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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast
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“SDSU–A BUSY DAY”
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Quite a day at San Diego State.

Aztecs football is (6-1) in a first place tie in Mountain West football.
Aztecs basketball is about to begin
And a legendary Aztecs pitcher is coming home.

Sean Lewis has a nationally ranked defense.
Brian Dutcher’s basketball team is the unanimous pick to win the MWC.
Stephen Strasburg, retired from baseball, is coming back to SDSU as an assistant.

Pretty interesting times up on Montezuma Mesa.

Up next for football, Wyoming here.
Up next for basketball, the season is about to begin.
Up next for a rebuilding baseball program, Strasburg comes in as the special assistant to the new head coach Kevin Vance, working with pitching, fund raising and other alumni projects.
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Coach Sean Lewis:

Homecoming week..really special
Win at Fresno State…a unique journey
Keep roster intact is important
We are excited

Flipping program..not surprised..character we have
Work works..finds solution …
This is Aztec fast

Offensive line-growth-continuity this year
We had 7-8 different combinations last year
Biggest piece keeping all 5-healthy
Christian Jones took great strides as a LT in one year-has great length
3-inside guys are big humans..big people beat up little people
Joe Borgon weathered injury obstacles..emotionally-mentally tough
Our bookend tackles are special

Speed-conditioning is everything we have
We invested in alot of special equipment for our weight room
Strengths coaches work with each guy individually
Build specific needs of each player with our strength coach
We created alot of culture in that weight room
We do sports science…we peak them at max value at right time
Strong guys are more resilient-they don’t break

Gabe Placencia-25 field goals in a row…’hefty lefty’
It is uncommon what he is doing
Secret weapon-such fortitude-concentration

Special teams coaches-wear different hats
Need knowledge of schemes-protection
Alignments are huge for Placencia
Let my special team coaches deal with him

Defense metrics…we do things really well
Brilliantly boring basics
Passion-Pride-Connection

Lucky Sutton-growth-worked tremendously..proven it
He gets stronger as the game gets longer
He has become a workhorse
Moments never too big him
He finishes run-great physicality

Play to our standard each week
Embrace the hard…higher you climb..higher the challenge
They have done the training-now learned hard lessons we have learned

Wyoming has strong inside run game-they dictate on schedule
Stay ahead of the schedule-downs and yards
We must stop the run
Put them in passing mode
Won Border War game with Colorado State
They are starting to play well-very physical
This will be a trench warfare game
QB-Kade Anderson has built a lineup to fit his game

Believe we now have ‘Home Field Advantage’..fans fired up
We embarassed the program last year
Now there is a buzz in building and on campus

There is leadership in Athletic Department..seems greatness everywhere
We have ambassadors everywhere
Feel it every single day.

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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast..1:30pm
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Hot Topics on Table..Stay for Fans Forum
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“NFL–WHAT I SAW–WHAT I THINK”:
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NFL Notbeook

CHARGERS-VIKINGS…Justin Herbert saved the Bolts season with his strong second  half passing display as they blitzed the Vikings.  Still too many hits and sacks.  Shocking how poor the Vikings were in protection and in the secondary.  Minnesota looks in trouble.

DENVER-DALLAS..The Broncos have now won 5-straight and they look dangerous and dynamic.  Bo Nix has put together big back to back wins, tell me he does not look like Drew Brees.  Denver’s defense is just relentless.  The Cowboys may have all those draft picks in their pocket, they surely do not have any defense at all.  Jerry Jones credibility continues to erode.  Wasting Dak Prescott’s big year.

CHIEFS-WASHINGTON..Now you see Kansas City looking like Kansas City again with all their firepower guys back on the field with Mahomes and Kelce.  Too many injuries in Washington and Jayden Daniels has now had 4-different injuries in two years.

BENGALS-JETS..An atrocious loss for Cincinnati, blowing leads of 14-15-16 and the Jets electric come from behind win against a pitiful Bengals defense.  Those Bengals fans booed-and-booed and booed…losing a 14 point lead in final 10-minutes of the game to a team whose QB is the erratic Justin Fields.  Quite a day by RB-Breece Hall.

MIAMI-ATLANTA..Mike McDaniels preserves his job for at least a week but know one thing Tua is not the answer at quarterback, nor is there enough defense.  Lousy outing by Kirk Cousins in place of banged up Michael Penix.

EAGLES-GIANTS..Philly starting to look dangerous.  The Giants defense is in disarray, and now they lose Cam Skattebo with a dislocated ankle.  Jaxson Dart starting to take too many hits.

BILLS-CAROLINA..Pretty angry Bills team, comes off two losses and a bye week.  RB-James Cook best game of the season.  Panthers had no prayer in 5-turnover loss at home without Bryce Young at QB.  Need him back

HOUSTON-49ERS…What a battering Mac Jones took.  What a performance by the Houston defense.  The Niners bubble is about to burst with all these injuries.  CJ Stroud has his first 300-yard day of the fall, will it continue?

