Going to a bowl game is nothing new to Aztec head coach Rocky Long. While at New Mexico, Long won a school-record 65 games and led the Lobos to five bowls in his final seven seasons. His teams were bowl eligible in seven of his last eight seasons. Long has helped SDSU to back-to-back bowl games for the first time in its Division I history (Long was the defensive coordinator in San Diego State's 35-14 win over Navy at last year's Poinsettia Bowl). Long is the first head coach in the Aztecs' storied history to lead his team to a bowl game in his first season.
Long credits the seniors for the team's success this season.
"I think (the seniors have) taken me under their wing," Long said. "They took the new coaching staff under their wing and realized that we were pointed in the right direction and they allowed me to continue our program in that same direction. It is much more difficult for a football team and the leadership of a football team to perform well when everybody expects you to. This year, we played everybody that came with their best game. The inner leadership that these guys and the other seniors gave was outstanding because it's harder to win as many games when everybody is giving you their best shot." |
| | PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO | | | | SDSU'S STAT LEADERS | ![<a href=]( "Ryan Lindley") Ryan Lindley" height="57" src="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/sdsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_headshot/3350522.jpeg" width="45" /> | #14 Ryan Lindley | 6-4 | 230 | Sr. | QB
Passing: 209-of-398, 2,740 Yards, 20 TDs, 8 INTs |  | #12 Ronnie Hillman | 5-10 | 190 | So. | RB
Rushing: 287 Attempts, 1,656 Yards, 5.8 Avg, 19 TDs |  | Colin Lockett| 6-4 | 230 | Sr. | WR
Receiving: 52 Catches, 885 Yards, 17.0 Avg, 5 TDs |  | #9 Miles Burris | 6-3 | 235 | Sr. | LB
Tackles: 72 Total, 45 Solo
TFLs: 19.0 for -81 Yards, 3 FR
Sacks: 8.0 for -60 Yards |  | #29 Larry Parker | 5-11 | 170 | Sr. | DB
INTs: 7-57 TOT-yds, 3 FR, 56 Tackles, 2.5 TFLs |
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