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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast…1:30pm
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Hot Topics on the Table-Stay for Fans Forum
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“AZTECS-OPENING NIGHT-AGAIN”
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I was so enthralled at all the things I saw under Sean Lewis’ guidance of the Colorado Buffs offense. I was pretty impressed when I looked at video of what he ran at Kent State where he took a downtrodden program to record setting offensive heights.
I was so disappointed at what I saw last year at San Diego State. And so was everyone else, to the point people quit coming to Aztecs games in the wake of a 6-game end of season losing streak, enroute to a (3-9) record.
I knew it would be tough, as they put a raw freshman QB, Danny O’Neill thru a learning curve. Thought the kid QB played pretty well, pretty consistent, and did not turn the ball over. Then he left.
He had a record setting Marquez Cooper at running back. But SDSU had virtually nothing else on offense.
The rotation of wide receivers disintegrated as the season wore on. Jordan Napier arrived to become a potential star, but virtually everyone else washed out.
The offensive front had injury issues. The vibrant defense hung tough, played tough till midseason then caved in from the workload. It was awful by the time the season ended.
I still flash back to all the games I watched when Lewis was running the Xs-Os for Shedeur Sanders, Travis Hunter, Jim Horn and a cadre of skill wide receivers at Colorado.
I saw video of the 600-yard games his Kent State Golden Flashes put up.
So my faith is renewed heading into this game against a 1AA team. Of course I felt the same when they were lining up against Division 1AA-East Texas State-Commerce.
Two new quarterbacks, 3-new untested running backs. Some WR help for Napier. The key will be 3-experienced starters upfront and a load of transfers in that offensive line.
So there is hope because there is some continuity. And the defense returns 9-starters, so there seem more positives than the unknowns of last fall’s opening night.
Lewis believes in his playbook. his system, his teaching methods, and what returned from last year, as painful as it was. He did not like my use of the word ‘autopsy’ on last season, but admitted he had to stand infront of the mirror to reevaluate things
The program is (7-19) dating back to the middle of 2023.
That’s a far cry from the (106-48) run we experienced under Rocky Long-Brady Hoke.
He has to win to make the town and alums believe. The season ticket count, that was (15,973) the first year at Snapdragon Stadium, has cratered to just above (6,600) this year. The town has to be convinced, and so far they have not
So we see what 2025-brings. Lewis hits the re-set button. It’s a clean piece of paper. The schedule is tougher. And this is a farewell tour for SDSU in the Mountain West Conference, where they once dominated with Boise State. But Boise is 25th in the preseason poll heading to the final year in the MWC.
And SDSU is nowhere near Boise State these days in terms of wins-credibility. And just around the corner, the move to the PAC-`12 Conference, which might be tougher than where SDSU is right now.
Still hoping I see what I saw from Lewis’ time at Colorado and Kent State.
New year, definitely need better results. A different type of opening night at SDSU.
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