“AZTECS-UCLA FOOTBALL..HOW ABOUT REALITY”
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It was a torrid 99-degrees and humid walking up on the SDSU campus.
I cannot imagine practicing in that weather this week.
I cannot fathom the heat San Diego State will face when they play UCLA on Saturday.
Both are (1-0). Both live in different worlds.
The pressure on Bob Chesney to fix UCLA is enormous.
The pressure for Sean Lewis to make SDSU important is self induced
Everyone cares and criticizes what UCLA football has deteriorated into
No one in San Diego seems to care what Aztecs football is or has become.
The Bruins are coming off an emotional win on the road against Cal.
The Aztex put together a big play night against a 1AA-team Portland State.
Everyone excited about UCLA’s new roster and leadership.
No one saying much about the SDSU win over a team that was (1-11)
UCLA’s most recent era has been disgraceful, Chip Kelly, Desean Foster and the recent firing of AD-Martin Jarmond. Eroding fan support at the Rose Bowl, and a record (51M) Athletic Department deficit. Their road back could be quick.
SDSU’s great history, the Marshall Faulk era was in the 1990s, and despite Rocky Long-Brady Hoke, the run on Montezuma Mesa has been bumpy.
Sadly for Lewis, they drew just above (19,100) for the home opener. That included
8,000-free student tickets, which means just over (11,000) fans-friends-alums paid to get in. This in a County of (3.5M) with some (150,000) so called Aztecs-4-Life Alums living here. So much for being members of the once famous Pac 12.
Lots of work to be done at both UCLA and SDSU. We’ll find out a week from now how good SDSU is-when they play their own level in welcoming James Madison University to town. UCLA will know more once they get back on a plane and start making Big 10-road trips.
99-degrees outside. It gets tougher and hotter going forward.
Onto next weekend-Coach Sean Lewis’ Press Conference comments:
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We have to clean up a sloppy win
Not pleased with how we operated in the first half of game
Fun time..we Pac 12..them Big 10 going to UCLA
Week one to week two gives us marked improvement
Alot of people in new roles-got alot new snaps
We settled in in 2nd quarter
We played 82-in that game..got the chance to feel a real game
We finished really strong
Chunk plays…we have that ability-we showed it
It was strong pitch and catch-played confident
We beat matchups they had
We have really talented people..we had 9-explosive plays
Learning curve defense-gave up (375Y) to 1AA-backup QB
1st opportunity for those guys for them to play-we can tighten it up
Challenge is to make it work-love the challenge
Hard makes it worthwhile
UCLA-play anyone anytime…we are built to compete-we have a standard
Bob Chesney has done a tremendous job
Galaxy stars…take my guys
Ready to step into the arena against a real good team
Well coached-physical outfit-lots talent
Nico is a special talent at QB
They have over 13,000-career snaps on offense..11,000-on defense
Nico…stresses defense everywhere…test you all over the field
A dynamic multi talent QB
RB-Wayne Knight is really good
Chesney is running alot of JMU alignments at UCLA
They want to dictate to you what you can do
Chesney-diligant-detailed..head coach for a long time..considering where he came from..Great continuity of his staff..and transfer portal.
9/11…will remember…will talk to team about honoring those…push the power sled for everyone who died…Respect our firefighters and the military….I was a freshman at Wisconsin-saw the crash..defining moment in so many lives….Amazing place to see the country come together.
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