Sutton Getting Used to Being a Winner

Two Saturdays ago, following San Diego State’s narrow victory over Wyoming, freshman cornerback Eric Sutton sat in the Aztec locker room on the verge of being overwhelmed.

Sutton had received a significant amount of playing time during the game, and the victory meant his team was still in the Western Athletic Conference title chase.

Sutton was thrilled.

“This really feels good,” he said. “In high school, we didn’t win a game for three years. I don’t want to put away this feeling, ever.”

Now, the race is down to one game. No. 23 Brigham Young looms on Saturday, and Sutton hasn’t had to put away the feelings.

The Aztecs have won six in a row and Sutton, a true freshman from Inglewood High who expected to redshirt this season, might find himself starting Saturday.

Because of Gary Taylor’s aggravated groin injury, at the very least, Sutton will be on the field often.

Not bad. A year ago, Sutton watched BYU-SDSU on television. This week, he is preparing for Ty Detmer.

“I’ve just got to do what I do every week,” he said. “I’ve seen him play, and what he does says it all. He’s phenomenal.”

But Sutton says he isn’t overwhelmed.

“It’s funny,” Sutton said. “When you’re young, you watch college football and say, ‘Man, I wonder what it would be like to be out there.’

“Sometimes, this doesn’t even feel like college football. I’m just doing what I’ve got to do.”

Ron Mims, SDSU secondary coach, said that despite Sutton’s youth, he is up to the task of facing BYU.

“I think Eric Sutton is no longer a freshman,” Mims said. “He started two critical road games (Texas El Paso and Utah), and he’s come off the bench and played very well in two critical home games (Wyoming and Colorado State).

“Obviously, he still needs a lot of seasoning and turns. But I don’t question his courage and desire to compete. . . . He has excellent technique. It doesn’t matter who’s throwing or catching--he can cover.”

Said Sutton: “I have to worry about the man I’m covering. I don’t have to cover Ty Detmer. He throws the ball; somebody’s got to be there to catch it. And I’ve got to be there to defend it.”

Sutton, who is 5-feet-9, 175 pounds, landed at SDSU after recruiting visits to Oregon State and San Jose State. He said he picked SDSU because it wasn’t too far from his home, it wasn’t too close, and, “I felt this was a place where I could better my abilities.”

His biggest adjustment from high school to college football, he said, has been getting used to the mental demands of a long season and a new system. And, maybe, adapting to winning. Inglewood was 1-17-1 during Sutton’s two years there; 0-10 in the Bay League.

This week will be his biggest test.

“I never got to play for a championship before,” he said. “That makes this all the more exciting.

“One game. Every minute and every second counts.”