. Fie took over for Don Read in 1986 and a program that was mired in losing football and a team that could only attract about 4,071 fans per home game. But since Allen had taken over, the Vikings immediately began to win and has attracted an average of 12,000 people in 1992, an all- time record and an increase of nearly 300 percent. Portland State went on to claim three consecutive Western Football Conference titles during the stint and was i Pittsburg State [41-38] on Dec. .'i. On the following Wodnesdaj .Allen flew to Boise, where thc> sport a blue football field, and announced that he would resign as coach of Portland State and take over for the Broncos. In se\en years as the Vikings head gu>, Allen ted PSL to their best records in school history and has taken them to the plasoffs five times during his tenure. W'hich were Portland State's only trips to the pla\offs in its 43-year his­ tory. During those times he has gone to the Division II the onl> team to repeat in the 10-ycar history of the WFC. Plus, the Vikings hold the league record for consecutive conference wins with 13. In the last six seasons PSU has averaged 400 yards per game and over 26 points and in 1992, Portland Slate ranked second in passing offense with 361.1 yards per con test; fourth in total offense. 489.2; and seventh in scoring with 36.9 points a game. htf C3r_ Hl»f/