Nov. 24, 2009
SAN DIEGO -
Complete Release in PDF Format
Aztecs Close Out Brady Hoke's First Season Looking to Match Highest Win Total in Six Seasons
Two teams with identical overall and conference records meet to close out the 2009 campaign when San Diego State travels to UNLV in the 2009 season finale. Game time is set for 6 p.m. PT and the contest will be televised nationally by The Mtn. HD. In San Diego, the contest will be simulcast on Channel 4 San Diego HD.
Both the Aztecs and Rebels are looking to respond from losses last week and could climb into a fifth place tie in the Mountain West Conference.
Last week, the Aztecs suffered a 38-7 setback at 23rd-ranked Utah. After spotting the Utes a 38-point halftime lead, the Aztecs outgained Utah, 171-124 after the intermission. The Rebels are coming off a bye week after dropping a 45-17 game at Air Force.
- Saturday's game marks the 19th meeting between San Diego State and UNLV, with the Aztecs owning a 11-7 lead in the series. The Aztecs also have won six of the last seven encounters with the Rebels. San Diego State has won the last three meetings in the series and will try and win four consecutive encounters for the first time in the history of the series. [See The Series, Page 5]
- How much has San Diego State improved this season? In the seven conference games in 2009, San Diego State has posted a 2-5 record and has been outscored by 82 points (153-235) after going 0-7 and being outscored by 229 points (94-323) against those same MWC opponents last season. The 147 total-point improvement averages out to 21.0 points per game. [See Change You Can Believe In, Page 7]
- Of the 22 new coaches in the FBS this season, only six have already led their team to at least two more victories in 2009 than last season. They are San Diego State's Brady Hoke (2 to 4), Iowa State's Paul Rhodes (2 to 6), Washington's Steve Sarkisian (0 to 3), Auburn's Gene Chizik (5 to 7), Toledo's Tom Beckman (3 to 5) and Army's Rich Ellerson (3 to 5). Hoke has also helped the Aztecs, 11 games into the season, match or surpass their win total in seven of the last nine seasons. [See First Year Coach, Big Time Impact, Page 7]
- After struggling with injuries each of the last two seasons, senior wide receiver DeMarco Sampson has jumped on the scene in a big way the last six weeks. Sampson, who leads the team in receptions and receiving yards, has put together a six-game stretch that anyone in the country would be proud of. In the last six contests, the Chula Vista native has 42 catches for 597 yards and eight touchdowns. Prior to this six-game stretch, Sampson had 34 career receptions for 376 yards and one TD. [See Sampson Coming On, Page 8]
- The Aztec defense continues to show remarkable improvement seven games into the Brady Hoke/Rocky Long regime. Of the 14 defensive statistical categories the NCAA keeps, the Aztecs have shown improvement in 11 categories. SDSU ranks 77th in total defense this season after placing 113th last season. [See Defense Makes Big Strides, Pages 8]
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