FRISCO, Texas – The San Diego State football team completed its first full practice in the Lone Star State on Sunday in preparation for the 2018 DXL Frisco Bowl.
Under an ashen sky painted with cirrostratus clouds and temperatures holding steady at a crisp but football-perfect 58 degrees, the Aztecs conducted a spirited two-hour practice in shells on the fields adjacent to Toyota Stadium.
"Our players had a lot of fun yesterday and we had a really good practice this morning, so hopefully we're getting ready to play," said head coach Rocky Long. "When you go to a bowl game, there are a lot of bowl activities that prevent you from really buckling them down because you have responsibilities. (They) want to show you a good time and you have to be involved and all of that.
"Hopefully the way we practiced shows we're ready to play. I think they're excited about being here and it seems that they're having a good time. Let's make sure they're excited about playing football."
"It was a good practice, a good first start," said senior quarterback and Carlsbad High alumnus Christian Chapman. "We just have to work on a few things and we'll be ready for Wednesday. For the seniors, this is our last go-around, the last chapter of our college careers and for the young guys, they're trying to finish the season with a win and go into the off-season with some momentum, so this is a big game for us."
"(T)he physicality, effort, it's all improving and I feel like we'll be ready by Wednesday," added sophomore safety and St. Augustine High product Tariq Thompson.
Following practice, the SDSU delegation decamped to the Toyota Stadium's Winners Club, where it was treated to lunch courtesy of Rudy's "Country Store" Bar-B-Q. In addition to the cuisine, the Aztec players and staff were given complimentary Justin cowboys hats.
Earlier in the day, defensive lineman Sam Hines, cornerback Tayari Venable and offensive lineman Zachary Thomas volunteered their time with Frisco Fastpacs to help provide weekend meals for over 800 underserved children in the Frisco community.
Later this evening, the Aztecs will take in some NBA action when the Dallas Mavericks play host to the Sacramento Kings, beginning at 6 p.m. CT inside American Airlines Arena.
SDSU will hold its final practice on Monday from 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. CT in the Ford Center at The Star, a state-of-the-art, 510,000 square foot indoor athletic facility shared by the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, the City of Frisco and Frisco Independent School District high schools.
San Diego State (7-5), which is making its school-record ninth straight bowl appearance, will battle the Ohio Bobcats (8-4) on Wednesday, Dec. 19, starting at 7 p.m. CT/5 p.m. PT.
Aztecs Hold First Practice in Texas for Frisco Bowl
