COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT / WEEKDAY UPDATE : SAN DIEGO STATE : For Aztecs, It’s a Small World After All

Call this Reunion Season for San Diego State. The Aztecs opened in September against Oregon, the alma mater of defensive coordinator Barry Lamb. A month later, they played at Wyoming, where Aztec Coach Al Luginbill spent a year as an assistant coach. Two weeks ago, SDSU played Hawaii, a team defensive end Pio Sagapolutele knows well--he grew up in Hawaii and was a high school teammate of Rainbow quarterback Garrett Gabriel.

Next up for SDSU is a trip to New Mexico on Saturday and still another reunion. Steve Fairchild, SDSU quarterbacks coach, was an assistant at New Mexico from 1986-89 and spent two seasons as the Lobos’ offensive coordinator.

“I really like the town and I liked living there,” Fairchild said. “I’ve still got friends there.”

The life of a football coach on a road trip, though, will prevent Fairchild from spending much time with his friends. “Our itinerary really doesn’t lend itself to that,” he said. “I’m not planning (on seeing friends). I don’t feel comfortable doing that.”

Fairchild, it seems, has picked up on the etiquette of coaching fairly well. Like a typical coach, he said he has been too busy to think much about returning to Albuquerque.

“I really haven’t given it much thought until this week,” he said. “We’ve got a little bit of a roll going . . . Some of those kids I know well and would like to see them do well. Just not this week.”

Linebacker Andy Coviello remains doubtful for the New Mexico game with a back contusion/sprain. He took a helmet in the back during Wednesday’s practice and was taken to the hospital for X-rays. He received treatment Thursday morning. . . . Patrick Rowe should become only the 10th receiver in SDSU history to gain 1,000 yards receiving in a season. He has 998 yards with three games remaining. The last Aztec to reach the 1,000-yard mark was Webster Slaughter, who now plays for the Cleveland Browns, in 1985. Only three receivers in SDSU history have reached 1,000 yards as early as the season’s ninth game--Gary Garrison (eighth game, 1964), Tom Nettles (eighth game, 1968) and Tim Delaney (ninth game, 1969). Rowe is on pace to gain 1,372 yards, which would surpass the SDSU record (1,272) held by Garrison and the Western Athletic Conference record (1,317) set last year by Terance Mathis. The NCAA record is 1,779, set in 1965 by Howard Twilley.