HONOLULU -- The San Diego State football team practiced for the final time of the season Thursday in Honolulu.
The Aztecs practiced at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama for the second straight day. Under sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s once again, SDSU went for a little over an hour on the beautiful 600-acre hillside campus. Following tradition, the San Diego State departing seniors were carried off the field following practice.
"Getting carried off was more sentimental than I thought it was going to be," senior defensive lineman Jonah Tavai said. "Seeing my young guys carrying all of us off was a blessing for me. I love the tradition and I hope they keep doing it."
"It was amazing," senior running back/return specialist Jordan Byrd said. "I got carried off last year as well. I was also able to carry off Juwan Washington earlier on in my career. Just having that honor to get carried off as a senior was really special."
As the week's festivities draw to a close, both Tavai and Byrd reflected on the week so far.
"It's been so much fun with our different activities and our free time," Tavai said. "We're off to the beach here soon, our meals have been fantastic, and just getting that quality time with the boys. I can't ask for anything better. I've also got my brother (Justus Tavai) here with me on the trip and we're having fun together. We've worked for this and we've earned this, so we're just here to have fun, and definitely want to win that game on Saturday."
"Coming here after a hard season is really a blessing," Byrd said. "Getting to see teammates' families has been a blessing too. My mom and dad are coming out as well. It's going to be a really good time having a vacation with them and the team as well."
Selected members of the San Diego State football team will take a visit to a local children's hospital on Friday morning before a scheduled walk-through later in the day.
San Diego State (7-5) will play Middle Tennessee State (7-5) in the 2022 EasyPost Hawai`i Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 24 at 3 p.m. HST (5 p.m. PST). The Aztecs are in a bowl game for the 12th time in the last 13 seasons after withdrawing from consideration in the shortened 2020 COVID season.