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“AZTECS FOOTBALL–STATEMENT GAMES”
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There should be no more doubts about the direction of SDSU football.
An (8-2) record, and wins over teams they had to beat, they have beaten.
From (3-9) last year to the potential of (10-2) and a Mountain West Championship game.
Impressive, so very impressive.

And they are doing it without much from the so-called ‘Aztec Fast’ offense, sidetracked because of two years of new quarterbacks learning on the job.

But State is doing it oil school, pounding the football and playing star studded defense.

An easy schedule, for the most part-injury free, and the continuity of a load of talent returning on defense.  And then when they needed it, they got it done against Fresno State and Boise State.

Yes the bad setback in Hawaii and the early season blowout loss at Washington State, but this team is tough, athletic, and relentless.

Coach Sean Lewis:
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Great program win..cultural win

We had the run package in playbook all year
It’s not single wing football
We needed those run packages, and goal line plays in the rain
We have not had that in the last 3-weeks
Our offensive line has really come together

Lucky Sutton getting to 1,000-yards is an award

San Jose..dynamic passing attack
Find alot of ways to score
They are super dangerous with QB-Walker Egat
They spread you out…front is dynamic
They beat Hawaii
They had 5-turnovers in loss to Nevada
Eget is really accurate-stresses you..moves pocket..spread you out

Expectations since day one when we got here
Nice to be in conversation of being in Group of 5-playoff race

We have had high scores games, but we are fast-smart-tough
Sometimes you win with no style points but we win

Unsung hero-OL coach Mike Schmidt
His career-was a walkon and became a captain
I knew of him from his time at Syracuse
His expertise is really something
He finds right character fits..he rebuilt the OL room
He built a cohesive unit that has become strong

Play well at Snapdragon..won early at home..great pride
We are creating a great environment at home
We continue to win…build it the fans will come

Senior night..we are not talking about being here without these guys
These kids believed in the vision
We have such a small window to play this game at this level
They entrust us to reach their dreams
I want this experience to be the best time of their life

Mountain West-learned what a great challenge
Level of head coaches..level of talent
Excited about going forward to the Pac 12 Conference
People fight in the phone booth with us

Continue to tell our kids how good these kids could be
Hope it sell the kids to stay here
What we said we could do-we are doing..the kids now see this
We embrace ‘we over me’ and they see it now
Ross, our center, Chris our safety are prime examples of what they could become
We coach our highest guys-the hardest…kids know the culture

Jordan Napier…MRI on knee-waiting results
Jayden Denegal has not hit a wall…played in tough weather two games in a row
Alot of ways to play the game…we will use all our people in lots of ways
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Hacksaw’s Monday-Bonus Podcast..1:30pm
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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“CHARGERS–WHO ARE THESE GUYS”
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It was awful-but we have seen that before.
It was predictable and I told you it was coming.
It is baffling for all they’ve accomplished they are still troubled.
It is a team with question marks.

The Chargers..nowhere where they could be-should be-probably won’t be.

It was an awful pounding they took at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
it was terrible, the beating Justin Herbert had to take on Sunday.
It was miserable, the play of whomever they dragged off the street to play in OL.

It was a (35-6) battering that nearly cost them their quarterback.
it was so horrific, that the Chargers had to bench both their starting LT-RG.
The heavy duty running back, Kimani Vidal, got nicked up.
There were no big plays to any of the big play receivers we have seen this year

The defense, which has been prone to getting gashed in the run, got maimed.

Jim Harbaugh constantly harps about toughness, tough men, big time plays, and yet we see this keep happening again, the Bolts get mugged.

They lost to a highly erratic quarterback Trevor Lawrence, playing without his top 3-wide receivers.  A team that has underachieved on offense, ran up a (149-to-5Y) advantage in the 3rd quarter alone.

When they were done, the Jaguars had scoring drives of 11-14 and 16 plays and the Chargers were outgained (345-135).  Think about that, a Justin Herbert offense had (135-yards) in offense.

And Herbert was plastered with a pancake sack that I thought led him to a concussion tent meeting.  He hardly played after that hit.  As I have said for weeks in a row, an injury waiting to happen.

So bad, the Chargers benched left tackle Trevor Penning and right guard Mekhi Becton.  Add in another poor game by RT-Trey Pipkens;.

And the Chargers seemed to have no answers for a wide variety of motion formations and misdirection plays that Liam Coen kept callling all day.  That had to be on tape and yet the Jess Minter defense could not stop it-handle it.  Beat every which way.

A team in trouble for sure.

