COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : SAN DIEGO STATE : Luginbill Says Offense’s Future Bright

Ever the optimist, San Diego State Coach Al Luginbill took a moment after practice on Thursday to look ahead to next year. He likes what he sees on offense--despite the fact that quarterback Dan McGwire will not return.

The Aztecs probably will replace McGwire with either Cree Morris or David Lowery, both of whom will be redshirt sophomores next year. Basically, he expects Morris or Lowery, someone in his first full year at quarterback, to be an adequate replacement for McGwire.

“We need to replace Dan McGwire’s junior year without the turnovers,” Luginbill said.

However, McGwire, who was intercepted 16 times, passed for 3,651 yards--second-highest for SDSU in a single season--last year after transferring from Iowa.

“(Morris and Lowery) will have had three springs and two full falls,” Luginbill said. “That’s a major, major difference than what Dan went through (a spring and a fall). And these guys have seen the way people play us. Dan hadn’t.

“I’m not saying that people are going to step in and be Dan McGwire. I’m saying there will be a lull there, but we might pick it up quicker than people think. We’ll reload, rather than rebuild.”

Sophomore kicker Andy Trakas is second on the SDSU career kick-scoring list with 139 points. Trakas, who has made 63 consecutive extra points, needs eight points to set the record. . . . Luginbill said Larry Maxey will start at running back on Saturday against Utah. Maxey rushed for 103 yards against UCLA Oct. 13. . . . SDSU ticket manager Vickie Larsen said she expects a crowd of about 22,000 for the Aztecs’ homecoming game against Utah. SDSU hasn’t had a home game in five weeks, since Sept. 29.