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http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=128095526037517200

In the Big Sky Conference preseason poll, both the media and the coaches picked Portland State to finish eighth among nine schools this season.
That doesn't sit well with DeShawn Shead, PSU's star cornerback, or first-year head coach Nigel Burton.

"They're going to be real surprised," Shead says.

"Nobody has seen us play," Burton says. "Hopefully we can prove those people wrong."

Low expectations - from the outside, at least - are understandable.

A year ago, Portland State tied for last in the Big Sky with a 1-7 record and was 2-9 overall. During the three-year Jerry Glanville era, the Vikings were 9-24.

PSU's last winning record came in 2006, when Tim Walsh's final club went 7-4.

The Vikings will have 46 lettermen and 14 starters from their 2009 team on hand when they open camp on Monday in preparation for their Sept. 4 opener at Arizona State.

"As far as I'm concerned, we don't have any returning starters," Burton says. "Every position is up for grabs. The best players will play."

That's fine with Shead, a junior who started and was honorable mention all-Big Sky as a freshman and sophomore.

"I agree with him," Shead says. "We have a whole new coaching staff who don't know the players that well, and some recruits coming. It's equal opportunity for everybody. If you're a returning starter, be good enough to earn your spot."

If there's a lock to be a starter, it's probably the 6-2, 210-pound Shead, a 14.49-second high hurdler who has been timed in 4.4 for the 40. Burton says Shead reminds him of Keenan Lewis, whom Burton developed as cornerbacks coach at Oregon State and is now with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"DeShawn is everything you'd want in a player and a person," Burton says. "He's a great athlete and a great student. He represents himself so well. If my son turns out like him, I'll be a proud dad."

Shead estimates that 98 percent of the Portland State players stayed in town this summer for voluntary workouts.

"That's about 60 to 70 percent more than the last two summers," Shead says. "It'll have a big impact on how we come together as a team. We're going to be a closer group."

The Vikings have only one preseason all-conference pick - sophomore kicker Zach Brown, who was recruited out of McNary High also as a receiver.

"Zach is a big-time talent," Burton says. "We've had to sell him on just being a kicker. He could help us depth-wise as a receiver, but he could be a superstar and continue to play after Portland State as a kicker."

There will be open competition at quarterback in the "Pistol" offense, with incumbent senior Drew Hubel "100 percent ready" after offseason knee surgery, Burton says. Other candidates include junior Connor Kavanaugh, senior Tygue Howland and sophomore Nick Green.

"They all bring something special," Burton says. "Drew is a beautiful passer. Connor is a consummate leader, a great teammate who is mobile and does a lot of things we like. Nick stepped up in the spring, and Tygue is as athletic as Nick. He has a great chance to be the guy."

Junior Cory McCaffrey could be the guy at running back, but he'll be competing with sophomore Ben Bowen, Washington transfer Willie Griffin and senior Kevin Watts.

With PGE Park undergoing a renovation, Portland State will play its home games at Hillsboro Stadium.

"I look forward to it," Burton says. "It creates a different dynamic than PGE Park. You get 10,000 in PGE Park, it looks like a so-so crowd. You get 10,000 at Hillsboro, it'll look like a concert."

The Vikings won't get 10,000 at Hillsboro Stadium, though, with a capacity of about 7,825.

The schedule is difficult, with road games against ASU, Cal Davis and Oregon to start the season. Even so, could the Vikings open the Burton era with a winning campaign?

"Absolutely," the PSU coach says. "We have a great plan in place. We have great kids, great coaches. If we get better every time we hit the field, if we improve incrementally, it'll be a great season."

Shead is of an even more grandiose mindset.

"I plan on having a championship season, I really do," he says. "I see the potential. I wouldn't be surprised if we win the Big Sky. There were so many games last year we lost ourselves due to lack of conditioning or mental capacity in the fourth quarter - games we should have won."