COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : AZTECS : Defense Finally Picks Up a Pickoff

It wasn’t a real game, but the much-maligned Aztecs defense showed Thursday it actually can intercept a pass. Cornerback Gary Taylor picked one off from Dan McGwire during a two-minute drill, setting off quite a reaction. Taylor was quickly swarmed and hugged by the rest of the first-team defense.

Taylor said the high-spirited practices are due in part to defensive coordinator Barry Lamb’s talk with the defense after the last week’s 52-51 loss at Wyoming.

“He said we were all in this together, and we better start believing in each other,” Taylor said.

Although he was pleased with the interception, Taylor said he realizes the circumstances will be quite different Saturday against UCLA’s Tommy Maddox at the Rose Bowl. Still, Taylor said that elusive first interception might not be far away.

“We’re playing a looser man now,” Taylor said. “We can see more of the field now. I think it will help us get a better jump on the ball.”

But Taylor is taking nothing for granted against Maddox.

“He throws side-arm, but his arm is really strong,” he said. “His athletic ability is really impressive. He seems pretty fast, and he doesn’t seem afraid to take a hit.”

Aztec Coach Al Luginbill has yet to announce his starters at cornerback or running back. Does it matter who starts at running back? “To me it doesn’t, but it seems to be a big deal to the kids,” Luginbill said . . . San Diego State and the University of Arizona will begin a four-game football series in 1998. Arizona will play in San Diego in 1999 and 2001. San Diego State, which has won six of 11 games against the Wildcats, will play at Tucson in 1998 and 2000.