Last Scrimmage of Preseason Is a Hit at SDSU

San Diego State Coach Denny Stolz likes to keep the hitting to a minimum in preseason practice. It’s a philosophy that keeps his football team sharp and healthy for the season.

The results are hard to argue. The Aztecs enter their final week of preparation for Saturday’s season opener at UCLA without a major injury suffered in practice.

There is a byproduct to this approach: It makes for a number of keyed-up defensive players who can’t wait to hit somebody.

“We’re pretty hungry,” said Lyndon Earley, a sophomore free safety. “We don’t get much scrimmage time.”

The players made up for it Saturday during the Aztecs’ final full scrimmage of training camp.

No sooner was the first-team defense matched against the second-team offense than the hits became stinging. Even with restrictions against blocking and tackling below the waist, it didn’t take long for the defense to exert itself.

“That’s the name of the game,” secondary coach Ron Mims said. “We don’t do it (hit hard) often because we want to keep guys healthy, but there are different situations when you have to do it. We got some things done, and we got out with no injuries, which was a real plus for us.”

But not without a few raised tempers. The players turned feisty when linebacker Derek Santifer made a late hit on running back Lamont Parks, who was on the receiving end of a 30-yard pass play from quarterback Brad Platt. Tight end Mitch Burton took exception to the hit and, in trying to intervene, found himself going one-on-one with Earley, who also was in on the play.

The players were quickly separated. Earley was admonished by Mims. Platt followed with a 47-yard touchdown play to wide receiver Michael Broome, who was being covered by senior cornerback Clarence Nunn.

“It was a well-thrown ball,” Stolz said. “Platt is a very talented young man. A great throw beat great coverage.”

It was the kind of play that left the defense a little embarrassed after all its heavy hitting.

“It was a great lesson for the defense,” Mims said. “You can’t lose concentration in situations like that. I spoke to Lyndon because he was the focal point for that (fight) situation. Whenever you let your emotions detract from what is more important--lining up and playing football--you have trouble. It’s good that those things happen in practice. You pay when they happen in football games.”

But even in practice, such skirmishes are rare for the Aztecs. The hitting is controlled and limited. Experience has taught Stolz.

“Coach Stolz believes in saving his players for the games,” Earley said. “You hear about a lot of schools that scrimmage all the time. Every other day, they have a scrimmage. Usually, those are the schools where guys are hurt and the starting running back is out with a knee injury.”

No such problems at SDSU, although first-team tailback Ron Slack did sit out the scrimmage because of a hamstring injury. Only freshman wide receiver Patrick Rowe, who broke his left collarbone in a high school all-star game Aug. 1, is doubtful for the UCLA game.

It has made for a quiet preseason for trainer Don Kaverman.

“Experience has taught Denny this is the best way,” Kaverman said. “A lot of coaches don’t know when to stop. They get into two-a-days and can’t stop. They hit to excess.”

Stolz’s players hit just enough to keep them healthy, sharp and, maybe just as important, hungry.

“We got a little over-aggressive today,” Nunn said. “But it’s good. The guys were hungry. We hadn’t had any contact. The team really got to see the defense.

“We got a little intense. It was OK because there were a lot of quick whistles. It’s just the aggressive nature of the game. It’ll be different next time.”

Only next time, the players won’t be their teammates.

Aztec Notes

With Ron Slack sidelined, Paul Hewitt, a transfer from Citrus College in Glendora, stepped into the first-team tailback position and responded with 5 carries for 21 yards and 2 catches for 11 yards.