The Portland State Vikings football team announced on Apr. 16 that its annual spring game has been rescheduled to May 9 and will now take place at Stott Community Field on campus, instead of the previously planned date and location. The event will begin at 1 p.m., with additional seating brought in to accommodate more than 1,000 fans and a pre-game tailgate party for attendees.
This year’s spring practices mark a period of transition for the Vikings, who are adjusting to a new coaching staff led by first-year head coach Chris Fisk and integrating many new players alongside returning veterans. Forty-nine returners, including thirty letterwinners, are learning new offensive and defensive schemes as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Veteran players have noted both challenges and optimism during this adjustment period. Junior tight end Tanner Beaman said, “It is just football, but learning a new offense, it takes a couple of practices to get in the groove.” He added that coaches “are doing a great job of selling everything to us and getting us to play at a fast tempo on offense.” Senior linebacker Jaxton Helmstetler echoed these sentiments: “It’s just football, but the scheme is very different so it is taking some time to get it perfect,” he said. Offensive lineman Tristan Lewis also commented on adapting: “There is technique adjustment (to the new offense) and that will take time and reps, but at the end of the day it is still football.”
Coach Fisk has emphasized success in running the ball offensively while stopping opponents’ run games defensively as core values his staff seeks to instill. Lewis noted this focus: “(Offensive line) Coach (Alex) Kastens told me it was going to be a high run-driven offense, and that starts with the front guys… we established grit and know we have to lead and be the heart of this offense.” Helmstetler praised team discipline under new leadership: “We have been feeding off the new coaches quite a bit… Discipline, effort and bringing the juice every day is important.”
The importance of teamwork was highlighted by all three veteran players interviewed. Beaman said: “We have to buy into what the coaches are teaching… We need to listen… buy into the program and play for each other.” Lewis added his perspective as an emerging leader among teammates: “I am working on chemistry with the guys (on the offensive line)… I know the guys here – their hearts are in it… I trust those guys.”
As Portland State continues its spring practice schedule leading up to May’s game day event—with sessions set through early May—the program enters what has been described as ‘the Fisk era,’ focusing on discipline, teamwork, and adapting successfully under new leadership.
