Walker Ends SDSU’s Interception Drought : Walker Ends Interception Drought

In most college locker rooms, two interceptions in a 66-14 blowout would barely be mentioned.

But for San Diego State, where interception has not even entered into the vocabulary, free safety Johnny Walker’s two fourth-quarter interceptions were all anyone could talk about.

Coach Al Luginbill barely was praising his team for its dominance of Utah, before he said: ‘Hey, guys we got an interception--even two of them.”

Cornerback Gary Taylor had the first opportunity to be the hero and end the dubious distinction of being the only Division I team in the country without an interception, but he dropped a second-quarter pass by Utah quarterback Jason Woods.

But with 11:57 remaining, Walker caught a pass that was tipped by a Utah receiver at the SDSU 39 and returned it 33 yards.

“I read the quarterback’s release and I knew it was high,” said Walker who did not start because of a nagging foot injury. “I just stepped up and grabbed it.”

And what was defense coordinator Barry Lamb’s reaction?

“Elation,” he said. “It’s been a little while. We knew it would come, but we were beginning to wonder. It’s nice to have it behind us.”

Walker, a junior from Southwest High, said he couldn’t agree more.

“Every time we opened the paper up, it was all we read about,” he said. “Everybody was coming down on us.”

For good measure, Walker picked off his second pass with :45 left on another overthrown pass by Woods.

Walker credited the interceptions to the defensive line.

“He didn’t want to throw those two passes, but pressure caused both of those.”

Now that the jinx is over, Walker said the floodgates may open.

“This will make everybody play more relaxed,” he said. “I think this will start to make some teams think about coming over the middle.”

Lamb said he’s happy the whole thing is over with.

“I’m happy for the kids,” he said. “They worked so hard, battled so hard all season. They played just like they practiced. All week they had great practices and doggonit if they didn’t play like it.”