“Professionally, I was overwhelmed winning the Big Sky award and knowing the quality of the coaches in this conference,” said Barnum. “But to move to this level, it’s the most humbling thing professionally, knowing the names that have been on that list. I don’t see myself on that list, but somebody did. It means, bottom-line, I have the best staff in the country. I did my job by hiring that staff. The Big Sky award told me we had the best staff, and now the country is telling me that. That’s bigtime.”
Barnum led his Viking team on a remarkable journey in 2015 – the best-ever season at the Division I level for PSU – while making a remarkable journey of his own in his first season as a head football coach.
The Vikings’ offensive coordinator for five seasons, Barnum was named interim Head Coach on Nov. 26 of last year. Within a week, he was given a one-year contract to run the program and no guarantees for the future. All Barnum did was take a 3-9 program that was an after-thought in the Big Sky Conference, and even in the city of Portland, and turn it one of the best teams in the nation. He accomplished that with virtually the same roster as 2014, save one key addition; quarterback Alex Kuresa.
Barnum guided PSU to a 9-3 record in 2015 – its best record ever at the Division I level. The Vikings beat two FBS programs in the same season for the first time in their history, including a first-ever win over a Pac-12 team. PSU went 5-1 against nationally-ranked teams and was ranked as high as fifth in the nation at the end of the season.
The Vikings have made their first appearance in the NCAA playoffs in 15 years, just their second ever, and hosted a Division I playoff game for the first time. PSU lost to Northern Iowa of the powerhouse Missouri Valley Conference, 29-17, on Saturday.
Most of all, using his “BarnyBall” style of tough, hard-nosed fundamental football sprinkled with remarkable team chemistry and unity, Barnum made Portland State football relevant again in the city of Portland, in the Big Sky Conference and on the national scene.
On Nov. 25, Barnum became the first Viking football coach ever selected as Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year. And now he takes FCS Coach of the Year honors in a vote of media members from around the nation.
One Year Of BarnyBall
Nov. 26, 2014: Barnum is named Portland State’s interim head coach when previous Head Coach Nigel Burton is relieved of his duties.
Dec. 2, 2014: Barnum is given a 12-month contract as Head Coach – due in part to the fact that Portland State was still in the search process for a new Director of Athletics. “I look at it as a 12-month interview. This is a great opportunity to show what I can do as a Head Coach,” said Barnum. Still, following a 3-9 season, expectations are not high for the Vikings.
Feb. 5, 2015: Barnum and his staff complete their signing class for 2015. Included is former Utah State High School Player of the Year and Mr. Football, Alex Kuresa, via BYU and Snow Junior College.
Mar. 31, 2015: Spring football practice begins. Barnum introduces his team to his style of coaching, practicing and team play. The Vikings take a business-like approach, but have a noticeably lighter, more enthusiastic, spirited air about the program. BarnyBall is born.
July 21, 2015: Barnum meets the Big Sky Conference press for the first time at the league’s preseason kickoff event. Proving his easy-going manner, Barnum shows a few members of the media a countdown timer app on his phone. Barnum’s son, Cooper, has set a countdown to the end of Barnum’s 12-month contract (131 days, a few hours and some odd minutes remain). Laughter ensues. On a side note, the Vikings are picked to place ninth in the 13-team Big Sky Conference by league coaches, 12th by the media.
Aug. 10, 2015: First practice. The Vikings are ready to go. Nobody has any idea what lies ahead for the PSU program.
Aug. 28, 2015: Barnum settles the most watched drama of fall camp; who will be starting quarterback among a four-man competition? JC transfer Alex Kuresa gets the job. Meanwhile, Barnum creates a new position: UQ, or utility quarterback. That role goes to Paris Penn, who throws, runs and receives. Josh Kraght, starter in three games in 2014, moves to wide receiver. Kieran McDonagh, who has 29 career starts, becomes the backup. Barnum’s unique offensive style will reveal formations that include two, three and four quarterbacks at a time throughout the season. All four will throw, run and catch passes during the season.
Sept. 5, 2015: In his coaching debut, Barnum leads Portland State to arguably the biggest win in program history, a 24-17 defeat of Washington State in Pullman. The Vikings come from 10 points down at halftime to dominate the second half. BarnyBall is now borne to the masses.
Sept. 12, 2015: Another surprise. Barnum leads the Vikings to a convincing 34-14 road win at nationally-ranked Idaho State to open the Big Sky Conference season. A personal victory for Barnum who spent nine seasons as an assistant in Pocatello and once tried to get the head coaching position there. BarnyBall is no fluke.
