Raising Hell – From the desk of Nathan Hellman

What happened to Jerry Glanville’s hard-hitting defense? It’s supposed to be the hardest-hitting D on the West Coast, right?

At a press conference back in February, I watched Glanville step to the microphone, puff out his chest and guarantee his Vikings would be “the hardest-hitting team on the West Coast.” His words came out loud and clear. Many laughed, others snickered, and I thought that would be great if it actually happened.

But following a record-breaking 73-68 loss to Weber State on Saturday, it is quite apparent Glanville’s defense is a far cry from the one he promised the Viking faithful.

He lied. He fibbed. He exaggerated. And he’s officially wrong.

And any Viking fan that paid to watch the 141 points put up on the scoreboard Saturday should be outraged, not for the exciting game that unfolded on the field, but for the fact that 11 guys pulled from the stands could have looked more organized on defense.

Sure, Glanville’s a nice guy. He’s funny and personable. He’s the “Man in Black,” a true football legend. And Portland State fans should feel blessed to have him around. But there is never an excuse or exception for any coach when his prized defense allows 73 points to Weber State, a Big Sky team that only averaged 15.7 points per game before Saturday’s match up.

Maybe if the Vikings gave up 73 points to the New England Patriots or Indianapolis Colts, it would be justified. However, allowing the Wildcats to score over 57 points more than their per-game average is embarrassing. It’s a slap in the face to Portland State and the entire athletic department.

I fault Glanville first and foremost. He was the one shouting the loudest and predicting that he could assemble a defense formidable enough to take down nation powerhouses like Southern California and Ohio State.

The truth of the matter is his defense has been an enormous disappointment, and should focus on containing conference foes before it takes on the big boys in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

I realize Glanville’s patented 3-4 defense is a challenge to grasp in just a few short months and he doesn’t necessarily have the players to execute his difficult schemes quite yet.

I’ve spoken to Glanville and he explained that it usually takes about a year to find the right guys to play each position properly. Though, I still can’t fathom a unit billed as the best on an entire coastline stumbling against a mediocre Big Sky squad.

The fact of the matter is Portland State fans bought into Glanville-mania. Looking back, maybe they bought in a little too much, though they still have yet to receive what was promised.

It’s like you think you’ve purchased the newest, coolest iPod, only to find a dented product and shattered screen when you open the box and pull out the contents.

The box, like Glanville, promised something unforgettable and amazing. But, also like Glanville and this season, in reality it was one big dud.

After Saturday’s barnburner, wide receiver Tremayne Kirkland compared the Vikings’ season to a blockbuster movie premiere gone wrong. Kirkland said everything was headed in the right direction before the season and there was lots of hype, but once the season began, the Vikings fell on their face.

“It’s like waiting for a movie to come out and it’s horrible,” Kirkland said.

Well, Tremayne, we couldn’t agree more. Now, we’re all anxiously awaiting the sequel, coming to theaters in Portland next season.