Sean Lewis Press Conference Quotes

San Diego State Football Press Conference Quotes
July 28, 2025

Head Coach Sean Lewis

Opening statement:
“Well, obviously, (it will be a) really exciting year. We get to do some football this week. Looking forward to that before we kind of dive into it and answer questions, we have some cool announcements. Some things I want to make sure, as we get ripping and running here with the excitement of actually getting to play football, that I don't miss. I want to make sure that all our season ticket holders know that for the next two weeks, when we start practice on Wednesday, the practices will be open as a way to say thank you guys (for your) never ending support. Information will be coming out through the ticket office for you be able to come down. We'll be practicing for the next two weeks, from 9:30 to 11:30 in the morning. We have off days on Aug. 3 and August 8, but any other time in there, starting Wednesday (July 30) through the 13th, current season ticket holders, come on out. We want to say thanks and thank you for your support and engage with you more and build those bonds and build those connections.

“We also dropped last week a little save the date information about Fan Fest, which will be on August 14. So, two weeks out from the season opener, we'll be kicking off at 7:05. It'll be an open scrimmage for all of our fans to be able to come out support this new Aztec team and be able to get a first glimpse, first look at what this team looks like in a full scrimmage opportunity. We're also going to be showing off for the first time, some new gameday experiences, introducing some new gameday traditions that's going to make Snapdragon Stadium the place to be this fall. We want our fans to be a part of that little dress rehearsal, so two weeks from that date, we can have an awesome home experience.

“Leading up to this event, we are going to be doing some different giveaways to generate some excitement and some buzz around that night and the season, and I actually get the cool honor here of announcing our first winner of one of those giveaways that we dropped with the save the date for the new EA Sports, college football video game. So for the Instagram winner was Roman Aguilar, and the Twitter winner was Aztec Braden. You’ve got to love that handle. That's awesome. So check out your (direct messages). Our support staff will be sending you the code so that you can have your copy of the new college football video game. Make sure you play with the Aztecs. We are looking forward to seeing you guys there at Fan Fest.

“Also, we’ll have more information that will be forthcoming about other save the dates, more giveaways. So make sure all of Aztec Nation that you're following along on Twitter @AztecFB and on Instagram at @aztecfootball. Currently on those social media platforms is our the climb mini-series that (Deputy Athletic Director, Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement) Ayo Taylor-Dixon and the marketing team have done a great job with in partnering with Cuento to give a never before seen access of everything that we've been doing since January, since we've been back, and there's going to be episodes that will be dropping every single week leading up to the season. So again, I want to pull the curtain back in this era of football, really kind of taking the helmet off and getting our community and our fans to be able to see who the guys are underneath the helmets, so that they can really engage with them.

“One last important date, save the date for August 21 at 6 p.m. We're going to be having our Aztec kickoff dinner down on the Midway, so kind of revamping this awesome event, but doing that down on the Midway, right downtown, in the harbor. Going to have a great night with players and coaches again one week out from kicking off the season. The guest speaker is an elite individual with deep Aztec ties. More details to come on that as we go.

“Last announcement, we do school around here as well with all this other stuff. I’m really pleased to announce that our current roster, all the active guys, posted a 3.0 team GPA last spring. So that's two out of the last three semesters the team has posted a 3.0 team GPA. And with that, I'll open it up to you guys and the questions and all things that are important top of mind that we're going to discuss as we enter training camp and the fourth phase of this climb and this fun 2025 season I've talked about.”

On members of the team saying this year has been better than this time last year:
“I think there's a greater level of comfort and connection in the building than there was a year ago. I think just the time on task that we have had together that ultimately leads to confidence, right? And, you know, trust within the building. And I think anytime that you're confident in what you're doing, I know our kids and our staff believe in our process, and they're trusting one another and, the work that's getting done that's ultimately going to yield a better product on the field and better results on the scoreboard.”

On how the program is handling the new scholarship limit changes:
"We're looking at all possibilities as we go. As we approach this upcoming season, with everything transitioning to the Pac-12, we'll still be at 85 full scholarships. We'll have 20 walk-on players, and there's a great balance there within the locker room that we'll continue to manage as more comes in the future, we'll see where that brings.”

