Courting a Different Sport . . . : Now Aztecs’ Aronson Is Slamming Linemen

Doug Aronson always wanted to be a basketball player. In fact, his biography in the San Diego State media guide proclaims that he can dunk with two hands.

Unfortunately, his biography is in the football media guide.

Dunking a basketball does little for him on the football field, but Aronson has this knack for also stuffing defensive linemen. He is an offensive guard who earned All-Western Athletic Conference and honorable mention All-American honors last year as a junior.

Aronson has three regular-season games remaining in his SDSU career and then maybe a chance to fulfill a couple of dreams--appearing in a postseason bowl game and playing professional football.

Football has been good to him--and it’s a good thing. At 6-feet, 3-inches and 270 pounds, he has the height to be a point guard and the weight to be a power forward. Not good for basketball.

Basketball was Aronson’s childhood obsession. He spent countless hours on the court.

“He’d rather be out playing than come home and eat,” said Henry Aronson, his father. “We had a park in the neighborhood with lights. Sometimes, he’d stay in the park playing basketball until midnight.”

Aronson must have been encouraged that a spurt of growth in junior high school would give him the height he needed to someday play in Boston Garden. But his growth rate betrayed him as he grew so fast that he required surgery in eighth grade for an inflexible hip.

Consequently, doctors did not permit him to play competitive sports for another two years.

When Aronson was able to return to athletics in 10th grade, his sister Linda suggested he play football because of his size.

This was a wise suggestion. Football became his game--but not right away. He made San Francisco’s South City High School junior varsity in 10th grade, but didn’t play a down.

However, he improved so much during the next year that he started as a junior and was named San Francisco’s Lineman of the Year as a senior.

Football would provide him with a college education. Although Aronson had wanted to attend San Jose State because he had seen the Spartans beat California and Stanford, his father convinced him to attend SDSU.

“I thought the farther he’d be from home, the better off he would be,” Henry Aronson said. “It would make him become a man faster by being away from home. He’d have a different atmosphere and would be able to concentrate on playing football and studying.”

Aronson has become the man in the Aztec offensive line.

As Ed Schmidt, SDSU’s offensive line coach, said: “He’s the kind of player you want to run behind in a crucial situation because he gives 100% and will be more physical than the guy he is against. He’s physically dominating to the point where he sometimes tries to be too physical. At times, he’s over-aggressive.”

However, Aronson is one of those big men with a mild-mannered disposition off the field.

“When I first met him, I realized he was a softie,” said Denise Monelo, his girlfriend.

“A softie?” said Aronson.

“OK,” Monelo said. “He has a big heart.”

Aronson may have a big heart, but he does not have a big reputation. Even in town, very few people are aware of how good Aronson is.

In fact, one of the ironies of his athletic career at SDSU is probably that he got more publicity for a brief--one game, two minutes--fling with the SDSU basketball team last year. Injuries had depleted SDSU’s basketball team and Coach Smokey Gaines was looking for someone to bang around under the boards. After a couple of weeks, however, Aronson decided his basketball days were over.

So it was back to obscurity.

“It doesn’t bother me, but I notice it,” Aronson said. “When you think of (teammates) Todd Santos, Chris Hardy and Rob Awalt, my name isn’t thrown in. It’s not just on this team. Unless you are a big fan of the game, you don’t know the offensive linemen.”

Levi Esene, a defensive lineman and Aronson’s roommate, said Aronson takes being overlooked in stride.

“Although Doug is one of the best, he’s a real quiet and humble guy,” Esene said. “It seems like he doesn’t go out and brag or get big-headed.”

That’s the image Aronson attempts to project.

“I’m really a mellow guy,” Aronson said. “I’m not a brawler when I go out. I turn it on on the field.”

Aronson would seem to be the kind of fellow anyone would like to have for an older brother. It just so happens that his younger brother, Art, is SDSU’s backup center. Art is a junior who transferred from San Francisco City College.

“Doug and my dad both wanted me to come here,” Art said. “Whenever Doug does well, I try to match him. I’ll try a lot harder now to accomplish what he has done.”

Art has always used his brother as a role model.

“As kids, Doug would never bully me or tell me what to do,” Art said. “He led by example. He wouldn’t lecture me if I did something wrong. He’s the same way on the field. He doesn’t talk a lot, he leads by what he does.”

After this season, Doug Aronson hopes his fortunes lead to pro football.

“I’ve battered my body for four years here,” he said. “I’d like a chance to play in the big leagues. I’m a realist. I know how hard it would be to get in. You have to be in the right situation and work hard.”

Schmidt said Aronson is as good as Dan Knight, a former SDSU offensive tackle who was drafted by Green Bay in the fourth round this year.

However, Schmidt cautioned, Aronson may not pass some NFL physicals because of his hip.

“I’ve started every game here for three seasons,” Aronson said. “(The hip) hasn’t bothered me or messed up my performance.”

There may even be times when he feels grateful for having the hip problem. After all, it took him out of basketball long enough to get him interested in football.

Aztec Notes

If SDSU does not win the WAC championship to qualify for the Holiday Bowl, it probably won’t play in any postseason game. The Freedom Bowl, which scouted SDSU three weeks ago, seems to have little interest in the Aztecs. “They are on our overall list,” said Tom Starr, the Freedom Bowl’s executive director. “At this time, we have pinpointed six or seven teams. San Diego State is not on that list right now.” . . .. . A crowd of 25,000 to 30,000 is expected when SDSU plays host to Wyoming Saturday night . . . . Ed Schmidt, SDSU’s offensive line coach, started in Wyoming’s secondary for three years and was team captain in 1972. Schmidt was raised in Laramie, which is where the university is located . . . . The Holiday Bowl will scout six teams Saturday--Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, UCLA, USC and Washington . . . . SDSU’s awards banquet will be held Dec. 1 at the San Diego Hilton. Tickets are $20 each and may be obtained by phoning the Aztec Athletic Foundation.