Tie Was a Head Case for Aztecs : Luginbill Says Team Made ‘Atrocious’ Mental Errors

The state of the San Diego State football team was upgraded from “despicable” to “atrocious” Sunday by Coach Al Luginbill.

At least it sounded like an upgrade.

“It wasn’t a lack of physical effort,” Luginbill said of SDSU’s performance in Saturday’s 41-41 tie with Cal State Fullerton. “Mentally, we were atrocious.”

Because they were mental rather than physical errors, Luginbill said he is encouraged that the players can learn from their mistakes. He was a bit more positive than he was late Saturday night, when he called his team’s performance “despicable” minutes after the game.

Luginbill wasn’t the only one in the Aztec locker room late Saturday night who was having trouble explaining how SDSU could enter a game few thought it would lose and still be able to figure out a way not to win.

“I just can’t explain it,” said running back Darrin Wagner, who gained 162 yards on 22 carries but fumbled at the SDSU 20 with 7:35 left. That set up a touchdown that put Cal State Fullerton ahead, 38-34.

“We should have blown them out,” Wagner said. “They shouldn’t have even scored, the way we played last week (against UCLA). But nobody was pumped up like last week. Everyone was just standing around.”

Cal State Fullerton noticed, especially running back Mike Pringle, who gained 158 yards on 25 rushes, caught six passes for 34 yards and one touchdown and returned three kickoffs for 110 yards.

“The attitude in the other locker room was, ‘Cal State Who?’ ” Pringle said. “We showed them.”

Said SDSU defensive tackle Pio Sagapolutele: “They’re Cal State Fullerton, and there’s a stereotype when you think of them. But they beat us in every category of the game. We’re lucky we came out with a tie.”

After watching films Sunday, Luginbill said he plans to change some personnel on the kickoff teams during practice this week. Breakdowns on kickoffs contributed to SDSU’s poor field position several times. Of 13 Cal State Fullerton drives, all but two started at the Titans’ own 32 or better. Nine of SDSU’s 13 drives started at the Aztecs’ own 26 or worse.

Junior safety Morey Paul, who was ejected after a personal foul late in the first quarter Saturday, met with Luginbill Sunday and will begin the week on the second team. His situation will be evaluated day to day.

“His status on the trip to Utah will be dependent upon his attitude in this week’s practices,” Luginbill said.

Aztec Notes

Utah, SDSU’s next opponent, was beaten, 67-20, by Hawaii late Saturday . . . SDSU’s 41-41 tie with Cal State Fullerton is the second highest scoring Division I tie in NCAA history. The highest was between San Jose State and Utah State in 1979, a 48-48 tie. . . . The 41 points scored by SDSU were the most in a non-winning effort in school history. . . . Senior guard Damon Baldwin dislocated his left elbow in Saturday’s game and is doubtful for this week’s game in Utah. . . . How excited was Cal State Fullerton Coach Gene Murphy after the tie? “I wish we had a fight song to sing,” he said. . . . In three games, SDSU has been called for 27 penalties (200 yards). Aztec opponents have been called for 14 penalties (106 yards). . . . The crowd of 15,721 Saturday was the lowest to attend an SDSU game in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium since Nov. 23, 1985, when just 10,343 showed up to watch SDSU play New Mexico.