Aug. 23, 2000
Weekly Release in portable document format (PDF)
THIS IS IT
San Diego State's 78th year of football gets underway on Thursday, Aug. 31st, when the Arizona State Sun Devils visit Qualcomm Stadium in a 7:05 p.m. start. The Aztecs play just five home games in 2000 with the second coming on Sept. 9th versus Illinois.
THE DEUCE
Each of San Diego State's first two games will be televised nationally on ESPN2. Dave Barnett will call the action with Bill Curry providing color for the ASU contest. Also on the telecast will be Michelle Tafoya and Mike Golic. SDSU will be making its fourth appearance on ESPN2. All three of the previous meetings came against Air Force, including last year's 23-22 loss to the Academy. The Aztecs defeated the Falcons in 1996 on ESPN2 (28-23) and lost to Air Force in 1997 (24-18) on The Deuce.
TV STREAK
Three consecutive Aztec games (over two seasons) will have been featured on ESPN or ESPN2 by the time Illinois leaves town. San Diego State closed the 1999 season with a 39-7 win over Wyoming on ESPN before opening 2000 with the ESPN2 games. The ASU contest will mark SDSU's 27th appearance on a national network since 1990.
LAST SEASON
San Diego State is coming off a 5-6 record that included a 3-4 mark in Mountain West Conference play for a fifth-place finish. The Aztecs closed the season with a two-game winning streak. SDSU defeated UNLV, 37-7, and Wyoming, 39-7, to end the season.
THE SQUAD
San Diego State will take the field against the Sun Devils with just six players scheduled to be in the starting lineup that began the game against Wyoming in the 1999 season finale. The returning starters include five on offense: receiver J.R. Tolver, lineman Mike Houghton (who is starting at center instead of tackle), tight end Gray McNeill, quarterback Jack Hawley and receiver Sean Pierce.
BEST DEFENSIVE YEAR
San Diego State returns just one starter in Jerome Haywood from arguably the best defense in SDSU history. The Aztecs finished the 1999 season ranked No. 18 nationally, allowing just 304.5 yards per game, tops in the MWC.
THE SERIES
Arizona State and San Diego State are meeting for the eighth time, with the Sun Devils owning a 6-0-1 record against the Aztecs. The teams have not met since Dwight D. Eisenhower roamed the Oval office with the Sun Devils claiming a 66-0 victory on Oct. 26, 1957. The lone bright spot in the series for San Diego State was a 27-27 tie in 1951. San Diego State has not scored in the last three contests.
PAC-10 FEVER
San Diego State is 11-44-3 against members of the Pacific-10 Conference. In addition to the 0-6-1 mark vs. Arizona State, the Aztecs are 2-0 vs. Oregon State, 3-3 vs. California, 5-8 vs. Arizona, 1-3 vs. Stanford, 0-2-1 vs. Southern California, 0-2 vs. Washington, 0-4 vs. Oregon and 0-16-1 vs. UCLA. The Aztecs have dropped five straight to Pac-10 members, dating back to a 33-9 season-opening victory over California on Sept. 2, 1995. Of the last five losses, two have been by five points or less, including last season's 24-21 loss at 17th-ranked Southern California. Since Ted Tollner took control of the football program prior to the 1994 season, San Diego State is 2-5 against Pac-10 competition, but 2-1 against those foes at Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium.
VS. GRAND CANYON STATE
The Aztecs are 7-14-1 against the three Division I football playing schools in Arizona. In addition to a 5-8 mark against Arizona and an 0-6-1 record against Arizona State, San Diego State is 2-0 all-time against Northern Arizona.
LIDLIFTERS
Although San Diego State has posted a solid all-time record of 42-30-5 (57.8 percent) in season openers, the Aztecs have been even more impressive of late. Since 1991, the Aztecs have dropped only one game to kickoff the season, posting a 7-1-1 (83.3 percent) mark during that stretch. Equally impressive, has been the opening-game margin of victory for San Diego State. In winning seven of the last nine lidlifters, San Diego State has outscored its opponents 343-174. Factor out the season-opening loss to Wisconsin in 1998 and a tie against Southern California in 1992, and the Aztecs own a 298-117 scoring edge for an average score of 42.6-16.7. The lone loss during that period was a 26-14 setback to Wisconsin. The Badgers went on to claim a victory in the 1999 Rose Bowl and ended the season 11-1.