TAMPA BAY-SAINTS..Baker Mayfield has no one around him on offense because of injuries, no Evans-Godwin-Irving, but then again the Saints have.no offense.

COLTS-TITANS..Jon Taylor looks like an MVP guy.  Daniel Jones looks like Comeback Player of the Year.  The Titans look hopeless.  Indy is now (7-1) and for real.

PACKERS-STEELERS…Green Bay looks so explosive.  The Steelers offense seems too pedestrian.  And the Steelers defense giving up (376YPG)-is the stunning stat of the season.  Weird look-Packers wore white helmets..Steelers wore 1930 shirts.  But in the end it was still Aaron Rodgers-vs-Jordan Love..Love completed 20-in a row and threw for (360).  Rodgers lost-not enough around him.

RAVENS-BEARS..Caleb Williams makes things happen on offense but struggle to get it in the end zone.  The Ravens, still without Lamar Jackson, just are not much of a team even with the Sunday win.

PATRIOTS-BROWNS..Drake Maye now has (15TD-2 picks) and New England continues to take the ball away in their 5-game win string.  QB-Dillon Gabriel is starting to turn it over too much and now RB-Quinshon Judkins is hurt.  Myles Garrett has 5-sacks and they lose again.  Tough times in Cleveland.

RAMS..Red hot, coming off the bye week.
RAIDERS..Hey, did not lose-because they did not play-what a mess.
LIONS..Bye week..so hard to play them
SEATTLE..Sam Darnold just keeps making plays
JAGUARS…Seem to have stalled as a team-Trevor Lawrence too.
ARIZONA..Not enough skill people around  Kyler Muray.

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Hacksaw’s Great Sports Weekend Podcast
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
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“FOOTBALL FRIDAY-STORYLINES”
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Interesting Weekend  #8 around the NFL, and it all started early.

CHARGERS-VIKINGS…Justin Herbert probably saved the team’s season with his 1-man gang show in the first half as the Bolts took apart the Minnesota Vikings.  Herbert was equal parts Sammy Baugh-Fran Tarkenton-Patrick Mahomes, running for his life, making throws on the run, and putting the ball into the end zone in the lopsided win.  He survived 2-big sacks and 8-hits in the first half.  But he kept making chunk plays, 10 in the opening half and 15 for the game as the Bolts destroyed Minnesota.  Carson Wentz just looks awful at QB and surely has regressed.  He freaked out, his offensive line was awful, he took 5-sacks, they had no offense aside from Justin Jefferson, and their secondary was terrible.  The Vikings season could well be over.

DALLAS-DENVER…Dak Prescott is raging hot (108QBR), and George Pickens and Cee Dee Lamb are averaring (17&16YPC).  Dallas takes its 390-yard per game offense into Denver and that is an Orange Crush defense with 34-sacks, giving up (273YPG) and allowing just 29%-on 3rd down conversions.  See who survives this one.  Side note-Dallas is still giving up tons of yards (401YPG) so it could be high scoring.

PACKERS-STEELERS…Not really a reunion game.  If it were at Lambeau Field then I guess you could say that.  Aaron Rodgers meet Micah Parsons and the Pack pass rush.  The Steelers defense (374YPG)-yes that is correct-face Jordan Love and his (108QBR) and the Green Bay offense  clicking at (343YPG).  Don’t know how Pittsburgh stays in this game.

CLEVELAND-NEW ENGLAND…Mike Vrabel’s Patriots are going after their 5th straight win.  No one is paying much attention to second year QB-Drake Maye (12TD-2Int)..but they should.  Myles Garreett leads a Browns pass rush that has 18-sacks alaredy.  How does rookie QB-Dillon Gabriel hold up this weekend?

GIANTS-EAGLES..How much trauma can the Giants young players handle after giving up 33-points in the final quarter in that terrible loss in Denver.  Now they face an Eagles team starting to put things together.  Still waiting for Saquon Barkley to have a breakout game.  Still waiting for the Giants defense (376YPG) to start earning their pay.

Enjoy the weekend.

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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast…**Note..11am starting time***
You Tube-Lee Hacksaw Hamilton
Hot Topics-Stay for Fans Forum
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“THURSDAY NITE FOOTBALL-WORTH WATCHING”
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They both need to stop the bleeding.
It’s likely someone is going to get bloodied in Thursday Nite Football.

The Chargers have lost 3-of-4.  Minnesota is on their own skid in the NFC-North.

Coach Jim Harbaugh has no answers because injuries have wrecked his offensive line and have taken 3-of the top 4-running backs off the field.

Coach Kevin O’Connell had his young QB-JJ McCarthy for about 15-minutes before he went down with a high ankle sprain.

What’s left behind is a battered Justin Herbert at quarterback for the Bolts and a highly erratic Carson Wentz wearing the Purple for Minnesota as a backup.

