Aztecs’ Faulk Won’t Trample Matadors Off the Field

Until Cal State Northridge appeared on San Diego State’s schedule, Heisman Trophy candidate Marshall Faulk said he had never heard of Northridge.

But Faulk, who grew up in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward, a poverty-stricken, crime-infested project, is giving the Matadors their due.

When asked if the Aztecs are in a no-win situation because they will be disgraced if they lose to the Matadors and criticized if their margin of victory isn’t overwhelming, Faulk said:

“I wouldn’t put Northridge down by saying that. We still have to focus and put a good head on. You don’t know what’s going to happen out there. I won’t overlook them and look at them as the Northridge you guys (in the media) are presenting them as, because when I look on film they have players.”

When the Matadors look on film they see Faulk evading tacklers and outsprinting defensive backs. But that was last year.

“Compared to last year I’m a lot stronger, and I hope I got a little bit faster,” Faulk said.