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| Wednesday, September 20 Aztecs aching, but not giving up By Ed Graney Special to ESPN.com | |||
| One headline in a weekly media release for San Diego State's football
team reads this: Aztecs Aches.
Aches?
This is a nightmare, a two-hour episode of "ER," a trainer's report
that sends head coaches in search of a bottle ... aspirin or otherwise.
Consider:
Jack Hawley, starting quarterback, fractured vertebra, out for the
season. Chris Williams and Zach LaMonda, starting offensive linemen, knee injuries, out for the season. Gray McNeill, starting all-conference tight end, knee injury, out for the season. Akbar Gbajabiamila, starting defensive end, Achilles tear, out for the season. Johnathan Ingram, starting guard, knee injury, out 3-4 weeks. Raleigh Fletcher, backup tight end, knee injury, out 3-4 weeks. Larry Ned, starting running back, knee injury, missed the season-opener. Beau Trickey, linebacker, broken hand, playing in a cast.
And those are just the major ones.
The Aztecs are 0-3 with losses to better teams in Arizona State, Illinois
and Arizona. But the ability to compete on a near-even level has been stripped
from SDSU by all the sprains and strains. The term MRI is as much part of players' lives right now as wearing shorts and sandals to class.
"I've never been around more major injuries this early in a season," said coach
Ted Tollner. "It's unbelievable, but people don't want to hear about it. You play with who you have. That's this game."
The MWC is a league of very little quality depth because there still remains the faction of prep stars who would rather be second-string at UCLA or Arizona than a starter at SDSU or Utah.
So when you are the Aztecs and this many injuries hit this fast, you get
numbers like these: SDSU ranks 102nd in total offense nationally and 111th in
scoring. They have two touchdowns in three games. Only three teams, two known for jump shots more than TDs, average fewer points: New Mexico State, Duke and North Texas.
And still ...
"We have to be careful and not just look at raw numbers," Tollner said.
"We're not sitting here happy at all. We're not looking for a silver lining. But
we're also not as down as some might be.
"We have two offensive players (Ned and tackle Mike Houghton) who have
played full seasons of Division I ball and a lot of guys who haven't played
three games of it. We have to give these guys a chance to learn the system and not overreact to a lack of production."
It doesn't get easier. The Aztecs play at Oregon State on Saturday
against a team ranked second nationally in total defense (although its opponents have been Eastern Washington and New Mexico) and one that enjoyed a bye last week.
Around the Mountain West Air Force The lone remaining undefeated conference team plays at Utah on Saturday. The Falcons lead the country in total offense (543.5) and the conference in turnover margin (plus 5). "We were able to rest up during the bye last week and get everyone healed and ready for Utah," said coach Fisher DeBerry. ... Air Force will encounter a Utes team struggling at 0-3, but which features one of the nation's more dangerous punt returners in Steve Smith. His return for a score against Air Force last year led to Utah's 21-15 win. "He could again have a lot to do with the outcome," DeBerry said. "Last year, he fumbled the one he returned, picked it up and still beat our containment. I really think he's the best in the country at it." ... Another reason Air Force could go 3-0 for the fourth straight season: The Falcons have been penalized a league-low 13 times for 86 yards. BYU LaVell Edwards buys into the theory that quality depth isn't apparent across the MWC landscape. This, after BYU has lost non-conference games to Florida State and Mississippi State and needed 38 second-half points to defeat Virginia. "We played Florida State and Mississippi State and you couldn't tell which of their players were starters or reserves," Edwards said. "They just kept substituting freely with more guys. I think at times our conference makes progress in (depth), but we seem to be down this year. And when you play some of the schedules our teams have played, you create problems with injuries." ... Unlike Air Force, the Cougars have not protected the ball well. BYU has forced three turnovers and given up 14. "It has really hurt us and put us in some bad positions," Edwards said. ... It's possible injured quarterback Bret Engemann will return against Nevada-Las Vegas this week. If not, Charlie Peterson goes again. He led the Cougars to four TDs against Mississippi State, but his turnovers allowed three for MSU. "Not the kind of debut I wanted," said Peterson, who completed 27-of-50 for 268 yards. Colorado State The Rams now know a little about what SDSU and BYU are going through. CSU lost standout linebacker Adam Wade (knee) for the season in its 13-10 loss at Arizona State. "He should qualify for a medical redshirt," said CSU coach Sonny Lubick. "We came out of that game beat up. (ASU) was very physical. It's easier playing teams like East Tennessee State, because once you get up early, you can rest your starters and avoid any of these key injuries." ... CSU enjoys a bye this week before traveling to Nevada, a bye to ponder the fact an undefeated season and national ranking and perhaps any legitimate shot at a BCS game are gone. One of the last MWC teams with any reason to swagger into stadiums this season has lost that right for now. ""We need this week off," Lubick said. " We need to regroup and get our bearings for the rest of the season." ... Rick Crowell's numbers from the ASU game: 19 tackles, 16 solo and a sack. Yeah, guess the linebacker is 100 percent healthy. New Mexico Head