“Aztecs Football–Not What It Used to Be”

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San Diego State is no longer equal to Boise State, the Mountain West Conference flag bearer, despite having beaten up the Broncos in recent years, and with all those bowl bids SDSU landed.

It is a bummer of a feeling, to have been around this program and see it grow in stature, to now see it slip now.

They are no longer viewed upper echelon, and it’s just not because of last year’s (4-4) non bowl season, which broke the streak of years of always being in post season.

The preseason poll has the Aztecs voted to finish third in their division, behind Nevada and San Jose State.  Think about that, ‘third’ behind one of the worst programs in the country, San Jose State, picked to finish 2nd this year after last year’s bowl season.

Brady Hoke’s bravado was something at MWC days…”Preseason polls don’t mean anything to me-have to do it on the field”.

The preseason media days are all about parading out your top players, usually QBs and skill players.

SDSU brought a tight end to media days, bypassing their quarterbacks, and that’s a problem too.

Hoke said all 3-of his quarterbacks had good springs, but none has been named starter.  If you went thru last season, then all of spring football, and you can’t name a starter yet, it means you have 3-quarterbacks but no starter, and that is not good.

Lucas Johnson, the Georgia Tech transfer, can’t stay healthy.

3rd year JUCO transfer Jordan Brookshire played well off the bench in spot starts, but did not grasp the job.

Incoming Mississippi State transfer Jalen Maden showed alot of rust having been away from the game for nearly two years.

Somebody has to be the starter by the home opener, and that is an issue too.

No home games again, all to be played at the soccer stadium in Carson.  Yes there will be fans admitted this year, but how many from San Diego are going to make the 111-mile trek up to Orange County to see their team.  Why do I fear they will draw 10,000-at home games, not 35,000, fearing a small gathering of family and friends.

They do have a load of running backs led by Nebraska transfer Greg Bell.  The historically rugged defensive front seven should be strong. But there seems to be alot missing around Aztecs football nowadays.

But until they prove something the bad taste of last year remains in my mouth, and this from someone who loves how the program has been built, first by Hoke, added on by Rocky Long, and then with Hoke’s return.

There is no buzz in the community.  it’s like SDSU is not on anyone’s radar either, even at the MWC league level.

It’s a downer.  The program just does not seem to be what it used to be…at least as July turns to August and camp is about to open.

A vote to finish 3rd in a second tier league does not boost confidence.

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