SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State football legends Donnel Pumphrey and Brian Sipe have been named honorary head coaches for the 2022 Spring Game, which will take place on Thursday, March 24. Pumphrey will coach the White Uni's while Sipe will lead the Black Uni's.
The March 24 Aztec Spring Game will take place on the practice fields behind PS7 and is open to the public with free admission. The gates will open at 5 p.m. PT with fan activities featuring free mini-stadium replicas, SDSU buffs and 100th season stickers, band/cheer/dance appearances, cornhole games, inflatable games for kids, a DJ, SDSU Bookstore merchandise sale and concessions.
Additionally, there will be an autograph session with Pumphrey and Sipe at 5:30 p.m. The Aztecs will start warm-ups at 6 p.m. and will officially start the scrimmage at 6:30 p.m.
Pumphrey rushed for a NCAA-record 6,405 yards for his career from 2013-16, and finished his career ranked fifth in all-purpose yards (7,515), tied for eighth in overall touchdowns (67) and ninth in rushing touchdowns (62). Pumphrey, who is one of six players in FBS history with three consecutive 1,500-yard rushing seasons (2014-16), is the only player in FBS history with at least 5,000 rushing yards (or 6,000 yards) and 1,000 receiving yards. He's also the NCAA leader in games with a touchdown (41). Pumphrey holds SDSU career records in rushing yards (6,405), all-purpose yards (7,515), 100-yard rushing games (33), overall touchdowns (67), rushing touchdowns (62), overall points (402) and rushing attempts (1,059).
Pumphrey racked up numerous awards, including in 2016 being named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award finalist (top running back), a semifinalist for both the Maxwell Award (college player of the year) and Walter Camp Award (college player of the year), and a first-team Walter Camp and Sports Illustrated All-American. Pumphrey was also a two-time Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year (2015-16), three-time first-team all-MW selection (2014-16) and three-time SDSU Most Valuable Player (2014-16).
Sipe, meanwhile, threw for 5,707 yards and 44 touchdowns over his career from 1969-71, completing 436 of 788 passes for a 55.3 completion percentage. On the career list, Sipe is ranked fifth in winning percentage (.682), tied for fifth in 300-yard passing games (7), sixth in completions (436), tied for sixth in passing touchdowns (44) and victories (15), seventh in passing yards (5,707) and attempts (788), eighth in total offense (5,374) and tied for eighth in quarterback starts (22).
Sipe was a two-time honorable-mention All-America selection (1970 Associated Press, 1971 AP and United Press (AP)), 1971 first-team all-PCAA selection. Sipe went on to play for the Cleveland Browns for 10 years (1974-83) and two seasons in the USFL (1984-85). Sipe was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1980 when he passed for 4,132 yards and 30 touchdowns, helping the Browns to their first postseason berth since 1972. He made two Pro Bowls (1979-80) in his NFL career.
In 1980, Sipe passed for 4,132 yards and 30 touchdowns, helping to lead the Browns to their first postseason berth since 1972. Individually, his efforts earned him the NFL Most Valuable Player award and a selection to the 1981 Pro Bowl.
San Diego State finished the 2021 season ranked 25th in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll with a 12-2 record. Playing in its 99th season of football, SDSU had a school-record 12 victories and was one of just 10 programs nationally with at least 12 victories. Only four teams had more wins than the Aztecs, including national champion Georgia, and CFP teams Alabama and Cincinnati. San Diego State played five teams who reached double-digit victories on the season, securing wins over Pac-12 Champion/Rose Bowl participant Utah (10-4), UTSA (12-2) and Air Force (10-3).
The Aztecs kick off their inaugural season at Snapdragon Stadium on Sept. 3 against Arizona.
Those interested in securing season tickets or learning more can submit a Ticket Interest Form at https://snapdragonstadium.com, call (619) 283-7378, or email seating@snapdragonstadium.com.