Stolz Says Aztecs May Have the Answers to WAC Questions

Maybe Denny Stolz knows something that his fellow Western Athletic Conference football coaches don’t. As he approaches the start of his third season at San Diego State, he does not look and sound like someone whose team has been picked to finish in the middle of the standings.

Stolz has been making his way around Montezuma Mesa these past few days like an excited kid who is eager for the first day of school.

He seemingly could not wait for this morning, when returning players report for physicals. Freshmen, transfers and other new players arrived Sunday, so this will be the first time Stolz has assembled his entire 1988 team. And he is ready to get started.

Part of his enthusiasm comes from the move into the Aztec Athletic Center, the team’s recently completed $3.5-million training and office complex adjacent to Peterson Gym.

“It makes going to work a lot of fun,” he said.

But much of the optimism stems from his belief that the Aztecs will be better than his WAC colleagues have predicted. SDSU was picked in a preseason coaches’ poll to finish fourth in the nine-team league, behind Brigham Young, Air Force and Texas El Paso.

“The last time they picked us in that spot (1986), we went out and won it,” Stolz said. “If they picked us that low, there must be a lot of good (teams) out there.”

Stolz let the last remark hang a moment, to emphasize that his tone was more than a touch tongue-in-check. He said he realizes that the Aztecs will have some questions when they begin full practice Saturday, but he is counting on having found more answers than the doubters expect.

“I don’t think they feel we’ve plugged the defensive problem and the lack of a quarterback,” Stolz said.

The Aztecs were among the worst defensive teams in the country last season, allowing an average of 35.7 points per game. Only six defensive starters return, and not all of them are assured of retaining their positions. Among them, only free safety Lyndon Earley, cornerback Mario Mitchell and inside linebacker Morey Paul finished spring practice with the first team.

Stolz also has switched defensive coordinators and alignments. Ed Schmidt, who had coached the offensive line for two seasons, was named defensive coordinator, replacing Tim McConnell, who resigned to become offensive coordinator at Illinois State. And Stolz scrapped his 4-3 defensive front for a 3-4 alignment, one that he hopes will give him a stronger pass rush and better coverage plan in the pass-oriented WAC.

Lack of depth and experience at linebacker was one of the Aztecs’ greatest flaws last season , and Stolz said he hopes the move of senior Lee Brannon to inside linebacker--last season he split his time between defensive end and tight end--will mean a vast improvement at that position. Stolz also is looking for at least two of six freshman linebackers to move in and provide immediate help.

Another important task will be finding a player to fill the new position of nose tackle, where the Aztecs have no experienced player. Steve Blyth, a converted offensive tackle from Rancho Santiago College, was tried there in the spring but had limited practice time because of knee and hamstring injuries. Pio Sagapolutele, a sophomore who missed last season because of the academic requirements of NCAA Proposition 48, also will be considered.

“I have no hesitation in saying that we are going to be a much better defensive football team,” Stolz said. “It makes no sense to me that we can’t play good defensive football at San Diego State, and we’re on the right track.”

The biggest mystery facing Stolz in preseason may be his punting game. Wayne Ross, a four-year starter, was drafted by the Washington Redskins. Stolz is counting on Joe Santos, a junior transfer from Contra Costa College, to come in and win the job. His competition is expected to come from Bill Kushner, a walk-on from Fallbrook, and Dave Schlick, a reserve tight end.

The Aztecs also must replace Bart Kalbach, their long snapper. Kalbach was left paralyzed from the neck down by an auto accident in May.

On offense, the questions are narrower. Rather than worrying about retooling, realigning and re-evaluating, as he must do on defense, Stolz has to worry only about finding players to replace some senior losses. The problem is that one of these players is Todd Santos, the NCAA Division I-A career passing yardage leader.

Brad Platt, who redshirted as a junior after transferring from Southwestern College, finished spring as the No. 1 quarterback ahead of Scott Barrick, who also sat out last season after coming from Fallbrook High School. Neither has taken a snap in a major-college game.

“I’m not as concerned at that position as I was in spring football,” Stolz said. “We’re not making any excuses for our quarterbacks. They’ve had a whole spring to get ready. We are not going to hold back or protect them.”

Whoever wins the job will have no shortage of skill players with whom to work. The Aztecs return their top six receivers, led by tight end Kerry Reed-Martin (49 catches, 719 yards), and wide receivers Monty Gilbreath (43 catches, 463 yards) and Alfred Jackson (team-high 7 touchdowns). Paul Hewitt, who led the nation in scoring with 24 touchdowns and became only the sixth Aztec to rush for 1,000 yards, is back at tailback.

Stolz also will be looking for stronger seasons from last year’s two prize recruits--tailback Tommy Booker and receiver Patrick Rowe. Both were slowed by injuries as freshmen.

The only other area of real concern for Stolz on offense is building line depth. Returning are center Kevin Wells, guard Roman Fortin and Damon Baldwin, a part-time starter at guard who has been moved to tackle. Emerging from spring as the other starters were guard Nick Subis and tackle Samida Tuiaana. But Stolz is hoping to get some help from several community college transfers, including juniors Chuck Hardaway and Derek Sang.

“We’re getting bigger and faster,” Stolz said, “and we’re already big and fast.”

Aztec Notes

Wayne Fisk, a freshman linebacker from Arlington High School in Riverside, quit the team after Monday’s practice. Fisk, who is 6-feet 5-inches tall and weighs 190 pounds, indicated that he might attend Riverside City College with hopes of developing as a quarterback. . . . Pio Sagapolutele, a sophomore nose guard from Honolulu, missed his second day of practice Tuesday because of a virus, trainer Don Kaverman said. . . . Freshmen and other first-year players will be off today while returning players report and undergo physicals. . . . Photo day for all players will be held Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the Aztec Athletic Center. The session is open to the public and will be followed by the dedication of the center at noon.