Not been pretty at all.

Herbert has thrown 13-TDs already, is over 2,000 yards in 7-games in total offense, but has 6-picks, 16-sacks and been hit a league high 62-times.  1-of these times he is not going to be able to pick himself up off the turf.

The OL has been wrecked by injuries to the top 3-offensive tackles.

The wide receiver group is carrying the offensive load, but scoring TDs has been a challenge with a team ranked 31st in Red Zone production.  Think about that, Justin Herbert’s offense is 31st in red zone scoring.

The defense cannot stop the run.  Now maybe that changes with the return of the injured LBs-Khalil Mack-Denzel Perryman.

But the secondary has been thinned out, and you need DBs to cover those guys running routes with Vikings colors.

For Minnesota, Carson Wentz makes plays, takes sacks, and turns the ball over.  No wonder he has been with so many teams in recent years.

If the Vikings can pound it with ex 49ers RB-Jordan Mason, they have a chance.  Otherwise it is take your chances protecting Wentz from the Jessie Minter blitz.

Yes the Vikings have the studs making big plays down the field, with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison both averaging (15YPC) and TJ Hockenson catching lots at TE.  But protection is a problem for sure.

The real story is the true storyline on Thursday night.

Justin Herbert-vs-Brian Flores, the QB-vs-Defensive Coordinator.

Somebody should be talking about the Vikes that side of the ball.  Giving up just (301YPG) in a league that heaves it all over the place.  A Flores-defense that has 16-sacks.  And a Minnesota defense that allows opposing QBs a (30%) conversion rate on third downs.

Oh by the way, the Vikings have given up just 8-red zone TDs this year, are #2 in pass defense and #4 in total defense.

Now they will need that in this road game.  Oh, maybe I correct that.  Bet So Fi Stadium is full of people wearing Purple Jersey’s too rather than just Powder Blues.

Big night.  Both need a win.  Worth watching this one.  Chargers-Vikings.  Somebody is going to be in big trouble in the standings by 10-pm on Thursday.

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=========”AZTECS–PUT UP-SHUT UP TIME”
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San Diego State football is (5-1), heading out on the road to play at Fresno State, and knowing full well, it is time to prove themselves.

The teeth of the schedule is directly infront of them, the Bulldogs, Boise State, and a road trip to Hawaii.

They have made great progress on offense under new QB-Jayden Denegal.  Big plays, part of the DNA of Sean Lewis’ offenses, are now part of SDSU’s playbook.  The veteran defense is ranked high in national stats, though they now have to do it against much better offenses than they have seen over the last 6-weeks.

Coach Sean Lewis comments:
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Like be back in game week flow
Love back half of the schedule
This opponent..this FS1 network stage
Ready for 2nd half of the climb
This is a special week…rivalry games important
This rival goes back to 1923
Bowl eligible..this is always our expectation

Report card..guys have responded each week
We’re keeping guys out of the end zone and we are scoring TDs
That’s our report card

Offense-light bulb go on with these kids-it’s all about their reps
Playbook is a labor of love
Veteran kids in the building helped kids teach the concepts
Can’t have robots on players..see defense-know intent of call-react
Players have more confidence in what we are supposed to do

Jayden Denegal light bulb go on..he is more comfortable
He sees things..how to attack and how to execute

Morning practice philosophy-our block is 7:15am-11:15am
Do our work at the earliest
Do my coaching work in afternoon
Benefits our kids-get them up..get them fed twice..
Send them cross campus to do their classes

Neat to go scout at SD Lincoln..see their coaches and the legacy players
Great to be with my guys all day..go into community at night

Fresno State..who is real team..beat Hawaii…lost Colorado State
40,000-plus up there for this game..big hill to walk down and walk up
Have talented group in backfield..they’re dynamic running backs
Need hats to ball…very physical unit..have to win in the trenches
Play with edge..no 15-yard penalties..nobody on our side worth 15-yards flags

EJ Warner-QB..dude played a ton of football at Rice
Tremendous teacher in Hall of Fame father
Accurate throwing ball..more comfortable with more games

Defense is true side to sideline players…front penetrates
Create havoc at line of scrimmage..overload the front..FSU giving up 311-yards a game

Hostile environment…don’t add fuel to environment
We are responsible to us…don’t give them fuel to add to the fire

Oil Can is in our locker room..we want to keep it
Hope we never lose this traditional rivalry
Gave players the oral history of SDSU-vs-FSU
Let’s put the ball down and go play ball
Tremendous stage-opportunity

Schools make decisions for their own reasons for coaching changes

I cannot pay attention to other schools
When there is adversity..come together and solve it
I don’t pay attention to around the country
My theory-help these kids grow together..know you truly care
I invest everything I have in my players and programs
I don’t have a crystal ball for the future
Always been an urgency to win
Level of patience now is different
Time has sped up..window of opportunity is small
That is what we signed up..competitive arena we are in
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