Sprained Knee Might Sideline Faulk for Finale Against Miami

In a season as close to Chinese water torture as football is going to get, San Diego State learned Sunday that star running back Marshall Faulk is somewhere between questionable and doubtful for Saturday’s season finale against No. 1 Miami.

The Aztecs can’t even end this season on the right note.

Although a magnetic resonance imaging test revealed Faulk did not sustain torn ligaments or cartilage in his right knee, doctors are calling it a first-degree sprain, and SDSU Coach Al Luginbill said he doubts Faulk will be able to face Miami.

“The way our injury situation has been this year, I just throw my hands up in the air,” Luginbill said.

The knee swelling was not as bad Sunday as the Aztecs feared, but Luginbill said Faulk definitely will not practice tonight.

“You just don’t know how quickly (the knee) will heal,” Luginbill said.

Luginbill does not know if Faulk will be able to practice this week and hedged when asked whether Faulk still could play if he does not practice.

“We’re certainly not going to subject him to a more serious injury,” Luginbill said.

If Faulk cannot go, the Aztecs (5-4-1) again will have to move senior Larry Maxey from H-back to running back because SDSU also lost Wayne Pittman--a broken leg--during Saturday’s 45-41 loss to Fresno State.

Pittman had surgery Saturday and, although the injury is serious, Luginbill said it wasn’t as bad as originally feared. Both the tibia and fibula were broken, but there was no muscle or nerve damage. Had there been, it probably would have been a career-ending injury.

“It would have been a real tragedy to see his career end on something like that,” Luginbill said.

The coach said Pittman is expected back in time for spring practice.

Luginbill and his coaches used Sunday to sort through the rubble of a crumbled season and assess the damage. Given that the Aztecs blew a certain Holiday Bowl appearance with the loss to Fresno State, Luginbill was not despondent.

“This is the most devastating particular event I’ve ever experienced in college football,” Luginbill said. “But I’ll be doggoned if I’ll allow it to bring me or this program down. I’m going to work harder to make sure it never happens again.

“Does it hurt? Does it hurt deeply? Yes. It’s like cutting your heart out. But if you have a solid program and solid kids, you’ll bounce back and the coaches will bounce back. Somewhere down the line, we’ll be better for it.

“That’s the only way I can look at this. A ‘woe is me’ attitude is not going to get us anywhere.”

Regarding Fresno State’s 40-yard punt return for a touchdown on a trick play--off Scott Oatsvall’s punt, which was a low line drive--Luginbill was disgusted.

“If we continue to have inconsistencies at the punting spot, we’ll open it up for the last game between Jason Savorn and Oatsvall,” Luginbill said.

Fresno State Coach Jim Sweeney was thrilled with the trick punt return. Charlie Jones caught the ball and lateraled across the field to Michael Ross, who ran 40 yards for a touchdown.

“I used to be the special teams coach for the Raiders,” Sweeney said. “(Then-Raider Coach John) Madden would say, ‘Use that junk with your own ball.’

“It was the first time we ran that trick punt this year. I put things like that in, and the kids think we’ll never run them.”

Although they are probably glad now, Aztec officials weren’t thrilled that the Fresno State-SDSU game was shown by ABC in only three markets: San Diego, Fresno and Hawaii.

“It’s just disappointing,” SDSU Athletic Director Fred Miller said before the game. “We think the game deserves more than that. I can’t believe that Salt Lake City is taking Washington-Washington State, or whatever it is. So much for conference loyalty.”

Although he gained only 21 yards on two carries, Faulk continues to lead the nation in rushing at 163 yards per game. He is also third in the nation in all-purpose yardage at 175.80 yards per game.

Faulk has 1,630 yards rushing and Darnay Scott has 1,080 yards receiving, making them the first pair to exceed 1,000 yards rushing and receiving at SDSU since 1985, when Chris Hardy rushed for 1,150 yards and Webster Slaughter had 1,071 receiving yards.

Ray Peterson on his school-record 91-yard punt return: “People say, ‘Where has Ray been?’ A punt return takes 11 people and 11 people showed up today.”

Aside from Faulk and Pittman, SDSU enters the Miami game with other injuries:

Linebacker Mike Burns (right shoulder sprain) is doubtful; center Mike Alexander (cut hand and great toe sprain), nose tackle Turaj Smith (great toe dislocation) and linebacker Chad Provensal (stinger) are questionable.

With their bowl hopes evaporated, what does Luginbill intend to tell the Aztecs today?

“We’ve got an opportunity to play the No. 1 team in the country in our house,” Luginbill said. “Whether we like it or not, this is our bowl game. We’ve got nothing to lose. Let’s let it all hang out.”

And what about Faulk’s run for the Heisman Trophy? With the Holiday Bowl lost, does the Heisman now take on added significance for SDSU?

“What would put something (extra) on this season is a great effort against the University of Miami,” Luginbill said. “It could really take the sting out of this season. I want our guys to look at it that way.”