Aztec Update : Oregon Loss May Have Scovil’s Job in Jeopardy

Doug Scovil has been fighting the flu for the past month.

But in the next five weeks, Scovil and his San Diego State football coaching staff may be fighting another battle--for their jobs.

The Aztecs have lost three straight games, falling to 3-4. They are 22-30-2 in Scovil’s five-year tenure.

The heart of the 1985 team seemed to disappear when Utah beat SDSU, 39-37, on a field goal as time expired nine days ago. The team’s soul might have went out the window, too, in a 49-37 loss to Oregon Saturday night.

“It seems as if this is pretty much it for the year,” linebacker Todd Richards said in a quiet locker room afterward. “Now, it’s just going to be a matter of personal pride and achieving individual goals.”

According to Scovil, the team goal is a winning season. The Aztecs would need a 4-1 record to accomplish it. Such a finish could be enough to save the coaching staff, but it’s debatable.

“As far as any pressure, I won’t coach running scared,” defensive coordinator Burnie Miller said. “You do the best job you can do and let the chips fall where they may.”

Added Scovil, who brought a five-year plan to SDSU in 1981: “Every game, every week, there is pressure. We need to roll up our sleeves and work even harder.”

In the aftermath of Saturday’s game, one had to wonder what happened to the SDSU defense. The Aztecs held Oregon to 10 yards in the first quarter, then allowed 438 yards and 49 points in the final three quarters.

It took Miller plenty of pinpointing to pinpoint what had happened. Two Oregon touchdowns were the result of blown coverages, he said. Two others were scored when the defensive line lost containment. And a 51-yard pass play on a second-and-28 came when a defensive back blew his zone coverage.

“We were so good at the start that maybe we eased up,” Miller said. “We looked like we may have been asleep. From the second quarter on, we stunk. It’s frustrating when you make mistakes on things you have practiced 1,000 times.”

How frustrating was the defensive effort?

“I can’t remember when we looked so bad on defense,” Scovil said. “I can’t believe we scored 37 points the last two weeks and lost both games.”

Nose guard Levi Esene was a late scratch when his dislocated left elbow flared up again. Esene has missed five games and three quarters of another, yet the coaching staff still doesn’t want to redshirt him except as a last resort.

“We still have a good run with five conference games to go,” Miller said. “It’d be nice to have him in there. We don’t want him to play if he’s not well. A football game is not worth somebody getting hurt for life. We’ll have to check with the doctors and see this week.”

Todd Santos has regained his starting role at quarterback from Jim Plum. Santos passed for 398 yards and 4 touchdowns in the final 37 minutes against Oregon. Plum, who departed when the Aztecs trailed, 14-7, passed for 72 yards and 1 touchdown.

“I felt Jim wasn’t quite as sharp as he could’ve been,” Scovil said. “He had people open downfield and didn’t pick them up. Maybe it was good to sit Todd down. He’s too good to have the lapses he has had lately.”

Both quarterbacks were surprised when Plum was removed.

“I had no idea I’d be going in,” Santos said. “I was kind of surprised when coach said to get ready that early.”

Said Plum: “Dog gone, I was surprised. I had gotten us a few key first downs. Then, when I was on the sidelines, they said Todd was going in. The decision is out of my hands. I’ll do the best I can and leave it at that.”

Webster Slaughter had 15 receptions for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns. He leads the Western Athletic Conference and is third nationally in receptions, averaging 7.4 a game.

Santos moved from 10th to sixth nationally in passing efficiency. The Aztecs are fifth in passing (300.1), ninth in total offense (446.3) and 17th in scoring (30.4).

SDSU plays at the Air Force Academy on Saturday. Air Force is among four undefeated Division I teams and has won 11 straight, tying Bowling Green for the longest current winning streak. Air Force is second nationally in scoring (40.2), eighth in total offense (450.7) and eighth in scoring defense (12.2).

The Aztecs will attempt to bounce back by remembering that Texas El Paso upset Brigham Young, 23-16.

“If UTEP can beat BYU, then we can beat Air Force,” Scovil said.