When San Diego State head football coach Chuck Long first met with his new team after being hired by the Aztecs on Dec. 5, 2005, he didn't quite know what to expect.
But he didn't expect bad vibes.
"I sensed that they didn't really enjoy being around each other," said Long, the former Iowa quarterback who played in the NFL before embarking on a successful coaching career. "That bothered me."
So, Long began playing loud music before practices. He implemented exercises designed to pull the team together. And he fostered an overall happy attitude that would make the game, well, a game again. At least to the players.
It's this new-feel, feel-good Aztec team that will greet UTEP when the teams hook up for their respective season openers at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
"We've made an effort getting together as a football team, so that we learn to be around each other, learn to like each other, and learn to care for each other," Long said. "For me, the goal is building chemistry, and that's one of the toughest things a new head coach has to go through. And that's been my whole focus. 'Whatever happens, let's stick together.'"
Long, who spent six years as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator, was hired after San Diego State predecessor Tom Craft managed only a 19-29 log over four years, including 5-7 last year. The Aztecs, despite residing in recruit-friendly San Diego, have played in only two bowls over the last 15 seasons.
And they have not had a winning season since 1998, when they went 7-5 and played in the Las Vegas Bowl.
But a new era arrived with Long, who signed a five-year contract with an annual salary of $700,000, with bonuses that can add an additional $300,000 per year.
And, if he goes to a BCS bowl game? Another $100,000.
By comparison, Craft was paid $400,000 a year.
So the expectations for the 42-year-old Long are high.
"We like where we're at right now," he said. "We made great strides this last spring -- though, when spring ended, we needed about 15 more practices. But we managed to catch up to where we want to be."
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The Aztecs return six starters to the offensive side of the ball, with five of the starters having logged at least 11 career starts. They also return players that accounted for 100 percent of its passing yards and 96.6 percent of its rushing yards.
They move behind junior running back Lynell Hamilton who, after being riddled with injuries over his two-year career, appears to be back to his 2003 form when he earned freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News. Hamilton, who missed the entire 2004 season due to injury, was San Diego State's leading ground gainer last year, with 819 yards on 190 carries (4.3 average), and nine touchdowns. He also caught 26 passes for 144 yards.
He has rushed for 1,906 yards and has 13 rushing touchdowns over his career.
"This is the best summer I've ever had," said the 6-foot, 225-pound Hamilton, a native of Stockton, Calif. "I was able to work out and go ahead and do some running and conditioning. Whereas, before, I was always rehabbing. So that's really big for me."
Also returning is junior quarterback Kevin O'Connell, a Carlsbad, Calif., native who has started 17 consecutive games at the position but had to re-earn his starting spot under Long.
Last season, the 6-6, 225-pound O'Connell threw for 2,663 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
He was also the Aztecs' second-leading rusher. He is already their all-time leading rushing quarterback.
"He's looking good," Long said of O'Connell. "More and more, the young man is starting to develop into a leader. I wasn't quite sure about his leadership ability going into spring. But, coming out of spring and summer, he's done a nice job. Is he all the way there yet? No. But he'll start to grow as we play."
Defensively, San Diego State returns eight starters with a combined 109 starts. Players who are returning accounted for more than 70 percent of total tackles, 90 percent of forced fumbles and 66 percent of fumble recoveries.
The strength, though, might be the secondary, and senior safety Reggie Grigsby, the leading returning tackler from last season.
However, Grigsby was involved in an automobile accident in July, and suffered a broken bone in his lower left leg. As a result, he has worn a red jersey all through training camp.
He is confident he will be ready for the Miners.
"I'm feeling pretty good," he said. "I've been getting into technical shape, focusing on fundamentals."
Whatever the case, San Diego State, equipped with a new attitude, is looking to exorcise past demons. And get a few wins along the way.
"It's just a lot more fun," Hamilton said. "The coaches are really excited and enthusiastic, and the music is pumping at every practice. It's up-tempo.
"Our attitude now is just win. We have a whole mindset to get rid of the past, and let's make this a new era."
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# Looking good: UTEP head coach Mike Price is pleased with the progress of recently injured players.
"We've got some guys back looking pretty healthy," he said. "(Senior defensive end) Joe Ward, (junior offensive lineman James) Riley is running around. (Freshman safety) Braxton Amy is running around out here. I'm pleased about that. They're getting better."
# Young guns: Four freshmen will suit out for the San Diego State game, including tailback Jason Williams, linebacker Aaron Sims, and cornerbacks Cornelius Brown and Melvin Stephenson II.
Others with the possibility of playing Thursday (or, on "red alert" status), include tailback Donald Buckram, offensive lineman Anthony McNac, and receiver Brandon Jordan.
"They can play this year, and they'll be a lot better next year because of it," Price said.
# Injury report: Redshirt freshman quarterback Brandis Dew sat out Sunday with a sore shoulder.
# Preparing for anything: Price said he's not quite sure what San Diego State will bring to the table under new head coach Long.
"We're not sure what they're going to do," he said. "We've watched so much tape on other schools, getting prepared for this school, it's unbelievable. So we're just prepared for just about anything. We've cut down our offensive and defensive game plans, which is good. Because you always have too much the first game. So we have an idea (what they'll do), but we don't know until we line up."
