Vista Quarterback Will Go to Colorado : Aunese Says He Will Decline Offers From Hawaii and Nebraska

Quarterback Sal Aunese, who led Vista to an undefeated 1985 season, today will sign a letter of intent to play for the University of Colorado next year, declining offers from Hawaii and Nebraska.

“My heart told me Colorado,” said Aunese, who is rated 27th by Max Emfinger’s National High School Scouting Service. “Everything I saw at all three programs was great, but my heart told me Colorado.”

Aunese, the Times’ all-county quarterback, was the Palomar League’s Offensive Player of the Year with more than 600 yards passing and 900 yards rushing.

Joining Aunese at Colorado will be all-county defensive back Okland Salavea of Oceanside who also decided Tuesday to sign.

However, it was still in doubt Tuesday night whether two of the most heavily recruited San Diego County players--Sweetwater running backs Terry Rodgers and Martell Black--would also be bound for the Big Eight Conference.

Rodgers, the county’s No. 2 rusher last year with 1,491 yards, had yet to decide between Texas and Nebraska. On the advice of his father, Johnny (who won the Heisman Trophy for Nebraska in 1972) Rodgers is “re-evaluating” both schools’ offers, according to Sweetwater Coach Gene Alim.

Black is thinking of joining Rodgers in the Cornhuskers’ backfield, but is still considering an offer from Utah, Alim said.

After mulling over offers from Iowa, Texas and USC, San Pasqual center Tom Dabaskinskas has decided to become a Trojan.

“I felt USC offered me the best of both worlds--athletics and academics,” he said. Dabaskinskas obviously excels in both fields, garnering a 4.0-grade-point average to complement his all-county honors.

Tight end Patrick Newman and cornerback Omar McDade, teammates on Lincoln’s San Diego section 2-A championship team last year, will be reunited this fall at Utah State.

Newman opted to go to Utah State after being recruited by several Western colleges.

“Everybody who looked at (Newman) was impressed with him,” Lincoln Coach Skip Coon said. “Not only in his ability, but in also the fact that he was such a good student and he presents his persona very well.”

Quarterback Malcolm Glover, who led the Hornets to the championship, has yet to decide where he will play next year, though he is leaning toward Yale, Coon said. Glover has already received an academic scholarship to Cal.

Mira Mesa wide receiver Kevin Hancock is bound for Texas-El Paso, though the Miners weren’t his first choice. Hancock, considered one of the county’s best receivers despite being sidelined most of last season with a broken thumb, had thought he was going to Stanford.

Returning from an apparently successful recruiting trip to Palo Alto, Hancock waited for word on whether he was to become a member of the Cardinal. That word never came. After waiting almost a week, Hancock called Stanford and was told he had failed an essay test on his entrance examination.