New-Look Aztecs Aim to Live Up to Ranking

Coaches frequently say preseason polls mean little. They dismiss them in less time than it takes to count the ballots. Unless, of course, there is a point to be made.

Fellow coaches picked Denny Stolz and his San Diego State team to finish seventh last season in the Western Athletic Conference.

“That’s seventh in a nine-team league,” Stolz said by way of reminder the other day. His distaste for the lowly assessment of his team and his staff’s ability to produce a winner in its first season has not lessened in the intervening months.

“It was an insult,” Stolz said. “We used it as rallying point.”

The Aztecs rallied all the way to their first WAC football championship and a one-point loss to Iowa in the Holiday Bowl.

This year, the preseason poll was different. Despite losing 15 starters, including nine on offense, the Aztecs are the co-favorites with Brigham Young to win the conference title. Stolz has found a message in that result, too.

“I like the fact that they have respect for us,” he said. “I’d much rather be picked first than last. That means I have better players when I’m picked first.”

Starting today, Stolz can test his theory. The Aztecs will begin preparation for Stolz’s second season when freshmen report for physicals. Their first practice is scheduled for Monday. Upper-class players report will Thursday, and the full team will start its two-a-day workouts after a photo day Friday.

Last week, Stolz was putting the finishing touches on his preseason plans in the temporary shelter that serves as the football office until a new facility is completed near the end of the year. Raised on stilts, the old football offices are a reminder of just how far the Aztecs have come in one season under Stolz.

“We showed that a new program can develop quickly,” said Stolz, who came to SDSU after nine seasons at Bowling Green. “I think it was important that we were new people from a different part of the country. We looked at the WAC and couldn’t see why San Diego State couldn’t be successful.”

Now Stolz will go about working to prove his point again. But he will do it with a considerably different team from the one that finished 8-4 overall last season and ended BYU’s 10-year streak of conference titles. In eight conference games, the Aztecs lost only to Air Force.

“We had a huge graduation loss,” Stolz said. “We were very successful because we had great leadership and talent in the senior class. Our success was tied to our senior class. They were an outstanding group of football players who came together at the same time.”

Stolz’s sincere tribute aside, it also might say something about the ability of the coaching staff that only one player, tight end Robert Awalt, was selected in the National Football League draft. Awalt, the team’s second-leading receiver, was a third-round choice of the St. Louis Cardinals.

“We have a lot of openings on the roster,” Stolz said. “We had 45 players on our roster (last season) that were either fourth- or fifth-year players. That’s half your roster. We never want to be in that situation again. That’s why we’re bridging the gap with some fine junior college recruits. Fortunately, in California and the WAC, that can happen. The junior college program in California is the best in the United States. We found many players in the spring that can help us in the fall.”

The Aztecs will be searching for a few more in the coming weeks. Here is what they have to choose from:

The Quarterbacks

No question here: the starter, the incumbent, the leading passer in school history is senior Todd Santos. Santos has a chance to become the leading passer in NCAA history. He has 7,493 career yards and needs to average 261 yards in the Aztecs’ 12 games to break the record of 10,623 yards set by Kevin Sweeney of Fresno State last year. He also is shooting to become the fourth quarterback to pass for more than 10,000 career yards. The Aztecs did lose their experienced backup, Jim Plum, who took over for one game last season after Santos broke his wrist. This season, Brad Platt, a transfer from Southwestern College, will take over the reserve role. Stolz said he plans to redshirt freshman Scott Barrick, who is expected to take over the starting job next season. Barrick broke several state passing records last season when he led Fallbrook High School to the San Diego Section 3-A football championship.

The Running Backs

This position is a question mark, but recruiting may have filled the gap. The two starters--fullback Corey Gilmore and All-WAC halfback Chris Hardy--are gone.

“Running back is a situation that is totally suspect,” Stolz said. “There are a lot of new names and faces. There is no one that stands out in that category.”

However, the void could be filled by Tommy Booker, who is not a new name to San Diego high school football fans. A Parade All-American from Vista High, Booker rushed for 2,144 yards as a senior. “He could step right in and help,” Stolz said.

There are plenty of other contenders. Ron Slack and Troy Reed were the starters in the spring, but several community college prospects could take over. These include LaMont Parks, Danny Holmes and Paul Hewitt, who is attending summer school to gain eligibility for the fall season.

