Aztecs Going Business Class : Luginbill Says Hawaii Trip No Big Deal for His Team

College football teams from the mainland try unusual methods when preparing to play at Hawaii.

They practice later. They eat at different times. They change hotels. They arrive a day early. They return a day late. They impose curfews. They relax curfews. They tamper with routine.

The hope is to cope with the peculiarities of playing thousands of miles from home on an island of sand, surf and fun. Sometimes it works. Mostly it does not. Just ask Utah.

The week of the Sept. 23 game, the Utes moved their practices at home to nighttime to account for the time change. They lost by 47 points, allowing a school-record 67.

Maybe that is part of the reason San Diego State Coach Al Luginbill said he has changed little in the Aztecs’ routine in preparation for their Western Athletic Conference game tonight (10:35 PDT) against Hawaii at Aloha Stadium.

Luginbill said such changes are unnecessary, that the Aztecs have an advantage over many teams because life in Hawaii is closer to life in San Diego than it is to that in Laramie, Wyo., El Paso, Tex., or some other WAC city.

“Our kids see the beach all the time,” Luginbill said. “To go to the water over there, to be around water or pretty girls in bathing suits, maybe that is not new to our kids.”

The Aztecs’ recent record of success in Hawaii is better than most WAC teams. SDSU is 4-3-2 in Honolulu since 1940, 2-1-2 since 1982.

About the only requirement Luginbill had was a team hotel far from the bustle of Waikiki Beach. The Aztecs are staying at a resort on the north shore of Oahu, about 45 minutes from the stadium. That is where they stayed on their last trip to Hawaii, which resulted in a 29-21 comeback victory.

“Staying in Waikiki is like taking them to Hollywood Boulevard,” Luginbill said. “Waikiki is not the best place to prepare a football team. It is important to get in an isolated environment to focus on the football game.”

Luginbill said he does not mind the long trip and that playing before an expected crowd of 45,000 might be preferable to playing before another small home crowd at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. The Aztecs drew 15,721 two weeks ago for a 41-41 tie against Cal State Fullerton, their smallest home draw since 1985.

“Going on the road for us gives us more of the college football atmosphere,” Luginbill said. “We’ll play in front of a big crowd this week. We played in front of a nice crowd (29,595) at Salt Lake City last week. That is what we will have to do until we earn our fans back.”

The Aztecs are facing Hawaii at a time the Rainbows are in the Top 20 for only the second time in their history, tied for 20th with Florida State in the United Press International poll. The last time the Rainbows were ranked was 1981, when they started 7-0 and broke into the UPI poll at 16th and the Associated Press poll at 19th. They dropped out of both the next week after a 13-3 loss to Brigham Young.

“We’d like to be in there longer this time,” said Hawaii Coach Dick Wagner.

The key for the Aztecs offensively could be how well they protect quarterback Dan McGwire. They have done that well so far; McGwire has been sacked five times in four games while attempting 157 passes.

But the Rainbows have 18 sacks in the five games and last week got to New Mexico’s Jeremy Leach eight times in a 60-14 victory. Hawaii has scored 190 points in its past three victories and is averaging 47.2 points per game, second in the nation. Many of their points have been set up or scored because of fine defensive play.

“We do like to pressure the quarterback,” Wagner said. “If you pressure the quarterback, it really helps (your entire defense).”

The Rainbows lead the conference in turnover margin at plus six (17-11). Last week, they sacked Leach for a safety and returned an interception for a touchdown for the third time this season. Hawaii is allowing an average of 18.0 points per game, fewer than half the 37.0 SDSU has surrendered.

But the Aztec offense could be a strong test for the Rainbows.

SDSU is third in the country in total offense (541.8 yards per game) and 10th in scoring average (35.0 points). McGwire is third in the nation in total offense (357.3-yard average), and running back Darrin Wagner leads all freshman rushers with an average of 93.3 yards per game.

“We’ve shown we can move the football on anybody,” Luginbill said.

But the Rainbow offense could be a problem for an Aztec defense ranked 103rd in total defense (487.5 yards per game) out of 106 National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Division I-A teams.

Hawaii features an option attack run by junior quarterback Garrett Gabriel. The Rainbows are ninth in rushing offense (266.0 yards per game) but pass sparingly. Gabriel has attempted only 83 passes in five games, a little more than half of what McGwire has tried in four.

“(Gabriel) is not a Dee Dowis (of Air Force),” Luginbill said. “He is not exactly what you like in an option quarterback. You would like a kid who is a little niftier on his feet. . . . But they are getting mileage out of him.”

Aztec Notes

Because Prime Ticket is required to sign off at 2 a.m. PDT, there’s a chance that the conclusion of tonight’s game will not be shown. . . . San Diego State defensive end Todd Coomes (neck and back strain) is improving and expected to be available to play, trainer Brian Barry said. If Coomes cannot start, his place will be taken by sophomore Derrick Williams, Coach Al Luginbill said. Wide receiver Dennis Arey (hamstring) and tight end Mitch Burton (lower abdominal strain) are questionable. After missing last week’s 38-27 victory at Utah because of injuries, cornerback Marlon Andrews (shoulder) and tight end Ray Rowe (shoulder) are expected to return. Reserve defensive end Milt Maples (knee) is available to return after missing three games. . . . Luginbill said freshman Andy Trakas will continue as kicker despite missing two of three field-goal attempts against Utah but that he would wait until game time before deciding between Trakas and Tom Wurth for kickoffs. Wurth, a senior from Monte Vista High School, made his Aztec debut last week when he replaced Trakas on kickoffs in the second half.