Aztec Alumni Is Left (Red)-Black and Blue

Before Saturday night’s Red-Black Alumni game at San Diego State, Aztec quarterback Todd Santos said the alumni usually take the game seriously--for at least the first quarter.

Guess how the game started?

The entire overweight, undershaped, 72-man alumni squad raced on the field after they kicked off.

To the sounds of Beatles tunes played by a fraternity band and the sight of numerous penalty flags, they lumbered off the field.

The start of the varsity’s 31-12 win was like a Sunday afternoon pickup game in the park.

The fun for the oldtimers started at a reunion party Friday night at the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park.

Many six-packs later, the party transferred to the field at the Aztec Bowl.

And what a field it was.

Credit last weekend’s Spring Fiesta, physical education classes, and soccer and lacrosse games for making the field look like it hadn’t been cared for since the stadium was built by the United States Works Project Administration in 1937.

By the end of the first half, many of the former Aztecs probably felt like they hadn’t played since the ‘30s.

Fortunately, neither side takes this game too seriously.

This isn’t Penn State, where the annual spring game is broadcast on cable television.

Former SDSU offensive lineman Martin Imhof said his team spent the week trying to develop some continuity on offense, going after people and drinking a few beers.

Actually, there was some hard hitting early in the game Saturday night.

“We have to play inspired just to save our butts,” Imhof said. “The young guys want to make a good lick and look good on the films.”

The alumni were hoping to save face and rekindle some fond memories for the fans.

A crowd of approximately 1,500 fans at the 13,000 seat stadium enjoyed seeing quarterback Jesse Freitas once again hook up with Darold Nogle on a sideline route.

There was former county sprint champion Kipper Bell catching Stan Williams from behind. Williams appeared to be on his way to an easy touchdown after intercepting a pass in the second quarter.

That play was called back because of a holding penalty, but the thrill was still there.

Moments later, the alumni finally got on the board. Steve Fogel weaved his way up the middle for a 26-yard TD run.

Enough of the serious stuff. There was Bell throwing a spiral across the field on a kickoff return.

The alumni have won this game only once, in 1971, and that served as a bad omen for the varsity. The varsity was 9-2 in 1970. After that game, they went 6-5 in ’71.

As omens and good times go, Saturday night was a success for the Aztecs--the young Aztecs.

Game Notes

Three first-half touchdown passes by Todd Santos gave the Aztecs a 21-6 halftime lead. In the first quarter, halfback Chris Hardy took a screen pass 56 yards. Anthony Conyers was wide open when he caught a 24-yard pass in the right corner of the end zone. Vince Warren caught a 15-yard TD pass from Santos in the second quarter.... The teams played the second half with a semi-running clock. In the third quarter, Casey Brown bolted through the line for a three-yard TD, and freshman redshirt John Palatella kicked a 29-yard field goal.... The alumni scored its second touchdown on a three-yard run by Marvin Cofer late in the fourth quarter. Cofer is a freshman redshirt who was on loan to the alumni team.... Santos completed 15 of 22 passes for 194 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jim Plum completed 2 of 4 passes for 35 yards. Brown gained 39 yards on 6 carries, and Hardy gained 31 yards on 5 carries and 84 yards on 4 catches. Freitas completed 5 of 12 passes for 69 yards and 2 interceptions. Aztec linebackers Richard Brown and Kris Jensen, and cornerback LeRoy Wardell intercepted passes.