Two freshman fullbacks, Jim Jennings and Kevin Macon, also could contend.

The Receivers

With a strong quarterback and Stolz’s pass-oriented offense, SDSU needs a deep group of receivers. The Aztecs return Alfred Jackson and Monty Gilbreath, but after that, no one on the roster has caught a pass in college. Kenny Moore and Anthony Conyers, who combined for 52 catches for 852 yards, are the biggest losses. But Jackson emerged at the end of last season as one of team’s most consistent receivers, and Gilbreath caught five passes for 87 yards in the Holiday Bowl.

Much was expected from Patrick Rowe, a Parade All-American recruited from Lincoln High School. But Rowe broke his collarbone last week in an all-star game in the Rose Bowl, and he is expected to miss the first two games. “He was the best high school wideout in the country,” Stolz said. “He was going to help us.” While Rowe heals, Stolz will turn to a group of community college players, such as Robert Claiborne of Southwestern and DeAngelo Mitchell of San Diego Mesa.

The Tight Ends

The loss of Robert Awalt might be Stolz’s toughest hole to fill. Awalt caught 45 passes for 451 yards last season, but junior Kerry Reed-Martin did get some experience. Reed-Martin caught 5 passes for 36 yards and 2 touchdowns. He should be pushed by sophomore Mitch Burton and Lee Brannon, a community college transfer from Richmond, Calif.

The Offensive Line

The Aztecs will be strong down the middle with Kevin Wells at center, the only returning starter from last season’s opener. They also have three other experienced linemen who started the last three regular-season games--guard Reggie Blaylock and tackles Mike Knutson and Dave DesRochers. Stolz calls DesRochers, who is 6-feet 7-inches tall and weighs 290 pounds, the “best pro prospect on the team next to Todd (Santos).” Sophomore Damon Baldwin is in line to replace Doug Aronson at left guard.

Defensive Line

The change here is the move of Mike Hooper, 6-3 and 275 pounds, from defensive tackle to defensive end. He will team with end Brett Frayniarz, who was a linebacker last season, to provide the strength of the Aztecs’ four-man front. The other defensive tackle position could go to Craig Skaggs, who lost his job and was temporarily moved to the offensive line after he sprained his knee in the fourth game against New Mexico. The other end position appears to be open. Contending are three players who has some playing time as freshmen--Demetrius Bell, Milt Wilson and Wade Thoemmes--plus community college transfer Todd Coomes and sophomore Rob Graff.

Linebackers

This is the most unsettled spot on the defense. Only one of the top six linebackers and none of the starters from last season return.

“We don’t have any linebackers that have names,” Stolz said.

But here are a few to remember. Outside linebacker Chuck Nixon is the only truly experienced returnee. Kevin Conard, a transfer from Washington, and Kenny Bernard, a transfer from California, played well in spring camp, as did Derek Santifer and Emmett Flores.

Defensive Backs

Stolz can’t say enough good things about this position.

“The second-best (position), skill-wise, on the team,” he said. “We have some extremely good players. There may be three NFL drafts in the secondary.”

Three starters return, led by Harold Hicks, who stepped into a starting position after transferring last fall from Pasadena City College. Hicks ran back an interception 100 yards for a touchdown against Hawaii.

“When he came in and jumped 39 inches in the vertical leap, we knew we had a football player,” Stolz said.

Hicks has been moved to strong safety from free safety this season to take the place of All-WAC selection Steve Lauter.

The cornerback positions will be tough, with returnees Mario Mitchell and Clarence Nunn. Hicks’ former position at free safety should be a contest between Lyndon Earley, who has played every secondary position in addition to outside linebacker, and Casey Copeland, a transfer from West Valley Community College.

Kicking

Wayne Ross is back for his fourth season as the punter. Ross, who has averaged 41.7 yards for his career, punted 69 times for a 40.3 average last season.

Placekicking was a problem last season for the Aztecs, who had to find walk-on Kevin Rahill on the soccer team. Rahill stepped in and made 26 of 27 extra points and 12 of 17 field goals, but short kickoffs hurt the Aztecs, especially against Iowa. To solve the problem, Stolz brought in Tyler Ackerson, a transfer from Southwestern College. Ackerson won the kicking spot in spring practice, and Rahill has left the team.