For all the Shakespearean quotes from Harbaugh, he never has answers or words worth listening to when they lose this bad.

And just remember, last year, they lost 7-games to the more physical teams on the schedule.  And this Jacksonville game, and this end result, sure looked and felt like early season losses to Washington, the Giants and what should have been a loss to a bad Miami team.

The Jaguars game should not have been a trap game.  it turned into a crap game.  The Bolts crawl to the bye week in need of rest-health and in search of toughness.  Oh by the way, still to come, they have road games at Denver-at Kansas City, plus the Eagles and vs the Dak Prescott led Cowboys offense in Dallas.  How do they survive all this?.

Who are the Chargers?  Not what we thought they were.  Not healthy, not tough enough, and surely still not able to help their battered star quarterback.

Awful Sunday.  Awful set of problems.  Don’t know who they really are, even if their coach wants to quote Chaucer, Churchill or JFK.

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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast
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“PADRES–CHANGING OF THE GUARD”
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What a week of news with the Padres.
What a reaction in the community.

First the hiring of Criag Stammen as manager.
Now the stunning farewell, with the Seidler Family announcing the franchise is ‘4-Sale’

An ever-changing landscape of activity from the front office at Petco Park.

The announcement comes 48-hours after USA-Today reported the team has money issues.
The decide to sell came months after President Erik Greupner said ownership was here to stay.

Alot of diverse reaction within the first hours after the announcement was confirmed.

The emotion of the fans was everywhere.

MONEY GRAB…The Seidler’s have hiked up ticket prices 57% in 5-years, many believe to recoup all the money that legendary owner Peter Seidler allowed GM-AJ Preller to burn thru.  The 3.43M-fans, a record season, did not seem against paying the prices for the wins  and good times at Petco Park.

FINANCES..I find it hard to fathom they have cash flow problems, but they are facing big pay bumps and long guarantees for 8-veterans.  Not going deep in the playoffs cost them additional revenue the group of years.  The high payroll and the luxury tax adds up.  The big issue, the erosion of the 60M a year TV rights fee years ago, and despite going to MLB, they are getting 50% of those fees in recents years.  That’s alot of money gone missing-yet to be remade.

BETRAYAL..Why the turn-around?  Reality probably.  A non baseball family has decided to exit the sport they have no experience running.  Peter Seidler’s vision of greatness has pretty much arrived, just short of getting to the World Series.  The franchise could bring a massive payoff, in excess of 2B-which is quite a haul compared to the 800M-purchase price when Peter took over control of the team.

FANS & MEDIA…The pushback has been strong and that is understandable, because it is a surprise.  But the Seidler accomplishments have been superb considering what San Diego has experienced in the past decades.

WHAT’S NEXT..Set aside the rumblings of labor trouble in 2027.  Record revenue, attendance, TV ratings, this is now a viable franchise.  This ownership group should call Stan Kroenke, sports empire owner of the Rams-Nuggets-Avalanche-Soccer-So Fi Stadium, to see if he is interested.  Joseph Tsai, owner of the Brooklyn Nets, has expressed interest in baseball.  So has Jeff Bezos.  Anybody want to talk to young phenom Theo Espstien about becoming part of ownership.  You’re not buying Miami-Tampa-Pittsburgh.  This is a red-hot commodity under the Seidler banner.

HISTORY…It should write nothing but favorable reviews of this ownership group.  What they did on the field.  What they did in the community.  It is San Diego’s team.  San Diego’s heart.  The Padres own the town emotionally and financially now.  It is because of Peter’s vision.  History should remember Ray and Joan Kroc, saved the franchise from moving to Washington, DC.  John Moores and Larry Lucchino rallied the team from the terrible Tom Werner era, and the Moores’ money and the Lucchino brilliance brought us Petco Park.  And the Seidler family created an aura linked to big time baseball, big time stars, big money contracts, and big crowds at the corner of Tony and Trevor in the Gaslamp district.

TOMORROW…There is always hope.  There is always next year.  There should be a special thank you for what the Seidler stewardship meant to Padres baseball. The measure of a man is not just what he accomplished but whom he touched, influenced and changed.  Peter Seidler checked off all the boxes.   View him, and them. as ‘Forever Friar Friends’.