THE Q STANDS FOR QUALITY
For the 10th consecutive season, San Diego State opens a season with a home contest. Although the Aztecs' success in season openers is documented above, San Diego State has also enjoyed success in its home openers. San Diego State is 55-17-5 (74.7 percent) in home openers. The Aztecs have won five of their last six home openers and are 8-1-1 (85.0 percent) since 1990, 12-2-1 (83.3 percent) since 1985, 15-3-1 (81.6 percent) since 1981 and 32-4-1 (87.8 percent) since 1963. Included in that stretch were 17 consecutive victories in home openers from 1963 through 1979. Legendary coach Don Coryell, San Diego State's all-time winningest coach, and member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was on the sideline for the first 10 wins during that school-record stretch.
TOLLNER TOUGH IN OPENERS
San Diego State head coach Ted Tollner has seen some of his best success in season openers. Tollner, who is 5-1 in season openers at SDSU, is 9-1-1 all-time, including an 8-2-1 mark in home openers. Tollner has also won 62 percent of his games against Pac-10 foes, posting a 23-14 record.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Although it has been eight months since its last game, San Diego State enters the opener coming off two impressive offensive games. The Aztecs ended last season with a 37-7 victory at UNLV and a 39-7 win over Wyoming. That marks the first time the Aztecs have scored more than 35 points in consecutive games since October of 1998. The 76 points in consecutive games are the most in back-to-back games since the 1996 season when San Diego State defeated San Jose State 49-20 (Nov. 2) before disposing of Wyoming 28-24 (Nov. 7).
EIGHT ISN'T ENOUGH
With its offense ending the season in high gear, the Aztecs carry a streak of eight consecutive quarters with points scored into the 2000 season. That is the longest consecutive stretch since the 1996 season when the Aztecs strung together 10 consecutive quarters with points starting with the final three quarters of the Nov. 7th game vs. Wyoming (W, 28-24), all four quarters on Nov. 16th vs. UNLV (L, 42-44) and the first three quarters on Nov. 23rd against Fresno State (W, 31-21). In four of the eight quarters during the current streak, San Diego State has scored at least twice.
DEFENSE CAME AROUND, TOO
The San Diego State defense saved its best for last, yielding only seven points in each of the last two games of the 1999 season. That marked only the second time in the 1990s and only the third time since 1978 that the Aztecs had limited an opponent to a touchdown or less in back-to-back efforts. The defense limited the opposition to 14 points or less four times last season and nine times in the last 20 games.
SCORING IS DOWN
The defense allowed 226 points in 1999 after 224 in 1998 marking the first time that the SDSU defense has allowed less than 250 points in consecutive seasons since the 1976-77 campaigns when the Aztecs went a combined 20-2.
POWER FOOTBALL
San Diego State has outgained its opponents on the ground in eight consecutive games dating back to the third game of the 1999 season when Southern California outrushed the Aztecs 96-74. That is the longest streak since the Aztecs outgained eight consecutive opponents during the 1977-78 seasons. Starting on Oct. 15, 1977, the Aztecs outrushed Texas-El Paso (219-116), UNLV (206-100), Tulsa (222-136), Pacific (147-33), Long Beach State (128-100), Florida State (242-55) and San Jose State (107-99). SDSU extended the streak to eight games on Sept. 16, 1978, when the Aztecs outrushed Iowa State (228-224). A successful running attack isn't anything new to San Diego State. The Aztecs are 48-13-1 since 1990 when rushing for 150 yards or more, including a 29-6 record under Tollner. When San Diego State has a ball carrier break the 100-yard plateau, the Aztecs are 47-20-2, including 27-9 under Tollner.
LIMITING THE 50-YARD CARRIER
The San Diego State defense ended the '99 season by not allowing an opposing running back 50 yards rushing in the last three games. That marked the first time the Aztecs have not allowed a 50-yard rusher in three consecutive games since the 1975 season. That year, the Aztec defense stopped Texas El-Paso (Sept. 6), Oregon State (Sept. 13) and North Texas (Sept. 20).
