Aug. 27, 2005
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -
JOE SUNNEN, THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Buried deep at the bottom of the Western Washington University preseason football practice schedule are three words in bold type: Beat Mesa State.
That about sums up what the Vikings hope to accomplish today in their season opener against the Mavericks in Grand Junction, Colo., at 6 p.m.
"I hope the altitude doesn't effect us too much, but either way it's football," senior Will Freitag said. "We're ready to win."
To do that the Vikings will have to find a way to stop Mesa State's option game. The Mavericks averaged 162.1 yards per game last season and most of the offensive line returns.
"Facing an option team in week one is not easy," coach Rob Smith said. "It is so difficult to simulate the speed and efficiency with which your opponent will run that option. You can't duplicate that in practice." Mesa State went 0-11 last season after being the picked as the favorite to win their conference. They enter with a 12-game losing streak dating back to a Division II playoff loss in 2003.
"All their record last season means to us is that we're going to play a team with great hope," Smith said. "They'll have great belief in their ability to turn it around, and a great determination to get this season started off on the right foot."
The Mavericks went 10-2 in 2003 before falling apart last season. They advanced to the NCAA Division II that season where they lost to Central Oklahoma.
"We have great respect for Mesa because of their tradition," Smith said. "They're one season removed from being a playoff team."
WWU enters the game looking for its second straight season-opening win. The Vikings beat Fort Lewis College 27-25 last year. WWU has won 13 of its last 19 season openers.
Opening the season with a win takes on added importance for WWU this season because of the difficulty of its non-conference schedule. After Mesa State, the Vikings face three opponents whose combined record last season was 27-10.
"You can never tell what a team is like on tape," senior Andy Olson said. "You have an idea of what to expect, but until you actually see them you just don't know. We're just going to give them the respect they deserve and hopefully take care of business."
Notes: Olson enters today's game with a WWU and Great Northwest Athletic Conference record string of nine consecutive games with a touchdown catch. ... Mesa State's starting quarterback, Sean McGraw, is also the team's leading returning receiver. He had nine catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns last year. ... Two true freshmen are making the road trip with WWU, nose tackle Kyle Winkley and kicker Ace Younggren.
