AZTECS UPDATE : NOTEBOOK : No Reprimand for Luginbill Over Criticism of Officiating

The Western Athletic Conference has ruled on the case of San Diego State Coach Al Luginbill, who Sunday criticized the crew who officiated the Aztec-Air Force game as being “blatantly incompetent.”

The answer is: Luginbill apparently will not be reprimanded or punished.

WAC Commissioner Joe Kearney said that the case is closed and it has been handled internally.

“We don’t comment on it,” Kearney said. “We have a procedure to deal with it and we’ve done that.”

But Luginbill said Wednesday afternoon that he has not been reprimanded.

John Adams, the WAC supervisor of officials, said he has finished reviewing Luginbill’s complaints and that:

* The referees blew the whistle too soon on what should have been an Air Force fumble on the SDSU three-yard line. The Aztecs recovered, the officials ruled it was still Air Force ball when it shouldn’t have been. Air Force scored the go-ahead touchdown on the drive, making it 20-14.

* The referees missed a blocking-below-the-waist call on the Falcons’ blocked punt that was returned 33 yards for a touchdown by Carlton McDonald. Had the referees caught it, Air Force would have had a first down on the SDSU 40 instead of a touchdown.

* The fumblerooski was a legal play.

“We knew we were right,” Luginbill said. “We just wanted to see some good come out of it.”

Aloha Bowl officials confirmed that if Hawaii wins its next two games to go 7-1, they will extend the Rainbows an invitation regardless of how they do against SDSU on Nov. 14.

If the Aztecs lose to Hawaii, Aloha Bowl Executive Director Lenny Klompus said that SDSU would have little chance of being invited to the game because the Aztecs would finish no better than 6-4-1. Apparently, Klompus is chalking up SDSU’s game against Miami as a loss because the Aztecs are currently 3-2-1, and a loss to Hawaii would give them three losses.

However, Klompus said, SDSU’s chances would increase if running back Marshall Faulk wins the Heisman Trophy.

The Aloha Bowl is scheduled for Christmas Day.

Speaking of the Heisman, Air Force linebacker Mark Moody would award Faulk the trophy immediately, if he had any influence.

“If he doesn’t win the Heisman, it’s a crime,” Moody told the Rocky Mountain News on Wednesday. “I’ve never faced a back close to him. . . .

“What’s amazing is how mentally tough he is. He’s only 190 pounds, but he feels like a ton of bricks when he hits you. He brings it so fast and then he throws every ounce of his body into you.”

Offensive lineman Tony Nichols (flu) and defensive linemen Jamal Duff (sinus infection) and Ramondo Stallings (ear infection) missed practice Wednesday, while running back Wayne Pittman (flu) returned. Luginbill expects them all back tomorrow. If Nichols is unavailable for Saturday’s game against Colorado State, Burton Ewert or Chris Rodahoffer will step in.

Ever so quietly, the Aztecs have crept up to fifth in the nation in turnover margin. They have 16 takeaways and eight giveaways.

Their plus-1.33 per game average leads the Western Athletic Conference.

“We work hard at it every day in our quick-change drills,” Luginbill said. “If we’re in this position five games from now, we will have won a lot of those games, believe me.”

Defensive end Steve Matuszewicz’s reconstructive knee surgery will take place today at Mercy Hospital. . . . Faulk needs only 69 yards to surpass Norm Nygaard for the SDSU all-time rushing record. . . . Colorado State receiver Greg Primus needs only six receiving yards to surpass Jeff Champine for the Rams’ school record.