Aztec Notebook / Curt Holbreich : Athletic Department Expects to Balance Its 1988-89 Budget

The San Diego State athletic department is set to do something that neither its football nor basketball programs have managed this season--break even.

Athletic Director Fred Miller said Thursday he expects the department will balance its 1988-89 revised budget of $4.6 million.

The department was able to balance the budget despite a down year in football attendance. Miller said this was accomplished because of larger-than-budgeted revenues from corporate sponsorships, basketball attendance and football television appearances.

Basketball revenue is expected to reach $482,000, an increase of $137,000 over what was budgeted, Miller said, mainly because of improved home attendance. The Aztecs (11-14) have averaged 4,234 for their first 16 of 17 home dates, an increase over the 3,489 they averaged for 15 games last season.

Football revenue, including television money, reached $2.2 million. That was slightly more than the budget figure $2.1 million despite a decrease in home attendance: 22,398 for five home games in 1988 compared to 22,911 for six home games in 1987.

Miller said football expenditures were $506,000, exceeding the budget by only $10,000 despite costs associated with the firing of Denny Stolz and four members of his coaching staff and the hiring of replacements. But the total cost of the change will not be clear until Stolz and the university reach a settlement on the remaining three years of his contract.

Miller said additional revenue came from the corporate sponsorship program, which in its first year, is expected to produce $168,000 more than the $400,000 budgeted.

Despite the balanced budget, it is likely that for the second consecutive year, the department will not be able to reduce its long-standing deficit of $348,000.

Aztec junior guard Michael Best said he is considering applying for the National Basketball Assn. draft rather than return for his senior season.

Best said he is considering the move for financial and personal reasons. He also said he is concerned about the Aztecs’ prospects for next season. The three front-court starters are seniors.

“I’m really going to miss the seniors, and next year I’m not sure what will happen,” Best said.

Best said he believed he would be one of the players selected in the two-round NBA draft if he applied but that if he failed to make an NBA team, he would consider playing in the Continental Basketball Assn. or abroad.

SDSU Coach Jim Brandenburg said that as of Thursday afternoon he had not talked to Best but added, “I don’t see much to it.”

Laker General Manager Jerry West agreed. West, who has scouted several Aztec games, said he doubted Best would be drafted.

“I don’t think he would be one of the top 54 players,” West said. “It would not be a wise decision on his part.”

Best, a 6-4 transfer from Clemson, is averaging 12.9 points per game.

Aztec Notes

Five days after appearing on national television (ESPN) for the first time, the SDSU baseball team plays host to No. 1 Florida in a three-game series tonight and Saturday at 5 and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Smith Field. The Aztecs are 8-3 and ranked as high as 15th nationally. Florida is 11-1 after its best start in school history but Wednesday allowed 11 unearned runs in the first three innings of a 16-3 loss to South Florida. . . . Delays in planning and approvals for the proposed Student Activities Center might push the opening of the arena beyond fall of 1991, Athletic Director Fred Miller said. But Miller said it was possible that the arena could be ready for at least part of the 1991-92 basketball season. Students approved the 10,000-to-12,000-seat arena last February in a referendum that authorized the use of student fees to pay for most of the $30 million complex. . . . Football Coach Al Luginbill has completed the alignment of his coaching staff. Ed Schmidt, defensive coordinator under former Coach Denny Stolz, will be special teams coordinator and defensive line coach. Ulima Afoa will assist Steve Devine on the offensive line as he did under Stolz. Afoa was a late addition to Luginbill’s staff, replacing Al Tanara, who resigned shortly after his appointment in December. Tanara’s duties as tight ends coach will be assumed by Bret Ingalls, who also will coach running backs. . . . Luginbill also said he has made several additional position changes among his players. Larry Maxey, a freshman running back from Morse High School who was redshirted last season, will be switched to free safety. Mitch Burton, who came to SDSU as a tight end from Lakeside High School and was switched to defensive line, will be moved back to tight end for his senior season. And Bonner Montler, a center who handled long snaps as a freshman, also will be tried at inside linebacker. . . . Two Aztecs have been removed from the team and a third has been suspended for academic reasons, Luginbill said. Ian Dunn, a sophomore offensive lineman from Chula Vista High School, and Tyrone Smith, a junior offensive lineman from Chicago, are no longer on the team. Chuck Hardaway, a backup offensive tackle as a junior, has been suspended. . . . At least three players might miss much of spring practice because of injuries, football trainer Bruce Robinson said. Defensive lineman Brad Burton (staph infection), defensive lineman Darren Cooley (back) and offensive guard Nick Subis (detached retina) all could miss spring drills. . . . Dana Bible, offensive coordinator under Stolz, has joined the staff at Miami (Ohio), a Miami spokesman said. Bible previously coached at the school in 1981-82.