AZTECS NOTEBOOK : Bruins, Aztecs Open Up with Word Games

Kickoff time for San Diego State’s game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl isn’t until 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

But a different game kicked off Monday, one in which several points are made and nobody gets is penalized--at least not by a referee.

It’s all about pregame hype and getting a psychological advantage. That contest began Monday when Bruins Coach Terry Donohue expressed concern about his defense during a radio interview, and Aztecs Coach Al Luginbill suggested Donohue was blowing smoke.

“He must not have been watching the same film I’m watching,” said Luginbill of UCLA’s 17-10 victory Saturday over Brigham Young, in which the Bruins shut out the Cougars in the first half, intercepted three passes and held BYU to 2.75 yards per carry.

“Terry will downplay everything. He’s the Fisher DeBerry of the Pac-10,” said Luginbill, referring to the Air Force coach’s reputation for sand-bagging. “(UCLA’s defense) is not as fast as Miami, but they’re in that category. They’re close. I think they’ll have the best team speed of anybody we play except Miami.”

Luginbill, whose Aztecs (1-0-1) jumped from the 23rd to 21st spot in the Associated Press College Football poll, offered this volley.

“We’re playing a real good football team that takes advantage of everything you give them,” he said of the No. 11 Bruins. “Don’t give ‘em anything.

“I thought that was the difference. When BYU gave UCLA something, boy they jumped on it. And that wasn’t the case with BYU. I’m impressed with their whole football team, because they play the game of football the way it’s meant to be played. They don’t make a lot of mistakes.”

UCLA (2-0) is not known as a blitzing team, but Donohue said the Bruins will blitz more this year, in part, because they don’t have dominant linemen.

“That’s all fine and good to say that,” Luginbill responded in a suspicious tone, “except when you got 28 (running back Marshall Faulk) in the backfield. When you’re blitzing this way, he may be going that way. And that happened twice in the USC game and once in the BYU game.”

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Aztec quarterback David Lowery did not take any snaps for the second consecutive practice because of back spasms that started Friday and persisted through the weekend. Lowery, walking gingerly, attended meetings Monday.

Cornerback Eric Sutton surprised SDSU with a strong practice Monday, just nine days after knee surgery to repair cartilage damage. Sutton was previously listed as doubtful for the UCLA game, but Luginbill said Sutton looked “damn near 100%,” and will likely play Saturday if he stays as strong all week.