It's not surprising that seniors Mitch Gaulke and Mitch Van Dyk are key players and leaders on this year's offensive line.  They were Honorable Mention All-Big Sky players last year on a talented line which helped the Vikings to 16th in the nation in rushing and total offense.  As sophomores, they were starters on an offensive line which paved the way for the nation's eighth-best rushing attack.

     "They're both overachievers. Gaulke (6'2", 285 pound center) is respected because of his football abilities and his intelligence. People see how hard he works on the field and in the classroom. Van Dyk (6'9", 290 pound right tackle) got the Victor E. Viking Award last year for his efforts on the field. He plays with passion and enthusiasm and takes the game personally," said Offensive Line Coach and Run Co-ordinator Brad Davis, who has worked with Gaulke and Van Dyk during their time at Portland State.

     This season, Gaulke was elected team captain with Van Dyk a close second in the balloting.

     Their freshmen year, though, their bright futures weren't apparent. Gaulke broke his ankle during the first scrimmage of fall practice and Van Dyk had a shoulder injury that required surgery. Welcome to the land of redshirting.

     Both worked into the starting rotation as sophomores and, with a one game exception last season when Van Dyk was injured, have started every game since.

     "They're both playmakers. We expect the young players to look to them for leadership. They've grown nicely into a leadership role, but they also had good leaders to follow," said Davis. "They grew up in an era when the players demanded hard work from each other.. the era of Waldron (Dustin, 2011), Ritt (Kyle, 2012) and Kleffner (Adam, 2012). They demanded hard work from each other. It's easier to work hard when you see the success of others who are doing it."

      And both players are keenly aware of the debt they owe their predecessors as well as to Davis.

     "Adam Kleffner put it on himself to teach us about the culture of the offensive line…training, hard work…your attitude on and off the field.  He wouldn't ask you to do anything he wouldn't do.  He was a vocal leader in the weight room and on the field," said Gaulke.

       As young guys would come in, "he'd talk with them about Coach Davis' mantra.  Seeing someone that successful makes the young players want to be like them.  You look up to older players and want to be like them," added Van Dyk.

       Davis' mantra is that the offensive line should be the closest unit on the field and that anyone can be good if they improve every day. "You always want to do your job and you don't want to let anyone down," said Gaulke. "You need to be able to trust that the guy next to you will do his job," added Van Dyk.

       Under Davis, they said, PSU's offensive line has become extremely close. And bonds are created that last beyond the immediate.

        Gaulke is in weekly contact with former teammate Ritt and they hear regularly from former linemate Joey Esposito, who now lives in California but plans to come to a couple of games. "They always call after each game to find out how we're doing, how did we grade out," said Van Dyk.

     Another friend, Alex Cosenza had a career-ending injury and is at Arizona State finishing his degree but still stays in close touch. 

     Gaulke, from West Linn High School, and Van Dyk, Paso Robles (CA) high school, are best friends and they count the other offensive linemen as their best friends.

    "We're not just friends on the field. We hang out at each others' houses being regular college students," said Van Dyk.  "When we graduate we'll follow the careers of the young guys on the team," Gaulke said.  Both expect the friendships to last well beyond school, perhaps a lifetime.

      They arrived at Portland State from different directions.  Van Dyk looked at Cal Poly (too close to home) and Sac State (didn't like the campus).  "When I came up here on my recruiting trip, I really liked the campus and the atmosphere."  For Gaulke, "PSU was really the only school to give me a chance.  Adam did a great job showing me around and it's close to home.  I've been able to play in front of my family."

     They like the Big Sky Conference level of competition.  After Eastern Washington beat the then 25th-ranked OSU Beavers in Corvallis, "it makes me proud of the Big Sky.  We're a very competitive league," Gaulke said.  "It fires me up," said Van Dyk. They showed it by leading the offense to 553 total yards in a narrow 37-30 loss at California last Saturday.

     Goals for this year, they agreed, are to "do anything to help us win. It's all about getting everyone together, all the units together so we can get into the playoffs."

     Both prepare for games by watching film and studying.  Gaulke likes to "think through how a play will translate on the field.  I'm running through plays in my head so when I go on the field, I feel like I've done this before."

       And, when other teams look at their film, they want them to say "we play hard. That's the biggest compliment you can give an offensive line," said Gaulke.

      They've changed, of course, since arriving at Portland State.  Among other things, Van Dyk has added 70 pounds to his frame and "things have slowed down…the game is slower to me now…or maybe I've just gotten a lot faster.  Now I can compete with anyone."

        They credit Davis with teaching them a lot about the technical aspects involved in being offensive linemen. 

      Gaulke has learned to "read defenses, read safeties, that sort of thing.  Coach Davis really helped me learn the game.  We've grown into men and now we want to help bring the unit along."

      What will they take away from four years of Viking football?  

       Said Gaulke:  "I'll take away the core values Coach Burton has instilled into the program (integrity, responsibility, accountability, hard work and perseverance).  They're things to live by…and, I'll take away the friendships."

       To Van Dyk, "it's been a really special feeling.  To have 95 guys and the coaches all behind me. You'll never feel anything like that again.  It's an amazing feeling."

     And finally, from Coach Davis:  "they're the poster children for hard work, perseverance and commitment to excellence, which helps make them great leaders as well as great players."