MCT CampusIn interviews, Michael Wightman prefaces all of his answers with “yes, sir.”
“Do you love football?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Do you want to win?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Is the sky blue?”
“Yes, sir.”
It might just be something he learned back home in Alston, Texas, but Portland State’s freshman defensive back ought to be glad he’s got his manners down pat.
If he didn’t, he’d be learning them awfully quick under his new head coach, former NFL eccentric sideline stalker Jerry Glanville.
Glanville, known for wearing all black clothing during games and leaving tickets at will-call for the late Elvis Presley, joined PSU in February and is making his mark immediately. With players and Portlanders alike.
“(Glanville’s) name is just so big here in Texas (he was the head coach of the Houston Oilers from 1986-89),” Wightman said. “You come here knowing you have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play with him.”
The fans flocking to PGE Park in Portland, Ore., know they’re as lucky as the Vikings players.
More than 12,000 fans attended PSU’s (1-2) home opening 26-17 loss to UC Davis. An astounding number, considering the Vikings’ Division I-AA status.
“The first home game was amazing,” Wightman said. “The other guys were talking about it and how it was the best they’d ever seen the park. The most people they’d ever seen.”
At 3:30 p.m. on Saturday at Qualcomm Stadium, the San Diego State football team (0-2) will get to see Glanville, Wightman and his teammates up close and personal.
“Glanville has a wealth of experience on every level,” head coach Chuck Long said. “He has a lot of enthusiasm (and) he’s been noted for great special teams play, so we have to be wary of any tricks (there).”
SDSU hasn’t struggled in its special teams play, but its defense has been lacking and the team will be looking to boost its fortunes against a lower-tier team. Unfortunately for the Aztecs, PSU and its supremely qualified coach present a tougher-than-expected challenge.
“We all know that being (in Division I-AA) means there will be ups and downs,” Wightman said. “But I believe in coach Glanville 100 percent. A coach like that, from the NFL, it just gives everyone so much adrenaline. It’s nice to play for someone that knows exactly what he is doing.”
Against SDSU, Glanville will need to live up to Wightman’s expectations. After opening their season with two disheartening losses against Pac-10 Conference schools, the Aztecs will be excited to play their first game in front of SDSU fans.
The Aztecs lost to Division I-AA Cal Poly last year, and the disappointment that followed hasn’t been forgotten.
“Those teams can all play,” senior quarterback Kevin O’Connell said. “They’re going to bring their best game to Qualcomm. I know they run around and hit (and) it’s going to be a game we have to be 100 percent prepared for.”
Wightman will be prepared too.
Is he pumped to play a Division I school? Is he ready to run through a wall for Glanville and make a name for himself?
“Yes, sir.”
NEWS AND NOTES
?In an effort to boost fan and former-SDSU players’ support, the Aztecs will have former SDSU athletes join team captains during the pre-game coin flip and will select a fan from the crowd to run out with the team at the beginning of the second half of home games.
?Senior tight end Steve Schmidt and senior wide receiver Chaz Schilens will both play against the Vikings. Both players left last Saturday’s game with injuries.
?There has been no update on the status of senior guard Brandyn Dombrowski’s academic issues.
KGB Sky Show rocks SDSU’s Home Opener
The annual KGB Sky Show is set to follow the San Diego State football team’s home opener against Portland State Saturday night.
The Sky Show, sponsored by McMillin Homes and produced by KGB, is a 30-minute firework display set to a musical soundtrack. Though KGB-FM is a classic rock station, the show will run in tune to a range of different music.
The game and the following show combine for what is often the most anticipated and best-attended home SDSU football game of the season, and the SDSU Athletics department is hoping for an attendance of about 50,000. In the previous three years, the event has drawn an average of 55,626 people.
“We’re finally at home (and the Sky Show is) the big deal this week,” head coach Chuck Long said. “We’re excited. It’s going to be a big night for us.”
In addition to the Sky Show, student tailgates will kick off at 1:30 p.m. in parking lot F-2 at Qualcomm Stadium. The first 1,500 students at the tailgate will receive a free meal from Vons. A KGB Sky Show Village event will also take place, featuring music, food, games and other activities.
The show has been a San Diego tradition for 32 years and it began at Qualcomm Stadium when it was still home to the San Diego Padres. When the Padres moved to Petco Park, however, KGB decided to keep its show in the same place. That’s when SDSU, which will host the event for the fourth consecutive year, entered the scene.
-Compiled by Contributor Dan Perez
