Aztecs' Victory Wasn't a Looker

By SCOTT MILLER

Oct. 16, 1989 12 AM PT

SAN DIEGO —

As San Diego State Coach Al Luginbill’s eyes glazed over from watching film Sunday, he realized that Saturday’s 30-26 victory over Cal State Long Beach didn’t look any better one day later.

“I know this sounds crazy, but we did not play well offensively,” he said.

Crazy? Well, the Aztecs did gain 501 total yards, the fourth time in six games this season they have reached that plateau.

Still, Luginbill insisted, “It was our worst offensive game of the season. It was a lackadaisical, non-focused effort. It was the first time all year we did not catch the ball consistently throughout the game.”

Quarterback Dan McGwire completed 24 of 42 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns, but he flat-out missed on several attempts when SDSU receivers were open. And at other times, Aztec receivers dropped balls they should have caught.

“Last week was the first time I felt he (McGwire) wasn’t totally focused on what we’re doing,” Luginbill said. “It was the first time I haven’t seen progress. The expectation now is that he will come back this week and play with much more concentration.”

All in all, it was a victory that almost felt like a loss.

“Our minds were somewhere else,” Luginbill said. “It was embarrassing to me as a football coach. My mind certainly wasn’t somewhere else. I realize we’re not playing for a conference championship now, but you’ve got to go to the next level. We have to dominate when we have the opportunity to dominate.”

SDSU (2-3-1) led by 10 points on three occasions Saturday, but each time Long Beach (3-4) was able to get into the game.

After six games, Luginbill has begun formulating his recruiting plans for next year.

Ideally, he said, he will award 14 or 15 scholarships to defensive players--most likely to two down linemen and the rest to safeties, cornerbacks and linebackers. Four or five scholarships will go to offensive players--preferably running backs, a quarterback, a tight end, a lineman and a punter.

The Aztecs have averaged 20,303 fans a game this season, the lowest in the Western Athletic Conference. Saturday’s San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium crowd of 13,548 was the smallest since Nov. 23, 1985, when 10,343 watched Doug Scovil’s last home game.

Luginbill said the sparse crowds don’t bother him.

“I have no qualms with the crowd,” he said. “We haven’t earned our way yet. When we play decent football, they’ll come. Now, we’re teasing them. You have to earn your way back into people’s hearts after you’ve disappointed them.”

Aztec Notes:

San Diego State quarterback Dan McGwire was in Oakland Sunday night to watch his brother, Athletic first baseman Mark McGwire, play in the World Series. . . . Cal State Long Beach gained 165 yards on seven kickoff returns. “Our kickoff team was an adventure in Disneyland,” SDSU Coach Al Luginbill said. Luginbill has already shifted some personnel on the kickoff team, but said, “There’s going to be some more (changes) as well.” . . . SDSU leads the series with its next opponent, Pacific, 14-7. Pacific’s last victory against SDSU was in 1958, a record-setting 68-17. The 68 points are the most ever allowed in a game by an Aztec defense. . . . Luginbill said Jason Swaney will start at defensive tackle against Pacific. Swaney has been a back-up defensive end most of the year. . . . Ron Slack’s 41 rushing attempts (197 yards) Saturday against Long Beach were the second-most ever by an Aztec running back. Paul Hewitt carried 45 times for 259 yards against Air Force in 1988. . . . The Aztecs’ two victories in six games is their best start in three years. In 1988, the Aztecs were 1-7 before winning their second game. In 1987, they were 1-6.

WAC STANDINGS

Team Conf. Overall W L T W L T PF PA Air Force 4 0 0 6 1 0 306 169 BYU 3 0 0 5 1 0 214 102 Hawaii 3 1 0 5 1 0 267 114 Wyoming 2 2 0 2 5 0 143 204 Colorado St. 1 2 0 2 4 1 196 239 SDSU 1 2 0 2 3 1 194 205 UTEP 1 2 0 2 5 0 166 210 Utah 1 3 0 2 5 0 219 299 New Mexico 0 4 0 1 6 0 142 219

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

San Diego State 30, Cal State Long Beach 26

Brigham Young 45, Colorado State 16

Wyoming 45, Utah 24

Notre Dame 41, Air Force 27

Texas El Paso 26, New Mexico 7

NEXT SATURDAY’S GAMES

Pacific at San Diego State, night

Hawaii at Colorado State

Utah at Stanford

New Mexico at Florida

Texas El Paso at Brigham Young