Faulk Adds Starting Role to His Resume

He has set a single-game NCAA rushing record and a single-game NCAA all-purpose running record.

He leads the nation in scoring with an average of 19.6 points a game, and he is third nationally in rushing with an average of 166 yards a game.

And Monday night, SDSU freshman running back Marshall Faulk added one more achievement to his already bulging file.

He became a starter for SDSU.

Call it the end of freshman initiation. Although Faulk has not yet been told officially that he is a first-team player, SDSU Coach Al Luginbill said after practice Monday that Faulk had earned the job.

“If Coach Luginbill said I deserve to start, I guess I really do,” said Faulk in typical low-key manner. “I guess you could say I’m a starter now.”

Hard as it is to believe, Faulk, until now, has been a member of SDSU’s second-team. He has started two games, but those were by default.

He was in for SDSU’s first offensive play in the season-opener against Cal State Long Beach only because T.C. Wright had broken loose for a 78-yard punt return on the previous play and needed a breather.

And he started in SDSU’s 47-21 romp over Hawaii Saturday only because Wright was late for a meeting.

But after running like a senior instead of a freshman . . . after ringing up 212 yards and five touchdowns against Hawaii . . . after the NCAA record-setting night of 386 yards rushing and 422 total running yards Sept. 14 against Pacific, it was only a matter of time.

“Marshall is special,” Luginbill said. “He deserves the opportunity to start ballgames.”

Faulk took the news in stride.

“It doesn’t feel any different,” he said. “I’m going to play the same way regardless of whether I start or not.

“I’m just going to be in there for the first play. From then on, it’s the same.”

In only five games this season, Faulk has rushed for 100 or more yards three times; 200 or more once and 300 or more once.

He already has 16 touchdowns--all rushing. The NCAA record for freshman rushing touchdowns is 18, held by Hawaii’s Jamal Farmer, and the NCAA record for freshman touchdowns by any means is 20, set by Tennessee’s Reggie Cobb. With seven games to go, Faulk seems a sure bet to surpass those.

Faulk said he isn’t awed by his college debut.

“I just keep having great games, but it seems normal,” he said. “I just do what I have to do. Everything is going right. I just congratulate my offensive teammates and my offensive line. They’re blocking for me downfield, and everything is going right.”

And things should continue to go right for Faulk. Next up for SDSU is New Mexico, who lost to Fresno State Saturday, 94-17. Fresno State gained 491 yards on the ground and didn’t even attempt a pass in the second half.

Aztec Notes

SDSU Coach Al Luginbill called the victory over Hawaii Saturday the biggest in his time as Aztec coach. “Because of where we were,” Luginbill said. “Every game is huge now because we’re trying to stay in (the Western Athletic Conference race), but I thought we got our confidence back and replaced any doubts as to whether we’re a decent football team. I’m proud of these young men, and I’m extremely proud of our coaching staff.”. . . Luginbill is still concerned with quarterback Cree Morris, who lost his starting job last week. Morris was inserted late in the Hawaii game and missed on two pass attempts. “He had receivers open and needed to get the ball there,” Luginbill said.