Bruce Barnum is like Don King, a promoter akin to the old school boxing hype men who would say whatever it takes to put butts in the seats of stadiums around the Big Sky Conference.
In the week leading up to the opening of conference play, Portland State’s head coach talked in his jovial, unfiltered manner on the weekly conference call about his team’s trip to Southern Utah to open the league season. PSU is still in a state of limbo with its football program — before last season, the academic administration stated the football team needed to become financially independent as soon as possible — so the Vikings ride the bus most everywhere they have to play outside the City of Roses. Barnum refers to it as “Barny’s Americana Tour”.
Last week, the Vikings were afforded the luxury of a plane ride to Las Vegas before taking a bus to Brian Head ski resort where they stayed in preparation for their matchup with reigning Big Sky Conference champion Southern Utah in Cedar City, Utah.
MSU running back Chad Newell (17) evades SUU defensive lineman Josh Talbot (57) in 2015/by Brooks Nuanez
“We are heading to Las Vegas, Americana tour, drive up, stay in Brian Head, then come down to Whoville and get after the Thunderbirds,” Barnum said on the weekly conference call, referring to one of the Big Sky’s most isolated towns.
The citizens of Cedar City took exception to Barnum’s comments and came out in full force. A record-setting crowd of 10,306 filled Eccles Coliseum to the brim to watch a matchup between the two top Big Sky teams of the 2015 season to kick off the 2016 season in style. Many of those who packed SUU’s home venue brought signs referencing Dr. Seuss and cheered passionately for the hosts.
SUU played Barnum’s comments before the game to ignite the crowd. Southern Utah forced four turnovers and scored four touchdowns of more than 70 yards in dispatching the Vikings, 45-31. Following the win, the “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” movie, set in the fictional Whoville, played on the big screen in Cedar City.
“I thought a lot of the Coach Barnum hype was good for bringing out some of the fans in the community,” SUU offensive coordinator Justin Walterscheid said. “We didn’t concentrate too heavy on it as a team. It was a deal that everyone knew about but we keep it a little more simple.”
“It played a motivation factor for us,” added SUU senior wide receiver Mike Sharp. “I had a nasty taste in my mouth from last year losing by one (24-23 in Portland) when we were there. I had a big chip on my shoulder from that. Then when Coach Barnum said what he said, he gave us more fuel to use against them. I think it played a big factor for our community as well. We had a record attendance for that game, more than 10,000. It played a big factor for Cedar City and for our young guys.”
Southern Utah has been a program on the rise since Ed Lamb led the Thunderbirds into the Big Sky when the league expanded from nine to 13 teams in 2012. The Thunderbirds posted landmark wins over Montana, Eastern Washington and Northern Arizona its first year in the league but lost by less than a touchdown to Montana State, Sacramento State, Weber State and North Dakota that same season.
In 2013, SUU broke through, posting eight wins and qualifying for the FCS playoffs for the first time in school history. The 2014 season appeared to be a step back as Southern Utah only won three games but the letdown fueled last season’s Big Sky championship run, the first in program history.
SUU wide receiver Mike Sharp (11)/by SUU Media Relations
More than 9,000 fans came out to watch SUU sew up its first Big Sky crown with a 49-41 win over Northern Arizona in Cedar City to cap last season. More than 7,000 watched Southern Utah post its first win of the season with a 28-23 victory over Southeastern Louisiana in the Thunderbirds’ home debut.
“It’s been a chance the last couple years and even the first home game, we had almost 8,000 people there,” SUU first-year head coach Demario Warren said. “We got an extra 3,000 and it was a really fun environment to be around and hopefully the start of something great here in Cedar City. If we could keep that home field advantage, it will pay dividends not only now but in the future.”
Southern Utah’s run of success over the last three years have been defined by a playmaking defense that put three stars — safety Miles Killebrew, cornerback LeShaun Sims and 2015 Big Sky Defensive MVP defensive end James Cowser — in the NFL after last season. The Thunderbirds’ defense remains stout.
But Walterscheid’s offense is carving out a niche on its own. Veteran offensive coordinator Gary Crowton resigned abruptly days after SUU’s 44-0 win over Southern Utah. Walterscheid, a Southern Utah alum who led the T-Birds in all-purpose yards in 2003 and 2004, took over. Walterscheid has called the plays for 11 games, including 10 against FCS squads. SUU is averaging 39.7 points per game during that span against like opponents, including scoring 44 against Sacramento State, 54 against Cal Poly, 49 against NAU, 39 in a playoff loss to Sam Houston State and 45 against Portland State last week.
“He does a great job of understanding the game situations and calling the right plays at the right time,” Sharp said. “I feel like every time a play is called, the whole offense is confident in the play call and we go out and do it. That’s definitely changed within our program, trusting what is called, knowing each and every one of our assignments, believing in the play that is called and going out and doing our best. It wasn’t like that before and it’s made a huge difference.”
Walterscheid’s run-pass option schemes helped 2015 starting quarterback Ammon Olsen throw for 3,344 yards and 26 touchdowns while Malik Brown rushed for 829 yards and eight touchdowns. Sharp, a converted quarterback, earned All-Big Sky honors by snaring 54 receptions for 889 yards and 13 touchdowns.
SUU offensive coordinator Justin Walterscheid talks with wide receiver Brady Measom in 2015/by Brooks Nuanez
Last week against Portland State, Brown rushed for 173 yards on 15 carries, including an 87-yard touchdown. Raysean Pringle added 118 yards on eight carries, including touchdown runs of 37 and 71 yards as SUU averaged 9.1 yards per carry and rushed for 292 yards total.
“Justin is a great coach,” Warren said. “He works hard, does his due diligence of really studying the film and seeing how we can use our talents in different ways. That’s one thing he’s great at: finding ways to highlight our players’ skills. He doesn’t try to fit players into a system. He tries to fit his system to the type of talent our players have. He’s one of the best in the country.”
Sharp pitched in five catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns as Patrick Tyler, a junior college transfer who is SUU’s backup quarterback, led the Thunderbirds to a second straight win. McCoy Hill, a BYU transfer like Olsen who won the starting quarterback job out of fall camp, suffered a shoulder injury in a season-opening 24-0 loss at Utah.
Southern Utah brings its sneakily potent offense into the most hostile venue in the Big Sky Saturday. The Thunderbirds play in Washington-Grizzly Stadium against No. 11 Montana, SUU’s first game in Missoula since 2012.
“We have been underestimated at times with a lot of attention and focus on our defense but at the same time, we have had some guys who have really done an outstanding job with what we have asked them to do and it’s really put some of those guys names on the map,” Walterscheid said. “You can see it in our games this year where maybe Mike Sharp or (tight end) Steven Wroblewski are getting a little extra attention from the defenses we are facing.
“But we know Saturday will be our stiffest test yet this season.”
Photos by Brooks Nuanez or noted. All Rights Reserved.
