Freshman Faulk an All-American : College football: SDSU running back becomes third freshman to earn spot on first team.

Running back Marshall Faulk, who ran from probable redshirt status into the NCAA record book during an improbable fall, Thursday became the first San Diego State player in history to be named a first-team Associated Press All-American.

Faulk, who became the first freshman to lead the nation in either rushing or scoring--and he did both , became only the third freshman to make the AP team since 1972, when they became eligible for varsity competition. He follows Pittsburgh’s Tony Dorsett (1973) and Georgia’s Herschel Walker (1980).

“It’s pretty exciting,” Faulk said. “That’s great company. I’m just happy about it--but it couldn’t have happened without my line.”

Faulk, who will appear with the other AP All-Americans on the Bob Hope Christmas Special Dec. 18, finished the season with 1,429 yards and 140 points despite missing 3 1/2 games with two fractured ribs and a punctured lung. He averaged 158.8 yards and 15.6 points a game.

On Sept. 14, Faulk set an NCAA single-game record with 386 yards against the University of Pacific. Kansas’ Tony Sands surpassed that mark with 396 yards in a game in November. By the end of the season, Faulk had tied or set 13 NCAA records on his way to All-American status.

“Obviously, it’s well-deserved,” SDSU Coach Al Luginbill said. “I don’t know what he would have done if he hadn’t missed (nearly) four games. I’ve said all along that he’s one that comes along only once in a decade.”

The AP held its All-American selections until after Saturday for two reasons, according to Rick Warner, AP’s national college football writer. Although the team is based on the entire season, the football writers voting especially wanted to see how Faulk did against Miami and how Florida State’s Casey Weldon and Florida’s Shane Matthews fared in the Seminole-Gator game. Faulk ran for 154 yards against Miami, the most since Florida State’s Sammie Smith had 197 in 1987, and Matthews played well enough to also be picked to the first team.

“Not too many people run for 150 yards against Miami,” Warner said. “The guy had an unprecedented season for a freshman. Nobody has had a season quite like that.”

All this and Faulk didn’t even win SDSU’s most valuable player award. Quarterback David Lowery was named MVP at the team’s banquet Monday night.

Faulk, a 5-foot-10, 180-pounder from New Orleans, didn’t even become a starter until Oct. 5, when the Aztecs were in Hawaii. He did start the season opener against Cal State Long Beach, but only because then-starter T.C. Wright needed a quick breather after a long punt return. Faulk rushed for a season-low 39 yards in that game.

The next week, in the record-setting game against Pacific, Faulk didn’t even play until Wright was injured with about four minutes left in the first quarter. And three weeks later, in his first start, Faulk gained 212 yards at Hawaii.

“It’s not just his phenomenal ability,” Luginbill said. “This lets people know we’re not just a team that wants to throw the football.”

Faulk is a large part of the reason why SDSU will play in the Freedom Bowl Dec. 30, the Aztecs’ first post-season appearance since the 1986 Holiday Bowl. But he said his 1991 accomplishments have yet to register.

“Not really,” he said. “We have one more game. I’ll try to not even let it sink in until then. I want to keep my mind focused on the game.”

SDSU center Kevin Macon said Thursday that Faulk was not even overly excited.

“He was going about it like it was a normal day,” Macon said. “It was like, ‘Hey, be happy or something. Smile.’

“I’m just glad the linemen had a little part in it. It’s easy to make our blocks when you’ve got a great guy like that back there.”

Faulk said he has never been to Nashville, Tenn., where the Hope special will be taped Dec. 14, but that he has seen Hope’s annual Christmas show.

“I’ve watched his program many times, watching him joke around with the players,” Faulk said.

But he said he never thought of being on the show.

“Never,” he said. “Nobody thinks they will be there.”

Now, most of his friends and teammates will be watching.

“I look at this as a team award,” Luginbill said. “We’re all going to be extremely proud watching Bob Hope. I know I’m going to be tuned in.

“And it’s probably going to bring tears to my eyes.”

Aztec notes

While SDSU running back Marshall Faulk’s dream season continued, Coach Al Luginbill was preparing for SDSU’s second season. Luginbill spoke at an Orange County Sports Assn. luncheon in Anaheim, giving members a pre-Freedom Bowl briefing on the Aztecs. “(The Freedom Bowl) was our first choice down the stretch, if not the Holiday Bowl, for our young men,” Luginbill said. “Number one, it is right smack in the middle of a major recruiting area. Number two, this game gives us the opportunity to take a giant step forward, which is what this program needs.” . . . Luginbill said the Aztecs will not have a curfew until Dec. 26. “I’m not out of the Big 10 or Midwest,” Luginbill said. “I’m not going to take a team here and put them in a convent, or a monastery, or whatever you call it. I’m just not into that.” . . . Tulsa Coach Dave Rader also spoke--he was hooked up on a conference call. Asked how the community was responding to Tulsa’s bowl bid, Rader said: “Well, this Saturday we’ll be grand marshals in a Christmas parade. I don’t know that that’s ever happened before.” . . . SDSU has received an oral committment from Mesa Community College defensive back Willie Johnson. Community college players cannot sign binding letters of intent before Wednesday.

Fantastic Freshmen

Player, Pos, School Year Att Yds Avg TD Marshall Faulk, RB, San Diego State 1991 201 1,429 7.1 23 Herschel Walker, RB, Georgia 1980 274 1,616 5.9 15 Tony Dorsett, RB, Pittsburgh 1973 288 1,586 5.5 12