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=========Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast..1:30pm
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Hot Topics-Stay for Fans Forum
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“NFL–MID SEASON REPORT CARD”
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We are headed to the final push for playoff spots in the NFL.
A mid season report card of the teams and the divisional races:

AFC-EAST
..Patriots..You knew the culture would change with Mike Vrabel coming in.  Was not so sure we saw the explosive growth of 2nd year QB-Drake Maye and an offense’s growth. (350YPG)..Defensive unit is healthy and robust

..Bills..They seem to have every component to be a Super Bowl team..but too many Sunday’s it seems Josh Allen has to carry too much of the load..Defense has improved…Win over Chiefs impressive.

..Miami..Tua has had an up and down season..devastating loss of Tyreek Hill..Defense not very good…Fired the GM-coach axing likely end of season

..Jets..Disaster of season has led to firesale of a roster..Have stockpiled 8-picks in first and second round over next two years..Has to be a QB coming..Hard to believe an NFL team could have a starting QB throw for 45-49-54 in 3-games this year..that’s Justin Fields’ resume this year

AFC-SOUTH
..Colts..Shocking surprise of season..Daniel Jones looks so different with a good OL infront of him, Jon Taylor at RB, and a miix on defense.  Now they add Sauce Gardner in the secondary.  Could go a couple rounds in the playoffs.

HOUSTON..Half a season to fix a disappointing team..The offensive line is a mess, the run game substandard, and the QB-beatup.  The defense is superb.

JAGUARS..A quick start but injuries have hit and they have tailed off.  Stunning how much Trevor Lawrence has tailed off with a poor QB-rating and now no WR to throw too..Travis Hunter now gone for year.

TITANS..A very tough learning curve season for QB-Cam Ward…You see spurts of great throws, but not enough around him and a new coach coming in the off season.

AFC-NORTH
..Baltimore..Injuries wrecked the first half of the season, now half a season to get healthy and get into postseason.  Can Harbaugh rally this?  Can Lamar Jackson stay healthy?

..Pittsburgh..Aaron Rodgers’ arrival has not meant much..Not alot of playmakers on a pedestrian offense..The defensive secondary has been shabby and aside from sacks, they have not played consistently…Alot of heat on Mike Tomlin.

..Bengals..Typical Mike Brown-Zach Taylor season…Joe Burrow gets hurt-no run game-bad offensive line-turmoil on defense…Nothing changes unless ownnership changes.

..Browns..A disaster of a season-and very little has to do with Kevin Stefanski-coaching..The Black Hole at QB issue continues starting with Deshaun Watson’s injuries-contract..and now the drafting of Dillon Gabriel-Shedeur Sanders…The OL continues to be a mess…Wasting a superb defensive season-again…How about this stat..the Browns have had 41-different starting QBs since 1999’s return of the franchise.

AFC WEST
..Chargers..Justin Herbert vs the World…Season damaged by the loss of both OTs, and injuries to 7-different offensive lineman plus the loss of both top running backs..Good start sidetracked by injuries..How Herbert is still standing is stunning..Tough games still to come.

..Chiefs..Patience has paid off, now the injured-suspended are back..Really need a run game..Defense has rallied back…Might be another Super Bowl run in them…Guess the era is not over.

..Broncos..Mystery team…Fierce defense, sacks, 3rd down conversions…Bo Nix not as explosive in 2nd year and team still missing down the field big plays and need a pass catching tight end…An up and down year.

..Raiders…Massive disappointment…Cannot run football despite Ashton Jeanty..cannot protect turnover prone QB-Geno Smith…Traded away top speed receiver…defense lost alot of veterans on back seven…Not what anyone expected from a Pete Carroll led team.
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NFC EAST
..Eagles..Made 4-trades around the deadline to fill holes they created in free agency…they are now hitting on all cylinders…Hurts-Brown-Smith-Barkley..the Tush-Push OL..cannot be stopped…Defense has re-emerged too.

..Cowboys..Dak Prescott brilliant first half but they don’t play enough defense-so all the big plays to CD Lamb-George Pickett and their TEs are wasted..The deadline deal for Quinnen Williams along with Ken Clarke-helps but secondary is leaky.

..Washington…QB-Jayden Daniels..5-injuries in two years..WR group never got healthy..loss of Austin Ekeler and defense looks like it has quit.

..Giants..There is promise with Jaxson Dart plus Skattebo and Nabers, coming off surgery, but defense has been a disappointment and there will be a new coach coming in.

NFC NORTH
..Lions..The beat just goes on and on for Dan Campbell..What a great roster…Who would think Jared Goff would put up the kind of numbers he has..The defense makes life miserable and they are doing this in a really tough division.

Packers…Jordan Love has grown so much as a leader but now his wide receiver-tight end group is wiped out by injuries…Micah Parsons has added to a great defense…but depth is a problem.

