Raising Hell – From the desk of Nathan Hellman

For some reason, the Vikings’ matchup against Montana this past weekend seemed more visually appealing than any road game thus far.

It wasn’t because Portland State actually contended with the Grizzlies throughout, instead of rolling over and playing dead like, say, in the Idaho State game. And it definitely wasn’t the ambience of Washington-Grizzly Stadium, or the jeers from its whiny fans. Actually, nothing that transpired on or around the field made this game visually appealing.

What really enhanced the game-day experience was the fact that it was on the tube. Just like every respectable college football team in Oregon, and the nation for that matter, the Portland State Vikings were on TV. And it was a beautiful sight indeed.

In sports, road games can be a burden, not only for a team, but also for its fans.

Prior to the athletic department signing a contract with Comcast SportsNet Northwest, tuning into the radio was the only option for Portland State fans to stay connected with their team while it was on the road.

Despite a relatively entertaining radio broadcast, most Portland State fans are unwilling to curl up next to a square speaker and spend their Saturday afternoons or evenings listening to the game.

This is the 21st century. We need action, pizzazz and, at the very least, moving pictures. Otherwise, it’s highly unlikely that fans, even the most devoted, are going to tune in for a couple hours.

Face it: if it’s not live, and it’s not entertaining, then it’s not at the forefront of most fans’ minds. That’s just the reality of collegiate athletics, especially with a rather apathetic student body like we have here at Portland State.

My theory is that broadcasting Vikings’ games on TV will positively affect both the program’s growth and the turnout at home games. Athletic director Torre Chisholm seems to concur.

“I believe we have a great product, and the more people who can see it the better,” Chisholm said. “In the long term it can only help. It has to do with awareness-out of sight out of mind.”

It’s a basic equation that even an English major can calculate: More exposure creates more fans, which in turn yields higher attendance figures at home games.

The simple truth is that with games broadcasted on TV, fans will not forget about the Vikings when they’re on the road. Often times, fan-and-team relationships are a matter of connectedness and closeness, and with games on the tube, those feelings have just doubled in strength.

Chisholm said that this season, Portland State was only able to land two football games on Comcast SportsNet Northwest because the network just launched this past week. Though, more Viking athletics will be front and center on the small screen soon.

According to Chisholm, six to 10 basketball games, one to two of which could be women’s contests, will air this winter. And next season, Viking aficionados will be inundated with Portland State sports, with six to 10 hoops contests, four to five gridiron battles and even a few volleyball matches.

This increased exposure can only be positive for Viking athletics. It’s a step towards becoming a respectable, legitimate athletic department, and most importantly, it serves the fans’ best interest.

Trust me, this one cannot be screwed up unless Chisholm decides to shred the contract with Comcast into hundreds of pieces. But let’s just sit tightly, cross our fingers, watch some Portland State sports and pray that never happens.