SDSU Notebook : Aztec Track Program Starts Another Run

After spending 63 days “indefinitely suspended” and trying to raise enough money to become active once again, the San Diego State men’s and women’s track and field teams received the go-ahead from Athletic Director Fred Miller Tuesday to continue operating in the 1989-90 season.

“I’m pleased to report that there will be a track and field program at SDSU for the 1989-90 season and we hope to continue in the future,” said Walter Turner, who has headed a fund-raising group called Friends of SDSU Track and Field.

Turner said although the group did not reach the established goal of $150,000 by today’s imposed deadline, the program will operate with a budget of between $115,000 and $130,000.

“We will probably hold the mailbox open for a week, a week and a half. Any (contributions) after that will go toward subsequent years,” Turner said.

Said Coach Jim Cerveny: “I’ve never failed on any budget that has been given to me yet. I don’t feel we have the budget I want, but we’ll be able to put both the men’s and women’s programs out on the track. It’ll be bare bones, but we’ll get by. We’ve always gotten by before.”

Cerveny also praised his coaching staff, Rahn Sheffield, Jim Spillers and Gary Stathas, who have worked without pay since June 31, the end of the fiscal year at SDSU.

“We lost about four or five athletes because they couldn’t wait, and they had better offers,” said Cerveny, who added that about $30,000 will be budgeted for scholarships--$25,000 for those returning scholarship athletes and $5,000 to newcomers.

The athletes who have said they are leaving the program include throwers Tim Boerum and Brett Chappell to Fresno State, long jumper Tony Rossi to Cal State San Bernardino, thrower Shelly Squibb to UC San Diego, and sprinter Marcus Wesley.

Running back Darrin Wagner missed practices Monday and Tuesday trying to clear up some personal problems, including taking some required tests at SDSU.

“Wagner is back,” Coach Al Luginbill said. “He got the things taken care of. He’ll be at team meetings (Tuesday night), and he’ll be at practice tomorrow.”

Luginbill said that it took longer than expected to take the tests, and that Wagner’s absences were excused.

Wagner was the 1987 San Diego Section player of the year at Lincoln High when he rushed for a county best 1,931 yards.

He redshirted last season, then transferred to Nebraska in January. After enrolling and going to classes for three weeks, Wagner returned to SDSU. He was battling with senior Ron Slack for the starting tailback spot this season.

In Sunday’s first scrimmage of the fall, Wagner had three yards on six carries.

With the Aztecs opener less than two weeks away (Sept. 2), the team is preparing for Air Force’s wishbone offense, led by quarterback Dee Dowis. Receiver Merten Harris, an option quarterback at College of the Desert before transferring to SDSU this fall, has been “Dowis” in scout team drills.

“Thank goodness for Merten Harris,” Luginbill said. “He’s a bigger Dee Dowis.”

Said Harris of his new part-time role: “It’s fun. I feel really comfortable and natural. I’m not too far removed from it, so it has been pretty easy getting back there again.”

Luginbill also announced that reserve offensive lineman Doug Blanchard of Huntington Beach has left the team and will enroll at Orange Coast College.

Caliente Race Track has been dropped as a sponsor of athletic events because of the addition this week of wagering on professional and college sporting events to its betting program, Athletic Director Fred Miller said.

“Anytime you have gambling involved in athletic contests, we have to move very rapidly from that entity,” Miller said. “We became involved with Caliente (last year) because it is a gateway into the Tijuana market. Horses don’t talk, but once they got into sports book . . .” Caliente began its sports book operation Sunday at eight locations in Baja California.

Rick Taylor, assistant athletic director in charge of the corporate sponsorship program, said the department has canceled an agreement with Caliente for a $10,000 sponsorship of an Oct. 14 football game against Cal State Long Beach at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Taylor said the department had an $80,000 agreement with Caliente to act as a sponsor of the Aztec basketball and baseball programs in 1988-89 but that agreement was not renewed.

Yvette Angel and Lyn Anastasio have been named assistant coaches by Beth Burns, San Diego State women’s basketball coach.

Angel was an assistant at Notre Dame and Anastasio an assistant at the University of San Diego last season.

Jan Martin, a former assistant women’s basketball coach at San Diego State, has been named an assistant at Colorado State.