AZTEC UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : Cornerback Taylor OK to Play on Saturday

Aztec starting cornerback Gary Taylor, who aggravated a groin strain against Colorado State, said Wednesday he has been cleared by SDSU doctors to play against Brigham Young Saturday.

The biggest question will be how Taylor will hold up.

“I feel good,” he said. “In practice today I was a little sore, but after we warmed up I was OK.”

Taylor said the key thing Saturday will be for him to stretch between series and at halftime to keep his groin loose.

Said SDSU Coach Al Luginbill: “He’s not 100%, but he took turns (in practice) and is much further along than last week.”

Taylor has not had a full week of practice since before the SDSU-New Mexico game Oct. 12.

Meanwhile, cornerback Zac Stokes (concussion) on Wednesday still had not been cleared to practice.

Luginbill celebrated his 45th birthday Wednesday with a post-practice cake ordered by football secretary Carole Hendry and with an off-key rendition of Happy Birthday, courtesy of the SDSU players. Then, linebacker Andy Coviello and quarterback David Lowery sneaked up behind Luginbill and doused him with a large container of ice water.

After that, some players called for a speech. Luginbill was agreeable.

“Just win,” he said.

End of speech.

An agreement has been reached in the painting crisis: SDSU officials were told Wednesday that stadium officials will paint the end zones black and red for Saturday’s BYU game.

Redshirt freshman Brian Kalk is playing Ty Detmer in practice this week. . . . Vickie Larsen, SDSU director of ticket operations, said about 50,000 tickets have been sold for the BYU game. . . . Tickets for the Freedom Bowl go on sale Monday at gate nine at Anaheim Stadium. All seats are reserved and priced at $28 and $15. The Western Athletic Conference runner-up--the loser of Saturday’s SDSU-BYU game--will play in the Dec. 30 bowl. . . . The leading candidate to oppose the WAC runner-up in the Freedom Bowl is Tulsa (6-2).