On if no continuity from year-to-year is the new normal in college football:
“No, I think continuity is a byproduct of the day to day experiences that you have. We've had the good fortune of the majority of the retention of our roster, the majority of the guys that we've been able to keep tied together, and our leaders most importantly, too. We only had one staff member that had a great opportunity to move along. That's always been the continuity and the connection of your staff, to be able to have the familiarity of how you're going to do the process and work each phase as you go. A lot gets made about the doom and the gloom of where we're at in college football, and I think it's an exciting opportunity to embrace and to lean into with everything that's going on. We have an ascending university with an R1 institution. We have an athletic department that's going to the Pac-12. That's only going to benefit our program and all the (SDSU) programs, and as we continue to put a better product on the field. I know there'll be more people in the community that will come out and support us, and that's going to build and lead to momentum. That will lead to, ultimately, the continuity and the retention of our roster year in and year out, and to be able to have the development over time that our fans and that the general public has become accustomed to.”

On losing the last six games last year and what stands out in particular:
“Learning how to win, right? And then there were three games at the start and throughout the season right at Central Michigan, Washington State and New Mexico that you lose by a combination of nine total points? We have a great collection of talent that's becoming a team, and that team needs to learn how to win, and that's what this time of year is for. That's being focused and having great attention to detail, that's taking ownership of all the things that we put down, (including) The good, the bad and the ugly. Then finding the most smart and effective way to go about what we're doing. And then when push comes to shove, when the moments show up, just like life, having the mental and physical toughness to endure and to win and to find yourself on the right side of those ledgers and so that's been what this climb has been all about. It starts with the connection and the foundation of the people in the building really pouring into them as we go. And then now we're in this really cool moment of the season where all eyes are on us. We've been quietly working in the dark for a very, very long time, but for the next 24 days until we break camp, we get to exponentially get better, because we get to kind of go sequester ourselves in this football bubble and really get good at our craft”

On the importance of the quarterback heading into the season:
“At the end of the day, we're sitting here at a very unique spot to where the majority of our defense is coming back. You could say, hey, 10 or 11 starters, however, you want to slice it, with the production that we have coming back on special teams as well. The majority of our key guys and key contributors are back as well. There's a couple of guys that are coming back offensively. Regardless of who's coming back, the quarterback is the one who gives the offensive personality. The quarterback is the one who instills confidence in in the offense. So, whoever the guy is, that when he has the ball in his hands, not only the offense, but the whole organization goes, ‘Yeah, that's our dude. He's going to move this, and no matter what the situation is we're going to put the ball in the end zone.’ That guy, ultimately, who injects that confidence and that that swagger, if you will, into the program, that's going to be the guy who's going to get the ball.”

On the disappointing season last year:
“Yeah, it was poor. Right at the end of the day, you're judged on your record, right? And so 3-9 is never acceptable. The thing that we look back on, that we've been intentional about all year round, is everyone truly understanding the details of the plan. How we need to work our process, and having the trust and the connections within the building, both amongst the staff, amongst the staff to the players, and players to players. So that we can do a much better job at working our process and working our plan, so we can have it happen in an expedited manner. But also knowing, hey, the changes that are being made, right? We're pivoting this thing and there's a lot of things that happen and that takes time. I mentioned it at media days. We live in this generation where you know you want to go get the instant bag of rice, and we don't even want to take the time in our busy lives to boil the water and then throw the rice in the water, let alone measure the rice and make sure that it simmers. And do I add salt? Do I not well? Okay, that's making rice. We get to come together and put together a collection of individuals. There's about 150 humans that I'm responsible for, and in that very complex human system, we're chasing winds that ultimately will be judged on in the fall. But it's an everyday thing to make sure that each individual knows and understands that no one, including myself, right, is bigger than the program, and that in saying that, well, each individual matters. So that's the dichotomy of balancing all this. How do you get these new staff members, how to you get these new players, how to get everyone to align to a vision and get going the same direction? That's what we're here to do. And clearly I didn't do a good enough job of that last year in the office. (Someone) brought this up at (Mountain West) media days, there were plenty people who have comments (about last season). There's the people in this room that wrote great things that are awesome, right? But I promise you guys, no one has a higher standard, higher expectation of what Aztec football is going to be than me. I look forward to doing that work, collectively with my staff and going forward with it.”