Q+TO=WIN
What are San Diego State's keys to victory? One stat to keep an eye on is turnover margin. The Aztecs have won 20 straight games at Qualcomm/Jack Murphy Stadium when they have an edge in the turnover margin dating back to Nov. 28, 1992. The last team to overcome a negative turnover margin and win at San Diego State was Miami. The Hurricanes, which went 12-0 and won the national championship with a 22-0 victory over Nebraska, claimed a 63-17 victory over SDSU in the Aztecs' season finale.
DID YOU KNOW???
San Diego State received three votes in the preseason USA TODAY/ESPN Coaches Top 25 college football poll.
TOUGH SLATE
According to Sports Illustrated, San Diego State plays the nation's 22nd most difficult schedule. Six 1999 bowl teams are included on the 2000 slate, including ASU, which played in last year's Aloha Bowl.
CONNECTIONS
There are several player and coaching connections between the Aztec and Sun Devil programs. * ASU secondary coach Ron English held the same position for two years at San Diego State under Ted Tollner (1996-97). Aztec strength and conditioning coach Dave Ohton is a 1984 Arizona State graduate.
* SDSU freshman Adam Gray-Hayward and ASU freshman Adrian Ayala prepped at St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura.
* SDSU's Ricky Sharpe and ASU's Rob Miceli played at San Diego's Mt. Carmel.
* Sun Devil kicker Greg Pieratt played high school football at San Diego's Patrick Henry High School, located just five minutes north of the SDSU campus.
* Six Arizonans suit up for the Aztecs, all hail from the greater Phoenix area. Freshman QB Jon Stoner is from Glendale Cactus High School, Garric Simmons is also from Glendale (Washington). Freshman Stephen Larsen is a product of Chandler (Tempe Desert Vista). Long snapper Jason Asbury attended Cortez High School in Phoenix. Jason Perry, another frosh, is from Apache Junction. Andrew Brigham is a Scottsdale Saguaro product. Last season, SDSU's Mike Milano earned first-team All-America honors at center. He attended Horizon High School in Scottsdale.
THREE AZTECS EARN PRESEASON MWC HONORS
San Diego State placed three players on the Mountain West Conference's 2000 Media Preseason Football Team. Senior tight end Gray McNeill and senior running back Larry Ned were selected on offense, while junior defensive tackle Jerome Haywood was a defensive team choice. The three each earned all-Mountain West Conference honors following the 1999 season, with McNeill being named to the first team and Ned and Haywood tabbed to the second.
FIRST TIMERS
Eleven Aztecs are scheduled to make their first career starts when SDSU takes the field for its season opener against ASU. The total includes five players on offense (Chester Pitts, Johnathan Ingram, Raul Gomez or David Mayhew, David Moreno and James Truvillion) and six on defense (George Heather, Amon Arnold, Dylan Robles, Ross Marchbanks, Ricky Sharpe and Donte Gamble).
WALKING INTO STARTING ROLES
San Diego State has a proud tradition of walk-ons who have gone on to make big impacts as starters. The 2000 season should continue that trend as the Aztecs open the year with five players who joined the program as walk-ons filling starting roles against ASU. SDSU's walk-ons turned starters include strong safety Will Demps, offensive tackle Mike Houghton, offensive tackle Chester Pitts, cornerback Donte Gamble and kickoff specialist Brian Simnjanovski.
FAMILY TIES
A trio of Aztecs, senior H-back Bill Hammett, junior free safety Garret Pavelko and freshman safety Josh Dean, followed in their father's footsteps by accepting scholarships to San Diego State. The elder Hammett, Bill Hammett III, was a standout linebacker for the Aztecs during the 1972 and '73 seasons, while Galen Pavelko, Garret's dad, lettered at SDSU in 1969 and '70. Josh Dean's dad, Vernon, is perhaps the most well known, however. After starring at SDSU from 1980-81, he went on to play for the Washington Redskins from 1982-87.
NED ON HOLD
The season opener between Arizona State and San Diego State was supposed to feature a matchup of two of the nation's top running backs in SDSU's Larry Ned and ASU's Delvon Flowers. However, the pair of Doak Walker candidates will miss Thursday's contest with knee injuries. Flowers, a senior who was supposed to finally get his shot as the Sun Devils' marquee back, tore the ACL in his left knee on Aug. 16. Expected to be the Aztecs' work-horse this season, Ned tore cartilage in his left knee the very next day. Though Flowers is lost for the season following reconstructive surgery, Ned may be back as soon as SDSU's Sept. 9th contest against Illinois after having his knee `scoped on Aug. 20.