But he didn't expect bad vibes.
"I sensed that they didn't really enjoy being around each other," said Long, the former Iowa quarterback who played in the NFL before embarking on a successful coaching career. "That bothered me."
So, Long began playing loud music before practices. He implemented exercises designed to pull the team together. And he fostered an overall happy attitude that would make the game, well, a game again. At least to the players.
It's this new-feel, feel-good Aztec team that will greet UTEP when the teams hook up for their respective season openers at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
"We've made an effort getting together as a football team, so that we learn to be around each other, learn to like each other, and learn to care for each other," Long said. "For me, the goal is building chemistry, and that's one of the toughest things a new head coach has to go through. And that's been my whole focus. 'Whatever happens, let's stick together.'"
Long, who spent six years as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator, was hired after San Diego State predecessor Tom Craft managed only a 19-29 log over four years, including 5-7 last year. The Aztecs, despite residing in recruit-friendly San Diego, have played in only two bowls over the last 15 seasons.
And they have not had a winning season since 1998, when they went 7-5 and played in the Las Vegas Bowl.
But a new era arrived with Long, who signed a five-year contract with an annual salary of $700,000, with bonuses that can add an additional $300,000 per year.
And, if he goes to a BCS bowl game? Another $100,000.
By comparison, Craft was paid $400,000 a year.
So the expectations for the 42-year-old Long are high.
"We like where we're at right now," he said. "We made great strides this last spring -- though, when spring ended, we needed about 15 more practices. But we managed to catch up to where we want to be."
=======
The Aztecs return six starters to the offensive side of the ball, with five of the starters having logged at least 11 career starts. They also return players that accounted for 100 percent of its passing yards and 96.6 percent of its rushing yards.
They move behind junior running back Lynell Hamilton who, after being riddled with injuries over his two-year career, appears to be back to his 2003 form when he earned freshman All-America honors from The Sporting News. Hamilton, who missed the entire 2004 season due to injury, was San Diego State's leading ground gainer last year, with 819 yards on 190 carries (4.3 average), and nine touchdowns. He also caught 26 passes for 144 yards.
He has rushed for 1,906 yards and has 13 rushing touchdowns over his career.
"This is the best summer I've ever had," said the 6-foot, 225-pound Hamilton, a native of Stockton, Calif. "I was able to work out and go ahead and do some running and conditioning. Whereas, before, I was always rehabbing. So that's really big for me."
Also returning is junior quarterback Kevin O'Connell, a Carlsbad, Calif., native who has started 17 consecutive games at the position but had to re-earn his starting spot under Long.
Last season, the 6-6, 225-pound O'Connell threw for 2,663 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
He was also the Aztecs' second-leading rusher. He is already their all-time leading rushing quarterback.
"He's looking good," Long said of O'Connell. "More and more, the young man is starting to develop into a leader. I wasn't quite sure about his leadership ability going into spring. But, coming out of spring and summer, he's done a nice job. Is he all the way there yet? No. But he'll start to grow as we play."
Defensively, San Diego State returns eight starters with a combined 109 starts. Players who are returning accounted for more than 70 percent of total tackles, 90 percent of forced fumbles and 66 percent of fumble recoveries.
The strength, though, might be the secondary, and senior safety Reggie Grigsby, the leading returning tackler from last season.
However, Grigsby was involved in an automobile accident in July, and suffered a broken bone in his lower left leg. As a result, he has worn a red jersey all through training camp.
He is confident he will be ready for the Miners.
"I'm feeling pretty good," he said. "I've been getting into technical shape, focusing on fundamentals."
Whatever the case, San Diego State, equipped with a new attitude, is looking to exorcise past demons. And get a few wins along the way.
"It's just a lot more fun," Hamilton said. "The coaches are really excited and enthusiastic, and the music is pumping at every practice. It's up-tempo.
"Our attitude now is just win. We have a whole mindset to get rid of the past, and let's make this a new era."
===========
# Looking good: UTEP head coach Mike Price is pleased with the progress of recently injured players.
"We've got some guys back looking pretty healthy," he said. "(Senior defensive end) Joe Ward, (junior offensive lineman James) Riley is running around. (Freshman safety) Braxton Amy is running around out here. I'm pleased about that. They're getting better."
# Young guns: Four freshmen will suit out for the San Diego State game, including tailback Jason Williams, linebacker Aaron Sims, and cornerbacks Cornelius Brown and Melvin Stephenson II.
Others with the possibility of playing Thursday (or, on "red alert" status), include tailback Donald Buckram, offensive lineman Anthony McNac, and receiver Brandon Jordan.
"They can play this year, and they'll be a lot better next year because of it," Price said.
# Injury report: Redshirt freshman quarterback Brandis Dew sat out Sunday with a sore shoulder.
# Preparing for anything: Price said he's not quite sure what San Diego State will bring to the table under new head coach Long.
"We're not sure what they're going to do," he said. "We've watched so much tape on other schools, getting prepared for this school, it's unbelievable. So we're just prepared for just about anything. We've cut down our offensive and defensive game plans, which is good. Because you always have too much the first game. So we have an idea (what they'll do), but we don't know until we line up."
