Aztecs Open in Oregon, on Trail of a New Defense : Football: SDSU travels to Eugene searching for credibility via victory over a Pac 10 team.

News flash: San Diego State is last in the Western Athletic Conference, and Coach Al Luginbill is happy about it.

OK, maybe we’re not talking standings. The subject is season openers, and despite the fact that the Aztecs have a difficult one today, kicking off the 1990 season at the University of Oregon at 1 p.m., Luginbill is pleased with the SDSU schedule.

The eight other WAC teams opened last week. The Aztecs, meanwhile, went through a week of classes, had a chance to get adjusted, and now will open with two nonconference games.

“I love opening with nonconference games,” Luginbill said. “Ideally, you’d like to open with two or three nonconference games if you could, and we have the luxury of playing two this year. It gives us the opportunity to be in the conference race.

“If you open up with a conference game and get beat, you’re in an uphill battle.”

Last season, SDSU opened at Air Force and got blitzed, 52-36, which brings up another point about this season’s opener: defense. Luginbill has made it a priority this year after the 1989 Aztecs . . .

1. Allowed 65 plays in which the opponent gained 20 or more yards, and . . .

2. Allowed 31 points a game.

“I was shocked after the ballgame,” Luginbill said of the Air Force game. “I knew we were undermanned in space (the open field), but I was shocked at how badly. . . . We’re talking about two (Aztecs) unblocked many times in space just missing tackles. You can’t play defense that way.

“I feel we have improved our football team in that area. How much (we’ve improved) remains to be seen against another opponent.”

That opportunity arrives today, and it will not be an easy assignment. Oregon’s Bill Musgrave (3,081 yards passing in 1989) returns for his senior year after becoming the first quarterback in school history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season. And this is a school for which Dan Fouts and Chris Miller once played quarterback.

The biggest Aztec concern will be at inside linebacker, where freshman Jamal Duff will start. Community college transfer Lou Foster won the job coming out of spring practice, but he pulled a hamstring during conditioning and just began practicing in pads this week. He made the trip to Oregon but will probably not play today.

That leaves Duff, 6-feet-7, 225 pounds, who has come along faster than the Aztec coaches anticipated.

“I have never started a (season) with a true freshman at any spot,” Luginbill said. “So that will be a new experience for us . . . He has earned the right to be there.”

Duff says he is not overwhelmed by it all.

“I saw people at my level and above my level (at the start of practices),” he said. “I set my standards at the higher people’s level and gradually got there. I have a little more to go, but I’m working on it.”

The other potential trouble spot in the Aztec defense is free safety, a position that hurt the Aztecs at times last year. Junior Johnny Walker, a newcomer to the position, will start. And because sophomore Zac Stokes is injured, Walker will be backed up by freshman Sam Williford.

“Obviously, wherever you have a freshman at a spot starting or backing up, you’re not very deep,” defensive coordinator Barry Lamb said.

Still, SDSU coaches think their defense is improved, largely because they think they have more speed and quickness this year than last at outside linebacker.

“I don’t think there’s any question we’re going to be better than we were last year,” Lamb said. “I think we’ve got players at spots that suit them better. I know our personnel is better.”

Not only will the Aztecs have their hands full with Musgrave today, they face a team that is coming off its first post-season appearance in 26 years. The Ducks, who finished tied for second in the Pac-10 in 1989, defeated Tulsa in the Independence Bowl, 27-24, and return four offensive and five defensive starters. The most effective way for the Aztecs to stop Musgrave might be with a heavy pass rush because just two starters from the Oregon offensive line return.

Tony Hargain and Joe Reitzig, two of Oregon’s top three receivers from a year ago, are back, but the Ducks lost their top three rushers--Derek Loville, Latin Berry and Dondre Bausley.

Greg McCallum, Oregon’s kicker, also returns. He made 24 of 32 field goal attempts last season and didn’t miss an extra point.

Aztec Notes

Let it be recorded that the season got off to a funny start after SDSU ‘s walk-through Friday afternoon in Autzen Stadium. SDSU Coach Al Luginbill was talking with the media when the two team buses left to return to the hotel. Luginbill had to catch a ride with Sports Information Director John Rosenthal . . . Luginbill said he will not make a decision on who will start at running back until today. The potential candidates are Tommy Booker, T.C. Wright, Curtis Butts and Kipp Jefferies. Luginbill said it may come down to a “gut feeling” on his part. Derrick Williams will get the start at nickel back . . . Injury Report: SDSU defensive back Zac Stokes (shoulder) and defensive lineman Steve Matuszewicz (ankle) are out; linebacker Lou Foster (hamstring) is doubtful. Oregon has no significant injuries. . . . Oregon Coach Rich Brooks on the keys to today’s game: “I think we need to be able to contain the San Diego State offense by not giving up big plays. They’re going to gain yards, they’re going to complete passes, they’re going to score points. . . . We need to make sure they earn those yards and don’t get them in big chunks.” . . . The last time SDSU won a road opener was in 1981, 30-14, against Colorado State, and the Aztecs have lost three consecutive season openers. Oregon, meanwhile, has won six openers in a row.. . . More than 35,000 tickets has been sold for today’s game. The weather in Eugene is expected to be in the high 80’s, with partially cloudy skies. . . . This will be the Aztecs only game on artificial turf this season. . . . Remember former SDSU quarterback Matt Kofler? He’s now a graduate assistant coach at Oregon. . . . Quote of the week: “I don’t know what death is like because I’m still alive, but the next closest thing is not having the right amount of persons on the football field when the game says you can play with 11.” That was Luginbill, addressing a subject which has been a problem for SDSU in the past.