LAS VEGAS – Only three times since the inception of the Mountain West Conference in 1999 has San Diego State's football team been picked to finish in the league's upper echelon. On all three occasions, the Aztecs failed miserably, once finishing fifth and twice concluding the campaign in seventh.
Of late, sidestepping such disappointment has not been an overly taxing activity.
For the fourth time in four years, SDSU yesterday was forecast to fall on hard times, being assigned a projected finish of seventh in the nine-team conference at the league's annual media day.
As with any coach whose team is subjected to polls, Chuck Long brushed the projection aside with a wave of his hand before directing a reporter's attention to the nearby media horde surrounding BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall.
“That's the secret to this game,” said Long, 7-17 in his first two seasons. “The BYUs, the TCUs, the Utahs, all of them have developed the kind of approach where players are going to be committed to each other and to the program throughout the year. It's during the offseason where you really develop mental toughness, where you're able to push through when times get tough. That's where it all begins.”
Recalling voluntary workouts last summer where participation was vastly improved but commitment far from concrete, Long said excuses this summer have been virtually nonexistent, with nearly 100 percent of the team participating on a regular basis.
SDSU, which finished sixth a year ago after being tabbed to finish eighth, still totes the burdensome baggage of being the league's only school never to have participated in a bowl game since the creation of the MWC.
“During our first year, when we'd find ourselves facing even a little bit of adversity, you'd start to see that hang-dog look, guys hanging their heads,” said Long, whose team reports to fall camp Aug. 4. “It wasn't something I was used to coming from Oklahoma.
“ I told our coaching staff (at SDSU) after that first year, 'Guys, we've got a ways to go.' Things started to improve last year. . . . This summer, I really think we've given ourselves a chance to win.”
Extra points
The Aztecs will spend the first three days of camp practicing and residing at Camp Pendleton. Long said the idea sprang from the positive experience SDSU's men's golf team had while being housed at the Marine base last season. Players and coaches will reside in barracks during the three-day stay.
Long said redshirt freshman center Tommie Draheim, who emerged from spring drills as No. 1 on the team's two-deep chart, has undergone shoulder surgery and will be out at least until October. Redshirt freshman defensive end Michael Snead will miss at least the first month of the season after having arthroscopic hip surgery.
Two-time defending champion BYU was picked by the media to capture its third straight title. Senior linebacker Russell Allen was the lone SDSU player selected by the media to the all-conference preseason team.
Long said junior wide receiver DeMarco Sampson is unlikely to participate in fall camp because of academic issues. Defensive backs Josh Walker and Ray Patterson have left the program because of academic issues.
Mick McGrane: (619) 293-1850; mick.mcgrane@uniontrib.com
