Luginbill Critiques Aztecs-UCLA, Likes What He Sees in His Defense

He ran the game film over and over, and what he saw wasn’t half bad.

It was late Sunday afternoon, and San Diego State football Coach Al Luginbill was digesting Saturday night’s near-miss, his team’s 28-25 loss to No. 20 UCLA.

What he saw gave him cause for optimism. But no way was he going to settle for any of that “moral victory” stuff.

“Nobody will ever convince me that there is such a thing as a moral victory,” Luginbill said. “I don’t take any satisfaction in that. We were so close.”

Not all was bad. He liked the way the Aztec defense played, particularly that UCLA was only able to run for 163 yards in 52 carries--fewer than the Bruins gained in any game last season.

“That’s the thing I grab onto, the thing that makes me feel like we’ve really stepped forward,” Luginbill said.

The Aztecs rushed for 151 yards in 24 carries, and their average per attempt (6.2) doubled that of UCLA (3.1). In last year’s 59-6 loss, SDSU gained just 37 yards in 34 attempts.

“I really want to run the football,” Luginbill said. “I’d like to see us be in the 200-yard category (each game). I’d be disappointed if we’re not.”

His least favorite part was the way the Aztec offense sputtered early, gaining just two first downs in its first three possessions and not really starting to move until midway through the second quarter.

“We’ve got to make things happen early, when an opportunity presents itself,” Luginbill said. “We can’t wait.”

Still, he was happy with quarterback Dan McGwire (27 completions in 48 attempts for 286 yards and one interception).

“I think he gets better and better as the game goes on,” Luginbill said. “He did not do things to lose the ballgame, which is very, very important. We’re going to take a look at simplifying a few things to get a quicker start.”

The Aztecs (0-2) will have an opportunity Saturday when Cal State Fullerton (1-2) visits San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

“This is a vital week for this football team,” Luginbill said. “I’ve got to see them come back and play well consistently again.”

Defensive lineman Pio Sagapolutele didn’t play after being called for a personal foul toward the end of the third quarter with UCLA on the Aztec 15. Brian Brown carried to the 10, and Sagapolutele’s penalty advanced the ball to the five.

Apparently, Sagapolutele was held on the play and then brushed the UCLA player away afterward.

“I can’t condone that in any situation,” Luginbill said. “He understands, and he will learn from it.”

Aztec Notes

Coach Al Luginbill was especially pleased with the play of the linebackers, who combined for 21 unassisted tackles. In the season opener at Air Force, the linebackers combined for just three unassisted tackles. . . . Saturday’s crowd of 31,639 was the lowest for a SDSU-UCLA game in San Diego since the series resumed in 1984. In 1986, attendance was 50,338, and in 1984 attendance was 50,318--the third- and fourth-highest crowds in SDSU history. . . . Luginbill wasn’t impressed with Darrin Wagner’s dance in the end zone after he scored a third-quarter touchdown. ‘We’re going to have a talk about that Monday,” Luginbill said. “He can dance when they pay him.” . . . Luginbill said he hopes quarterback Dan McGwire doesn’t have to attempt 48 passes in a game in the future. Ideally, he said he would like to see the Aztecs average between 35 and 40 attempts.