Archie’s wry hook

Dear Santa Claus, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, Genie or any other master wish granter,
As you probably know, there are a few Portland State fans that have been nice during this year, such as those who have donated money to the cause of the betterment of Vikings athletics or faithfully shown up at PGE Park on Saturdays to watch the football team struggle.

There have also been a few fans that were naughty in 2008–the Stott Center was empty far too often, even with successful teams and championships taking place there.

Four conference championships, increased exposure in the national media spotlight and upgraded facilities were nice.

But we still have a few wishes for 2009.

We wish for President Wiewel to make good on his promise that he is committed to athletics.
While making appearances at games and fostering relationships with current student-athletes is great and helpful, what we need from Wiewel is a commitment to continuing to change the makeup of Portland State athletics.

For Portland State to become a true force in the Big Sky Conference it needs a bigger gym and once the new rec center is opened up, the administration needs to move on expanding the Stott Center as quickly as possible.

We wish for more championships.
Granted, 2008 was a good year for Portland State athletics, maybe the finest year in Vikings history, but now that Portland State fans have tasted the sweetness of success, they are clamoring for more.

A repeat trip to the Big Dance for men’s basketball would be gratifying, as would knocking Montana off the women’s basketball perch in the Big Sky.

We wish for better attendance and more committed fans.
Several weeks ago a small group of faithful students had to practically beg their fellow students to stand up and cheer during a crucial moment at a basketball game.

That experience was unusual, only in the sense that the student section was actually full. Subtract the few guys wearing spandex, and the Stott Center would be quieter than the Millar Library.

Like any successful product in our culture, the best advertising will likely come by word of mouth. The few and proud that faithfully attend games now would be better served to leave the spandex at home and bring along their friends to games.

We wish for Portland State student-athletes to step out of their comfort zone.
One step that will have to be taken if Portland State is going to establish any sort of tradition on this campus will be a dramatic change in the amount of student support that athletics receives.

One of the best ways that athletes could help their own cause would be to network with other students and build friendships with “regular” students.

Unfortunately, it has become custom on our campus for the student-athletes to almost exclusively associate with other student-athletes. They are segregated in Blumel Hall, they sit by each other in class and they frequent the same spots and share common interests.

Some of that is natural and unavoidable.

But if athletics is going to continue to progress, the perception of athletics must improve and easy progress can be made if athletes did a little bit of their own recruiting of other students on campus.

We wish for honesty from head football coach Jerry Glanville.
It’s clear that Glanville is a lovable character.

What is unclear is if his coaching style and idiosyncrasies will pay off in the Big Sky Conference.

We gave you two years now, Jerry, and it seems that you are progressing, even though your record is not indicative of that.

But in 2009, we need you to stop telling us about how hard you recruited, or how the cupboard was bare when you arrived, and instead tell us about how you beat a team on the road and contended in the Big Sky.

We wish that the Vikings athletic department could somehow find a way to keep their coaching talent happy and in the South Park Blocks.
In case you have not noticed, with the exception of wrestling, track and field and cross country, every sport at Portland State is competitive in their conference.

Several–volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball and golf–either won conference championships or came close, with more success likely on the way in 2009.

It comes as no surprise that each of those successful teams are well coached.

During 2009, men’s basketball head coach Ken Bone, women’s basketball leader Sherri Murrell and volleyball front man Michael Seemann will likely gather attention from other schools looking for new coaches.

At some point this school is going to have to give coaches what they want if they want to have continued, long-term success. That could mean more money or upgraded facilities.

Whatever they want, whatever they need to be happy, just get it done.