Oct. 3, 2015: Portland State loses a nail-biter to North Dakota at home, 19-17. A big disappointment, but at 3-1 nobody is complaining about the Vikings. The question: How will they respond to their first adversity of the season?
Oct. 10, 2015: Question answered. Portland State routs North Texas of Conference USA, 66-7, marking the largest margin of victory by an FCS team over an FBS team in NCAA history. Early in the fourth quarter, with the Vikings ahead 59-0, Barnum inserts Mitch Thompson into the game. Thompson, the backup to the backup to the backup running back, takes his first carry up the middle, spins off two tacklers and breaks away from the field, sprinting 68 yards for his first career touchdown. Afterward, Barnum admits to having a tear in his eye following the play. PSU is now 2-0 against FBS programs for the first time ever in a season. The Vikings are 4-1 and ranked 17th in the nation.
Oct. 14, 2015: Following morning practice, PSU Director of Athletics Mark Rountree announces to the team that Barnum has signed a five-year contract to be the Vikings Head Football Coach. The players celebrate, taking up the now common refrain on the Park Blocks, “BarnyBall!! BarnyBall!! BarnyBall!!…” The Vikings have become a college football and media sensation.
Oct. 17/24/31, 2015: Over the next three weeks, Portland State runs the gauntlet of its Big Sky Conference schedule ending three long losing streaks against powerhouse programs. PSU beats Montana State 59-42, Cal Poly 38-35, then Montana 35-16. That ends series’ losing streaks to those programs of eight, three and eight games, respectively. The Vikings are now 7-1 and rise to 10th in the polls.
Nov. 7, 2015: Portland State suffers its second loss of the season, again by a narrow margin in the final minute, 35-32, at Northern Colorado. Now 7-2, Portland State knows its needs to finish strong for its first shot at the NCAA Playoffs in 15 years.
Nov. 14, 2015: Barnum leads the Vikings to another monumental win, 24-23, over first-place and previously undefeated Southern Utah. The winning score in the game comes on an old fashioned jump pass by former backup QB, now part-time fullback, Kieran McDonagh, to senior tight end Cam Thompson, who had never caught a TD pass in his career prior to the game. The play is representative of a “no star” team that has had a myriad of players excel throughout the year. With an eighth victory and ranked 11th the Vikings are almost assured a shot at the post-season now.
Nov. 20, 2015: Barnum leads his program on the fourth leg of his “Americana Tour” that has included bus rides to Pullman, WA, Pocatello, ID, San Luis Obispo, CA, and now Cheney, WA. In all, the Vikings log 4,394 bus miles and approximately 80 hours round trip to those four destinations (PSU also flies on two road trips). The Americana Tour includes such things as dozens of on-bus movies, a stop to buy a lottery ticket on the way home from beating Washington State, a practice on Boise State’s blue turf, a sight-seeing trip to Alcatraz (in which equipment manager Mike Haluska was left on the island… but soon retrieved), and a midnight McDonald’s run at a lonely truck stop in eastern Oregon.
Nov. 21, 2015: The Vikings meet up with another nemesis, the Eastern Washington Eagles, in Cheney. PSU beats the Eagles, 34-31, on their “inferno” turf, capturing the best regular season record ever at the Division I level (9-2, ranked 5th in the nation), ending another losing streak to the Eagles (three games), remaining perfect against nationally-ranked teams (5-0), winning the rivalry series with EWU (The Dam Cup) and locking in a sixth-seed to the NCAA playoffs and first-round bye.
Nov. 24, 2015: Portland State’s “no star” team has just one first team All-Big Sky Conference selection (with five second teamers and five third teamers). However, Alex Kuresa is named the Big Sky Conference Newcomer of the Year. Free safety Patrick Onwuasor, the nation’s leader in interception, earns the first team nod and later becomes a finalist for National Defensive Player of the Year.
Nov. 25, 2015: In some of the least surprising news to come out of the Big Sky Conference all year, Bruce Barnum is named the Big Sky’s Coach of the Year in a vote by his peers. He is the first Viking football coach ever to earn that honor.
Dec. 5, 2015: Portland State’s storybook season comes to an end, losing to Northern Iowa, 29-17, at Providence Park. Despite the loss, Vikings fans begin the chant, “BarnyBall! BarnyBall!! BarnyBall!!!” in the closing moments of the game.
Dec. 7, 2015: Bruce Barnum is named FCS National Coach of the Year in a vote by the nation’s media.
