COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT : WEEKDAY UPDATE : SAN DIEGO STATE : Edwards Sees High Score This Week

And now, a word from our guest analyst for Saturday’s San Diego State-Miami game: Brigham Young Coach LaVell Edwards.

Who better? BYU defeated then-No. 1 Miami on Sept. 8, 28-21, and SDSU on Sept. 22, 62-34. The Cougars (10-1) won the Western Athletic Conference and will play Texas A&M; in the Holiday Bowl Dec. 29.

So, without further ado . . .

“It surely has the appearance of a high-scoring game,” Edwards said Wednesday. “I think San Diego State has as good an offense as we’ve faced all year. (Quarterback Dan) McGwire has had an outstanding year, and they have a great corps of receivers.

“The key for San Diego State is to move the football and get points on the board. But Miami is a very good offensive football team as well.”

Will Miami’s defense be able to stop SDSU?

“I think the whole key, obviously, is pass protection,” Edwards said. “If San Diego State can contain Miami’s rush, they’re going to complete passes and move the ball. When we played (Miami), I don’t think their (defensive) front was in the same category as last year’s group.”

And now the topper: What about SDSU’s maligned defense? What should we expect from it?

“A lot depends on how hard they play,” Edwards said. “They can’t afford to lose confidence if something (bad) happens.

“Miami is going to move the football. They do it against everybody. What the (SDSU) defense is going to have to do is come up with plays--interceptions, and force punts.”

And the winner . . . Edwards didn’t have a comment.

SDSU Coach Al Luginbill had a few good words and a few bad ones regarding Miami.

“This is the part of their program I thoroughly respect: I think they play games between the lines as well as anybody in college football,” Luginbill said. “I do not want to be like them (regarding) their antics.”

Luginbill was referring to Miami’s penchant for impromptu dances after plays--particularly by the wide receivers.

“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “It’s a joke.”

Several NFL scouts checked out SDSU’s practice Wednesday. One of the NFL’s representatives was Bill Tobin, vice president of player personnel for the Chicago Bears.

Although Tobin--like most scouts--wouldn’t discuss players in detail, he had this to say about McGwire: “I sure do like his size. There’s no question about that. He’s well-proportioned.”

Tobin planned to view films of McGwire and other SDSU seniors today. He figures SDSU is about the 50th school he has visited this fall.

Wednesday’s practice was just the beginning of a long afternoon/night for McGwire. After practice, he was interviewed by a crew from ESPN, two local television crews and a couple of reporters before joining Luginbill for a trip to a Mission Valley restaurant to appear on a radio show. . . . Luginbill said he thinks BYU quarterback Ty Detmer should win the Heisman Trophy. “Running away,” Luginbill said. “It will be embarrassing if anybody else gets it.” . . . Tight end Ray Rowe--SDSU’s other Rowe--is having quite a year, having caught 16 passes for 243 yards. Last year, SDSU’s entire group of tight ends caught 16 passes. “That’s what we practiced, including the tight end in our offense,” Rowe said. “It started off pretty good at the beginning of the season, slowed down a little in the middle of the season, but it came back. It’s been better than I figured it was going to be. In (fall camp), we weren’t getting too many balls in practice. It was like, ‘Uh-oh, it’s going to be the same old stuff again.’ ”