Aztecs Still Entertain Holiday Thoughts

Everything you need to know about San Diego State’s 1992 future, the Holiday Bowl, the flop against Wyoming, and beyond:

Despite having two conference losses, the Aztecs (4-3-1, 4-2 in the Western Athletic Conference) continue to control their destiny. They have two WAC games remaining, both at home: Hawaii and Fresno State.

Hawaii (5-1 in the WAC) is one game ahead of SDSU. Fresno State (4-2) is tied with the Aztecs and Brigham Young. If the Aztecs defeat both Hawaii and Fresno State, they will represent the WAC in the Holiday Bowl and earn $1.5 million for the appearance.

If that happens, it will be a history-making year in the WAC--no team has ever won the conference title with two losses.

“I’m just glad to be here,” SDSU Coach Al Luginbill said. “I’m enthused about having the opportunity to play for the championship and play the following week for the championship. . . .

“I can’t believe we are not going to play well. My expectation level is that we will play well, execute well and do the things it takes to win the football game.”

The Greater San Diego Sports Assn. will take a step today toward determining the WAC representative’s opponent in the Holiday Bowl.

The bowl has an agreement with the Big Ten to get the third team in that conference, after the Rose Bowl and Florida Citrus Bowl. The Holiday Bowl can opt out of that agreement if no eligible Big Ten team has at least eight victories against Division I-A opponents or is not ranked among the top 20 teams in the CNN/USA Today coaches’ poll.

If the Holiday Bowl wishes to ditch the Big Ten, it must let the conference know by today. The Holiday Bowl board has scheduled a noon meeting for today to make a final decision.

“We haven’t made a decision yet,” said John Reid, Holiday Bowl president, Sunday night. “We agreed to hold off until (today).

“Our inclination is to stick with them but we’re looking at other possible options.”

It is believed that, given the Big Ten’s mediocre season, the Holiday Bowl is considering inviting a Pac-10 team instead.

If the Holiday Bowl sticks with the Big Ten, though, it is probable that Iowa will be ignored even if it finishes third. If that were the case, the Holiday Bowl probably would invite the fourth-place Big Ten team--which at this point would be either Michigan State, Illinois or Indiana.

Iowa was in last year’s game--its third appearance since 1987.

“The best Iowa could do is (finish) 6-6, and that’s an awfully tough call,” Reid said. “Especially since they were here last year. Our interest in them would be minimal.”

Luginbill did not have any magic answers for solving SDSU’s offensive woes. The Aztecs made it inside the Wyoming 20 four times during Saturday’s 17-6 loss and came away with only two field goals.

“In the first half we throw the ball decently well and make some horrible mental errors,” Luginbill said. “In the second half, we make physical errors. It’s just not in sync.”

The Aztecs dropped at least seven passes Saturday, and quarterback David Lowery was erratic.

“We’re getting to the point defensively where a solid offensive passing effort is going to mean a lot of wins,” Luginbill said. “That’s the area I’ve been concerned about. We’ve got to keep working at it, keep working to get it right. I don’t believe there’s any magic to it.

“We’ll visit with out players and talk about the frustration. They’re a very fortunate group of young men because they still have an opportunity to win the rest of the way and go to the Holiday Bowl.”

Several Wyoming players were incensed at a quote allegedly attributed to Luginbill calling them “low-rent.” At least four Cowboys said the quote motivated them, although none knew which Wyoming newspaper contained the quotes and no reporter could be found who could verify hearing Luginbill say it.

Luginbill vehemently denied making any inflammatory statement.

“That’s on the point of ridiculous,” he said. “Somebody fabricated it. If it had anything to do with them winning, I feel very, very badly.

“That’s unethical. It’s a breach of ethics in this business. If you’ve got to stoop to that level to motivate your club, I don’t want any part of this business.”

The Aztecs came out of the Wyoming game injury-free. As for old injuries, linebacker Terrill Steen (knee) is day-to-day and defensive back Ramondo Stallings (ankle) should return to practice by Tuesday. . . . Running back Marshall Faulk continues to lead the nation in rushing at 163.6 yards per game. Georgia’s Garrison Hearst is next at 141.4. Faulk is second in all-purpose running yardage at 179.25 yards per game.