COLLEGE FOOTBALL REPORT WEEKDAY UPDATE : AZTECS : Knee Problem Makes Future Uncertain for Coviello

The knee wouldn’t bend, and he got only about an hour’s worth of sleep after San Diego State’s 49-13 victory Sunday against Cal State Long Beach.

To the rest of the Aztecs, the 1991 season is filled with promises of hope and optimism. To SDSU linebacker Andy Coviello, the season is filled with uncertainty.

And there will be an anti-inflammatory shot after this afternoon’s practice.

Coviello is suffering from patellar tendinitis in his left knee. He had surgery on the knee last winter, but the tendinitis remains. He had a doctor’s examination a couple of weeks ago, and they decided to forgo another surgery.

So SDSU coaches are limiting Coviello’s practice time and playing him in games. He played the first three quarters against Long Beach, recording five tackles, before sitting out the fourth quarter when the game got out of hand.

He didn’t practice Tuesday. He might practice this afternoon.

It isn’t easy.

“I wasn’t real happy with the way I played (Sunday night),” Coviello said. “I didn’t feel real crisp and that comes from practice, obviously. Perfect practice makes perfect games.”

As for how long the knee will feel from week to week, it’s a crap shoot. SDSU trainer Brian Barry said Coviello is “questionable to probable” for Saturday’s game against Pacific.

Receiver Patrick Rowe, meanwhile, didn’t practice Tuesday but is listed as probable by Barry after Rowe suffered a right shoulder sprain against Long Beach.

The injury occurred midway through the second quarter when Rowe was tackled after catching an 11-yard pass from Cree Morris. The play ended on the sidelines in the Long Beach bench area, and Rowe was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

According to Rowe, he injured his shoulder when he hit the ground. Then, he said, one of the Long Beach defenders’ fists found its way through Rowe’s face mask and socked him in an eye. So Rowe kicked the player off of him and got caught.

“I reacted badly and I know it,” Rowe said. “It was bad judgement on my part.”

Pacific Coach Walt Harris didn’t rant. He didn’t rave. Actually, he was fairly calm during a conference call with reporters on the Tuesday after his team was throttled, 86-24, by Cal.

“I felt like our guys played hard; we just weren’t up to it physically,” Harris said.

Some coaches would skip the film sessions and attempt to forget about a debacle like that. Harris said the Tigers watched the films and will learn from their mistakes.

But how will they react Saturday after a game like that?

“That’s the $64,000 question,” Harris said. “We reviewed what our goals were for the Cal game, and we accomplished three out of four.

“The one we didn’t accomplish--playing your assignment, your area--we talked about.”

Just think what the score might have been had the Tigers accomplished none of their four goals.

At any rate, the Tigers allowed 43 points in their first game and doubled that with 86 points allowed in their second. If the trend continues, that means SDSU will score how many points?

San Diego State Coach Al Luginbill didn’t want to think about it.

“I’m very happy to win the game by one,” Luginbill said. “I’ve had a team score 50 points and lose. You will hear nothing from me.”

The answer, by the way, is 172.

For those who still would like a quarterback controversy, check the Western Athletic Conference statistics: In passing efficiency, SDSU’s David Lowery is ranked second and Cree Morris, SDSU’s starter, is sixth.

Lowery, who played the fourth quarter Sunday, completed eight of 11 passes for 121 yards. Morris was 13 of 25 for 214 yards and a touchdown. Neither had a pass intercepted.

Coach Al Luginbill was thrilled with both.

“Our quarterbacks’ decision-making was absolutely phenomenal for an opening game,” Luginbill said. “I’m amazed they would do that well in the area of getting the ball where it is supposed to be.”

Dimeback Marcus Preciado underwent a magnetic resonance imaging test Tuesday and was found to have a right knee capsule strain. His status is week-to-week, and Barry said the Aztecs will attempt to have him back for the Air Force game Sept. 21. Offensive guard Joe Heinz (knee) practiced Tuesday and should be ready to play Saturday. And the two H-backs with hamstring pulls, Keith Williams and Will Tate, are practicing again. Williams is probable and Tate questionable for Saturday’s game.