Luginbill Pleased, but He’s Looking Ahead

The film rolled along and the guys in black were looking sharp. Completing passes, catching passes, making tackles, even intercepting two passes.

The coach sat in his chair with a remote control in his hand and a critic’s look on his face.

It was late Sunday afternoon, a day after San Diego State’s 66-14 whipping of Utah, and Coach Al Luginbill was watching film of his team’s first victory since late September.

It wasn’t complete jubilation--that’s not the way football coaches work. No, Hawaii comes to town next, and Luginbill stayed up late Saturday night scouting the Rainbows’ 43-16 victory over New Mexico. There is always another game, another obstacle to keep the mind working one week ahead.

But for a few minutes Sunday, he didn’t look ahead. He reflected on the Aztecs’ most dominating performance since they defeated UC Santa Barbara in 1970, 64-7. He called it the best overall performance in his 19 games at SDSU.

“Our team played with an extreme amount of enthusiasm,” Luginbill said. “From the first snap to the last, they enjoyed playing the game of football. We never got sloppy. That has not been the mode of operation here. In the last two years when we’ve gotten comfortable, we have lowered our intensity, which lowered our execution, which didn’t make us look good.”

The Aztecs (3-4, 2-2 in the Western Athletic Conference) had hit the skids late in the game of each of their previous two victories this season. In a 38-21 victory over Cal State Long Beach, they had a 21-3 halftime lead before becoming sluggish in the second half. The 49ers matched the Aztecs’ 17 second-half points in that game. Two weeks later, SDSU led Air Force after three quarters, 45-9, but got sloppy in the fourth quarter. The Aztecs ended up winning, 48-18.

Saturday, however, SDSU was consistent throughout the game.

“I think our kids are sensitive to the fact that they’re a pretty good football team with nothing to show for it,” Luginbill said. “Now, they’re on a mission. They have something to prove, and anybody who gets in their way is going to pay dearly. Utah happened to be there.”

The defense, which has collapsed frequently this season, turned in its best performance of the year. SDSU held Utah to 200 yards in total offense, the fewest allowed since SDSU held Brigham Young to 167 in 1986. Utah was the first team that did not gain at least 300 yards against the Aztecs this season.

“It’s a start for us,” Luginbill said. “We’re moving in the right direction as a team. What I appreciate about the offensive kids is that all year, they have really supported (the SDSU defense). It shows a type of character, empathy, or whatever you want to call it, for their teammates. They compete against these kids all week in practice and see how hard they try.”

Luginbill got quite a bit of satisfaction from Saturday’s victory, but it was not enough to take his mind off this Saturday. There is always another game, and more to accomplish.

After Saturday’s game, Luginbill challenged the Aztecs to put together two consecutive weeks of solid defense.

“The one thing we would like to see is to come out Saturday night with an outstanding defensive performance, because it builds,” Luginbill said.

Always planning, always plotting. But for a few brief moments, Luginbill thought about his team’s dominating performance over Utah, and he smiled.

Aztec Notes

SDSU’s defense moved from 106th--last--to 103rd in Division I total defense, allowing 465.1 yards a game. The Aztecs are 101st in scoring defense, having allowed 36.1 points a game. SDSU ranks fourth in both passing offense (333.9 yards a game) and scoring offense (41.3). Quarterback Dan McGwire is third in the nation in passing efficiency (148.2), trailing Virginia’s Shawn Moore (166.4) and BYU’s Ty Detmer (158.9). McGwire is fifth in total offense (297.2). Patrick Rowe leads the nation in receiving yards per game (120.4) and Dennis Arey is sixth (106).

SDSU’s opponent next week, Hawaii (5-3, 2-2), pounded New Mexico, 43-16, late Saturday behind Jamal Farmer’s 115 rushing yards and three touchdowns. New Mexico, the Aztecs’ opponent Nov. 17, fell to 2-8, 1-4. Hawaii’s defense forced seven New Mexico turnovers. Linebacker Mark Odom led the Rainbow defense. He had two sacks, two tackles for losses, an interception and a blocked extra point in little more than three quarters. Odom was also in on eight tackles.

SDSU PASSERS Top 10 career passers at San Diego State University:

Quarterback (Years): Yards Todd Santos (1984-87): 11,425

Dan McGwire (1989-90): 5,800

Brian Sipe (1969-71): 5,707

Dennis Shaw (1968-69): 5,324

Mark Halda (1977-80): 4,812

Matt Kofler (1980-81): 4,476

Mark McKay (1982-83): 4,475

Craig Penrose (1974-75): 4,343

Jesse Freitas (1972-73): 4,193

Don Horn (1965-66): 3,922