AZTECS UPDATE : NOTEBOOK / SCOTT MILLER : Walk-On Snapper Earns Scholarship

Aztec Coach Al Luginbill certainly does not look like Santa Claus, but long snapper Thomas Fletcher certainly felt like it was Christmas morning Tuesday.

After the morning practice, Luginbill announced to the team that Fletcher, a sophomore walk-on from San Marcos, had earned a scholarship.

“He’s an exceptional snapper,” Luginbill said. “He’s a great kid.”

Said Fletcher: “I was very surprised, very surprised. I had applied for financial aid and didn’t get it.”

Although freshman Peter Holt is kicking well in practice, Luginbill said the kicking job still belongs to Andy Trakas.

“The competition is going to make Andy better,” Luginbill said. “Andy is kicking better than ever before.”

Practice was spiced Tuesday afternoon by a couple of fights. The undercard featured defensive back Robert Griffith and tight end Alex Semenik, and the main event came later, with defensive back Sam Williford taking on tight end Zack Smith. Williford and Smith went at it for two or three minutes--despite Williford’s broken left wrist. . . . The Aztecs will hold their second and final intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday, but it is closed to the public. . . . Luginbill said he will probably announce which freshmen will redshirt early next week. . . . Score one for tradition: Despite USC’s 3-8 record last season and SDSU’s 8-4-1 mark and Freedom Bowl appearance, the Trojans are ranked 25th in the preseason USA Today/CNN (coaches’) poll and the Aztecs are 30th.