coach Rocky Long doesn't know all the particulars, but it's his understanding the program will not retire any more jersey numbers. Crazy, considering one of the best Lobos ever (if not the best) was linebacker Brian Urlacher, a first-round NFL pick of Chicago this season. But during Saturday's win against New Mexico State, linebacker Gary Davis made a key late interception. He wears No. 44, same as Urlacher did. "There hasn't been a push (to retire Urlacher's number)," Long said. Are that many people asleep in Albuquerque? WAKE UP! ... It's not the kind of game coaches like. Not one bit. New Mexico hosts Division I-AA Northern Arizona on Saturday. NAU is 2-0 and returns 15 starters from a playoff team last year. The Lobos open conference play against Wyoming next week. Talk about a giant trap. "This is a very dangerous game," Long said. "Everyone expects you to win, yet we know (NAU) is good enough to beat us." ... New Mexico place-kicker Cort Moffitt is among the nation's punting leaders (42.9), which is less surprising than the fact that's his real name. If football doesn't work out, there's always soap operas. UNLV A shutout is always meaningful, even when the opponent is North Texas, as pathetic an offensive team as there is in Division I. And this is also UNLV's defense, which for years has been more gracious than Santa in December. "I think you play with more vigor when you think you're pretty good or have had some success," said Rebels coach John Robinson about his team's 38-0 win on Saturday. "The thing I like is that our defense has gotten itself ready each week. We're not big, physical guys who can just stand there and take up gaps. When you base your scheme on speed as a weapon, you really have to prepare yourself." ... The offense continues to roll behind sophomore quarterback Jason Thomas, who leads the league in rushing (90.5) and total offense (250.0). Also, wide receiver Nate Turner has 11 catches for 229 yards, an average of 114.5 per game. In all, the Rebels have three of the league's top five rushers, with Kevin Brown (72.5) and Jeremi Rudolph (69.0) joining Thomas ... UNLV opens conference play at BYU. Robinson on the Cougars' schedule thus far: "It's almost criminal. They've gone through hell." San Diego State It was a terrible blow for Jack Hawley, the senior quarterback lost for the season last week with a fractured vertebra in his neck. "He finished last season on a high note and did everything we asked of him in the offseason," Tollner said. "And it's all taken away ... it's the cruel part of this sport." Hawley injured himself in a third-quarter collision against Illinois. He is expected to make a full recovery, which could take four months. He apparently used a redshirt season while in junior college and the chance of being granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA is slim. SDSU could pursue an appeal at season's end. ... What now? Lon Sheriff, a redshirt sophomore, is No. 1 and played fairly well in a 17-3 loss at Arizona. Sheriff completed 15-of-29 for 124 yards with an interception. His backup will be either true freshmen Jon Stoner and Danny Armstrong. The players will alternate weekly at No. 2 unless one separates himself during practice or a game. Utah Special teams? Hardly special at all. The Utes missed three field-goal attempts in a 38-21 loss to Washington State on Saturday. They also had a Steve Smith punt return for a score called back for the second straight week. They are 1-of-8 on field goals in three games. "It has to be the most disappointing aspect of anything we're doing," said Utes coach Ron McBride. "The kicking game ... that's a real downer. (Place-kicker Golden Whetman) has really struggled getting anything going." ... High expectations to begin a season are one thing. They become something else when you're 0-3. "The toughest thing is going to get these kids back mentally," said McBride, who met individually with players after the WSU loss. "The thing is, we haven't really lost anything yet. The games that count are coming up beginning (against Air Force)." ... Did you know: Utah is 0-3 for the first time since 1986, when it began 0-7. The Utes have also dropped consecutive home games to start a season for the first time since 1995, when they fell to Oregon and Stanford. Wyoming In this case, numbers aren't the whole story: The Cowboys have the league's top punter in Tom Waring (45.8) and one of its best place-kickers in Aaron Elling (4-for-4 on field goals). Statistically, that is. "Elling will often get out-kicked in practice and Waring is not doing well enough with his hang time," said coach Vic Koenning. "We're giving up 14 yards on punt returns because the ball is too flat. We can be better in both areas." ... Great Scott, who is this guy? Junior running back Nate Scott went for 192 yards against Central Michigan, averaging 9.6 a pop. "He ran like a running back should -- with passion and desire," Koenning said. "Give our line credit. It finished plays and what would have been 6-8 yarders ended up going for 16 and 18. (Scott) has learned over time nothing is given to you. He had to earn this chance and made the most of it. It's a good lesson for him in life and in football." ... Wyoming top two quarterbacks, Jay Stoner and Matt Swanson, haven't been cleared medically this week. That means the Cowboys against Nevada will again go with Brandon Neill and Casey Bramlet, a combined 5-of-17 for 47 yards last week. Ed Graney covers college football for the San Diego Union Tribune and can be reached at ed.graney@uniontrib.com | ALSO SEE Big East notebook Big Ten notebook Big 12 notebook Big West notebook Conference USA notebook MAC notebook WAC notebook | ||
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