Bears..No one is talking about  Caleb Williams growth but this team has made a big jump with new head coach Ben Johhnson…Power run game, group of receivers and tough defense.

..Vikings..Setback of a season because of the QB-crisis and no one knows if JJ McCarthy is the right guy..Phenom talent in Jefferson-Addison at WR…Defense is spotty too.

NFC SOUTH
..Tampa Bay…What a season of leadership and production from Baker Mayfield even with the loss of virtually all his skill guys, and they are not back..Todd Bowles defense is wicked but not enough offense to go deep into postseason.

..Falcons..Michael Penix competes at QB and with Bijan Robinson-Drake London you think there is a ton of talent to make thius work…But the OL struggles and the defense has not done its job consistently…Maybe a .500-record is the best they can be this year.

..Carolina…Some progress with 2nd year coach Dave Canales…They gave Bryce Young a run game and some receivers and the defense plays hard…Not enough overall talent level on roster.

..Saints…Long rebuilding job coming for Kellen Moore…QB-Tyler Shough gets rest of the season to prove himself…Feels like wasting the final years of Alvin Kamara career.

NFC WEST
..Rams..What a package..Matthew Stafford having an MVP season..with lots of firepower around him…Defense is fierce with all these young draft picks…and the mad man leadership of Sean McVay.

..49ers..What a coaching job by Kyle Shanahan…what a mess of injuries…Some fill in job by QB-Mac Jones but just not enough healthy players…Better roster on IR than on the field.

..Seattle..Is this for real?  They keep playing, keep winning.  Sam Darnold has figured it all out, deep threat speed with Smith-Njiba, can run the ball, and a defense that gets after it.

..Arizona..Awful season again with a QB-beset by injuries…Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison give you hope, bug they cannot keep people on the field and off IR…Hard to believe they would get rid of Murray at the end of the season, but they have not arrived as a team yet under Jon Gannon.
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“AZTECS-FORK IN THE ROAD”
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Ambush on the Islands.
About the only way to describe what happ[ened to San Diego State at Hawaii.

A ‘1-Off’ for what was a red-hot Aztecs football team.
An ‘aberration’ of a bad game.
Nothing more-nothing less.

Now the whole world is fighting for 1st place in the Mountain West Conference again.

And here comes heated rival Boise State, trying to bounce back from a QB injury, a bad beating against  Fresno State, but with knowledge if they win on Saturday here at Snapdragon, they may have clear sailing the rest of the way to the Mountain West title game.

Of course SDSU has the same path, though a road game at New Mexico and asn explosive San Jose State team lay ahead on their schedule.

Coach Sean Lewis at his weekly press conference:
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Not a great evening out on the islands
End result-have to respond to adversity
Find a way to win lots of different ways

Hawaii passion to play exceeded ours
We are unbeaten at home and chances still ahead of us
We are (7-2)-still in first
Turn the page

Aztecs passing offense struggle
Jayden Denegal limited in practice
Losing Bostic at wide receiver
More teams have us on tape-people are defending us differently
Jordan Napier-have to move him around-get him his touches
He is a known entity
We have to find solutio9ns

Boise is 4-1 like we are..critical important-control our destiny
Must defend our home turf
November…two best in league going head to head

Maddux Madsen-Dylan Riley style
Madsen is accurate…special player…so many reps over 3-years
They run 3-backs at you and play the hot hand
Boise is different now post Ashton Jeanty
They are using 3-backs to replace that generational talent

We did not control the Hawaii game at the level we were used to
It was a bad night
We landed at 8-30am Sunday morning…and back at it

We did not control the quarterback…did not plaster receivers
2nd time this year we did not handle the road  well
15-missed tackles..we did not take proper angles to tackle
They flooded zones with speed receivers
We had pick..a 3-and-out…then it got out of control

We had too many 3-and-outs early in the game
Life in this game. can be tough…we have to grow
Not going to get too high over 12-weeks if win
Be pretty miserable if you got low over losses over 12-weeks

Boise and SDSU historically two of the best in the league for 20-years
Our guys know what BSU stands for in the MWC
Trophy is on the line
Fabric of how we are built excites us
Not let his adversity rock us
Test yourself against the best-Boise is that

Post week Hawaii-shorter prep time for this game
We changed meeting times meetings
Gave team Monday off
Alot of rest on delayed plane flight
Get body clocks ready for practice for Tuesday
Was 20-years since I was on a trip like that distance to Hawaii.

It was like a batch of cranberries on Saturday…some good..some bad.
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