Luginbill Postpones Quarterback Call : Football: Morris appears to be ahead, but the Aztec coach is waiting for one player to take charge.

Cree Morris and David Lowery, two sophomores battling to win the San Diego State quarterback job this fall, learned Sunday that quarterbacks aren’t the only ones who can call audibles.

Coaches can, too.

SDSU Coach Al Luginbill, who said Saturday he would name the 1991 Aztec starting quarterback the next day, said Sunday he had decided to delay that decision until after Wednesday’s final intrasquad scrimmage. The announcement will be Thursday.

Morris, though, remains the leading candidate.

“We need three more days with them, we feel,” Luginbill said. “Cree has the edge, but it’s not big enough to where we felt we could name a starter. I’ve talked to them both in depth, and we feel very, very comfortable with what we’re doing.”

Said Morris: “I wish (the decision) would have been made, but at the end of the scrimmage, I got sloppy.”

Still, he feels fortunate to be the front-runner.

“I can’t let up,” he said. “I have to stay on top of things. If I can stay the front-runner--basically, don’t make mistakes--I have a good chance of being named.

“But nothing is guaranteed, yet.”

Especially considering that Morris’ right (throwing) arm was heavily bandaged Sunday. He said he sprained a wrist when he hit a helmet Saturday, but he also said it was not serious and that he would be back at practice this afternoon.

Morris took twice as many snaps as Lowery in Saturday’s scrimmage because Lowery was shaken up early while making a tackle after an interception. But according to Luginbill, one shaky Morris series late in the scrimmage gave the offensive coaches reason for pause.

The first play to alarm Luginbill was an incomplete bootleg pass that came close to being intercepted. Luginbill criticized Morris’ decision, saying Morris should have thrown the ball out of bounds.

Then, with Patrick Rowe running a streak route, Morris underthrew Rowe and the pass was intercepted by Gary Taylor.

“We’ve got to get the ball downfield in that situation so the receiver can run under it,” Luginbill said.

Still, Luginbill said, the quarterbacks did the best job of “decision-making” of any quarterbacks in Luginbill’s time at SDSU.

And take away Morris’ bad series, and . . .

“He would probably have graded out the highest of any quarterback we’ve ever had here decision making-wise (in a fall scrimmage),” Luginbill said.

He blamed part of the delay on several hamstring injuries suffered by SDSU receivers. The injuries have resulted in missed practices, something that has not allowed the offense to work with a regular unit.

“Neither of (the quarterbacks) has had the opportunity to be in sync,” Luginbill said.

Lowery, who couldn’t be reached for comment, has been behind Morris in the quarterback derby since last winter when he broke a jaw in a fraternity fight and couldn’t participate in contact drills for the first two weeks of spring practice. And then he went down early Saturday to complicate things further.

“In David’s defense, I think I need to give both of them the opportunity to see if one can flat-out, clearly win the decision,” Luginbill said.

Morris completed 13 of 28 passes Saturday for 146 yards and a touchdown. Lowery completed seven of 12 for 59 yards and a touchdown. Each had one pass intercepted.

The decision to wait until Thursday would give the Aztecs only 10 days of preparation with the new quarterback before SDSU’s Sept. 8 season-opener at home against Cal State Long Beach.

“Obviously, I’d like to get one named as soon as we can, but I don’t think it will hurt us too bad going another couple of days,” said Dave Lay, SDSU offensive coordinator. “Cree is definitely the front-runner.”

Rowe also wishes a decision would be made.

“It’s hard to speak for the team, but as far as the offensive unit, I would think it would be great to have a decision in the next day or two,” Rowe said. “As an offense, we need to know who we’re going to work with and who will lead us into the season.”

But, Rowe said, he can understand the delay.

“This is a big decision,” he said. “It’s going to have a big impact on the team. It’s a decision that needs to be given some time.”

Luginbill reiterated that he will not use a rotation system involving both quarterbacks. But he also said that whoever starts at quarterback Sept. 8 is not necessarily guaranteed to last the season.

“Whoever is No. 1 is not entrenched forever,” Luginbill said. “That’s the nature of our offense. If there is a lack of production, we’ll make a change.”

Aztec Notes

The Aztecs were given Sunday night off and Coach Al Luginbill said they will undergo mental drills but no practice in the mornings this week. School begins Thursday, and the Aztecs resume their normal afternoon practice schedule. . . . After watching films of Saturday’s scrimmage, Luginbill said the offense’s lack of enthusiasm bothered him more than the uncertainty at quarterback. “They’re not playing with any commitment to be the best they can on every snap,” Luginbill said. “We need to get that back. You don’t turn the offense on and off like a light switch just because there is a game Saturday night.”. . . Luginbill said freshman cornerback Eric Sutton will not redshirt this year. “He’s a very good football player and we’re fortunate to have him in the program at a spot we needed help in the worst way,” Luginbill said. As for the rest of the freshmen, Luginbill said he would make a decision as to who is redshirting by Thursday. . . . Linebacker Jamal Duff, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, will return to practice Monday. . . . As for the defensive ends, Luginbill said sophomore Ramondo Stallings is leading the pack. The other defensive end position will be filled by either sophomore Turaj Smith, junior Steve Matuszewicz or sophomore George Glaze. Luginbill said sophomore Ty Morrison, who missed most of the spring with a knee injury, is still a little behind. . . . Senior linebacker Andy Coviello, who has patellar tendinitis, made it through the scrimmage but Luginbill said his play would be limited all year. In games, Luginbill said, Coviello likely would alternate by series.