Nov. 5, 2003

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - It's just two wins, but they couldn't have come at a better time for the Western Washington University football team, which has a bye this week.

The Vikings, who were 1-6 and on their way to the school's worst season in 20 years, got back on track two weeks ago with a stunning come-from-behind victory over arch-rival Central Washington in the annual Cascade Cup game and their Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener. Last week, they clinched at least a tie for the league title with a 34-20 win at Humboldt State.

Now, with a week to rest and get some injured players healthy, Western prepares for its season finale on Nov. 15 at home against Western Oregon University. A win would give the Vikings, who will bid farewell to 15 seniors, the league championship outright and provide a positive finish to a season that began so drearily.

"Senior day is always special," said Western coach Rob Smith. "These guys have been here for some very successful years. In terms of an overall record, this season has fallen a little short. But they've got a chance to go out and win another championship, and I don't know if there's been a senior class here that can say they've won four championships in five years."

One key to the change in fortune has been turnovers. After the first six games, Western had a turnover-takeaway ratio of minus-17. Over the last three contests, the Vikings are plus seven.

"Of all the things that have been disappointing this year, I would put that near the top," Smith said. "It's so uncharacteristic of the type of football we've played over the years, the type of football that's made us a successful program. It's nice that we've turned that around a little bit."

In its first meeting with Western Oregon this season, a 23-20 loss in overtime at Monmouth, Ore., the Vikings turned the ball over six times - something they hadn't done since 1997.

"Of all the games we've played this year, that was the most disappointing performance," said Smith. "That's not to take anything away from Western Oregon because they made the plays to win the game, and maybe in some respects wanted the game more than we did. It's a shame to say that, but we just didn't play well for whatever reason and they made plays at the end and beat us ... It's nice to have a second shot."

The road back began with a second chance to play Central.

"When you're 1-6, you kind of search for about anything you can," said Western coach Rob Smith. "And the fact that we still had the conference championship still out there to be won, our players really focused on that."

"We knew that number one it was the Cascade Cup game, and the outcome would be on display for a year, and second, the winner would have a leg up in terms of the conference championship. So, we focused everything on that game and found a way to get it done, and that was huge."

Then Western, which had lost its last five road games, had to travel to play a much-improved Humboldt State.

"Their strength is throwing the ball," said Smith, "and they're attacking a secondary that's been hit with injuries and where a lot of young players are playing.

"But our defense has improved a great deal the last three weeks, and it was really nice to see us control a game by running the football. We haven't had that in a long time."

Facing perhaps the toughest schedule in school history, Smith knew that it was going to be a transitional year.

"We'd graduated some pretty talented players over the last couple of seasons," he said, "and we knew that some young guys were going to be called upon and that's been the case.

"What we didn't know going in was the injury factor and we certainly had our share. And then we got the turnover bug, and suddenly found ways to shoot ourselves in the foot more times than we wanted to."

But the two wins, while not completely erasing the earlier disappointments, have certainly revitalized the program.

"We feel we've been the dominant program in our conference over the years, and we wanted to re-establish that," Smith said.

"Right now we can finish 4-6, with three consecutive wins, the Cascade Cup, and our fourth conference championship in the last five years. What a great way to go into the off season."