Ned Eyeing Record Book
When he does return to the Aztecs' lineup, Ned will be looking to jump into SDSU's top 10 in both career rushing yards and career carries. Despite splitting time with Jonas Lewis for the past two seasons, Ned enters the 2000 campaign just eight yards shy of 10th place all-time on SDSU's career rushing chart with 1,656 yards. With his next carry, the senior will also move into the Aztecs' all-time top 10 for career carries. Ned had carried the ball 315 times.
TRUVILLION TAKES HIS TURN
After spending his first two years in the SDSU football program as a backup to Larry Ned and Jonas Lewis, running back James Truvillion will finally make his first start in the Aztec backfield against Arizona State. Though coaches have raved about his talent, the San Marcos product has totaled only 28 carries for 83 yards (3.0 ypc) in his two-year career. He also has eight kickoff returns for 156 yards (19.5 avg.) to his credit. A second-team all-CIF choice as a prep, Truvillion accounted for 1,140 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns as a senior at San Marcos HS.
HAWLEY SETS SIGHTS ON BREAKOUT CAMPAIGN, CONSISTENCY
San Diego State quarterback Jack Hawley threw for nearly 2,000 yards, 15 touchdowns and amassed an efficiency rating of 126.93 during his debut campaign in 1999. Though they were the best numbers put up by an SDSU quarterback since 1996, coaches have even higher expectations for the El Segundo native after posting strong spring and fall camps and gaining a better grasp of the Aztec offense. The key to his success this season may hinge on consistency, however. In SDSU's five '99 wins, Hawley was 58-of-95 passing (61.1 percent) for 917 yards, nine touchdowns and just one interception. Conversely, he was 87-of-171 (50.8 percent) for 1,025 yards with six TDs, nine interceptions and five fumbles in SDSU's six losses.
TANDBERG CLIMBING CHARTS
Aztec place-kicker Nate Tandberg, a Lou Groza award finalist in '99, enters the season seventh all-time at SDSU in scoring and third in kick scoring with 185 points.
QUARTERBACKING THE "D"
Senior safety Brian Russell appears to have made the most of his switch to defense midway through last season. SDSU's starter at quarterback for the first two games of the '99 campaign, Russell will once again be in the starting lineup for this year's season opener -- only this time at free safety. Russell, who made three starts in the Aztec secondary after moving to defense a year ago, was a 10-game starter at quarterback in 1998 and led SDSU to a Las Vegas Bowl berth.
LITTLE BIG MAN LONE STARTER
Junior defensive tackle Jerome Haywood, San Diego State's lone 11-game defensive starter from '99, may stand just 5-9 but he's been huge in clogging up the middle for the Aztecs during his two years on Montezuma Mesa. A preseason all-MWC selection, Haywood has been the key to SDSU's run-stuffing success, recording 65 tackles, including 11 for loss, in two seasons.
BIG SHOES TO FILL
For the fifth straight season San Diego State will have a Gbaja-Biamila in its starting lineup. However, for the first time, the player's first name won't be Kabeer as younger brother Akbar takes over at defensive end for the Aztecs. A two-game starter last season, Akbar will have some big shoes to fill. Kabeer, a third-round selection by the Green Bay Packers in the 2000 NFL Draft, closed out his SDSU career as that Aztecs' all-time leader in both tackles for loss (67) and sacks (33).
DONTE'S INFERNO
If there is was one surprise hit of SDSU's fall camp its was junior cornerback Donte Gamble. A walk-on transfer from El Camino Junior College, Gamble worked his way from obscurity to starter during camp, leapfrogging five contenders for the cornerback spot opposite Ricky Sharpe. Standing only 5-8 and weighing in at only 160 pounds, the fleet-footed Gamble was expected to be a solid cover man. However what surprised coaches was his hitting ability, which he put on display during the Aztecs' first scrimmage when he jarred the ball loose from J.R. Tolver while making an open-field tackle.