SAN DIEGO STATE FOOTBALL: 2013 PRE-SEASON REPORT CARD

PUBLICATION ORDER: Sections of the Pre-Season Report Card are published in the following order: (1) Schedule; (2) Coaching; (3) Momentum (4) Discipline On The Field (i.e. penalties); (5) Turnovers; (6) Special Teams; (7) Defense; (8) Offense; and (9) Summary.

TURNOVERS

Rationale: The past does not always predict the future, but the past often predicts the future

Team Recovered Turnovers (i.e. Gained Turnovers)

[2012 Team Statistic: Recovered Fumbles] 12 total recovered fumbles (0.9 pgp)

[2012 Team Statistic: Caught Interceptions] 14 total caught interceptions (1.1 pgp)

[2012 Team Statistic: Combined Recovered Turnovers (fumbles plus interceptions)] 26 total combined recovered turnovers (2.0 pgp)

Team Lost Turnovers

[2012 Team Statistic: Lost Fumbles] 14 total lost fumbles (1.1 pgp)

[2012 Team Statistic: Thrown Interceptions] 11 total thrown interceptions (0.8 pgp)

[2012 Team Statistic: Combined Lost Turnovers (fumbles plus interceptions)] 25 total combined lost turnovers (1.9 pgp)

NOTE: Adam Dingwell (Jr.) is listed as the starting quarterback on the current depth chart [2012 Individual Statistics: 7 interceptions thrown in 144 passing attempts (4.9%)]

Team Combined Net Turnovers [(Recovered Turnovers) minus (Lost Turnovers)]

[2012 Team Statistic: Combined Net Turnovers] positive 1 combined net turnovers (positive 0.1 pgp)

Commentary: Adam Dingwell (Jr.), listed as the starting quarterback on the current depth chart, became the starting quarterback last season after Ryan Katz was injured.  Dingwell has had significant problems with both interceptions and fumbles.

GRADE (Turnovers): C minus (grade lowered based on Dingwell’s significant problems with both interceptions and fumbles)

DISCIPLINE ON THE FIELD

Rationale: The past does not always predict the future, but the past often predicts the future

Team Penalties

[2012 Team Statistic] 73 total penalties (5.6 pgp)

[2012 Team Statistic] 638 total penalty yards (49.1 pgp)

GRADE (Discipline on the field): B plus

MOMENTUM

Last season, San Diego State won 7 of their final 8 games.  The sole loss in those 8 games was 6-23 loss against BYU in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego State’s home stadium (Qualcomm Stadium).  Last season, San Diego State finished with an overall record of 9-4, including a conference record of 7-1, and was Mountain West Conference Co-Champions with Boise State and Fresno State.

GRADE (Momentum): A minus

COACHING

Head Coach

Current Tenure as Head Coach at San Diego State: Rocky Long is in his third season as Head Coach at San Diego State.  Long has an overall record of 17-9 (65.4% wins) as the Head Coach at San Diego State.  Last season, San Diego State was Co-Champion of the Mountain West Conference (along with Boise State and Fresno State) and Long was named the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year.

Commentary: Rocky Long is the Nikola Tesla of college football.  Today, he’s the misunderstood “Mad Scientist of College Football.”  In the future, his genius will be understood and revered.

Last Coaching Position: Defensive Coordinator at San Diego State (2009-2010)

Prior Experience as Head Coach: New Mexico (1998-2008)

Other Notable Facts: Long has more than 30 years of coaching experience.  Long has coached in 7 bowl games.  In 2002, while at New Mexico, Long was selected as the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year.  Long has an excellent reputation for coaching defense.

Offensive Coordinator

Current Tenure as Offensive Coordinator at San Diego State: Bob Toledo is in his first season as the Offensive Coordinator at San Diego State.  Toledo is facing the challenge of improving an offense that was ranked #61 in the nation for total offense last season.

Last Coaching Position: Head Coach at Tulane (2011).  Volunteer coach at Cal Lutheran (D-3) (2012).

Prior Experience as Offensive Coordinator: New Mexico (2006), UCLA (1994-1995), Texas A&M (1989-1993), Oregon (1983-1988), and UC Riverside (D-2) (1973)

Other Notable Facts: Toledo resigned as the Head Coach at Tulane after being frustrated with the lack of infrastructure needed to succeed.  From 1996 to 2002, Toledo was the Head Coach at UCLA.  Bob Toledo and Rocky Long have previously worked together.  From 1996 to 1997, Toledo was the Head Coach and Long was the Defensive Coordinator at UCLA.  The 1997 UCLA team was Co-Champions of the Pac-10 Conference.  In 2006, Long was the Head Coach and Toledo was the Offensive Coordinator at New Mexico.

Defensive Coordinator

Current Tenure as Defensive Coordinator at San Diego State: Head Coach Rocky Long also serves as the Defensive Coordinator at San Diego State.  Last season, the San Diego State defense was ranked #39 in the nation for total defense.

Last Coaching Position: See above

Prior Experience as Defensive Coordinator: San Diego State (2009-2010), UCLA (1996-1997), Oregon State (1991-1995), and Wyoming (1981-1985)

Other Notable Facts: See above

Special Teams Coordinator

Current Tenure as Special Teams Coordinator at San Diego State: Kevin McGarry is in his second season as the Special Teams Coordinator at San Diego State.

Last Coaching Position: “Assistant to the Coaching Staff” at San Diego State (2009-2010).  Head Coach at University of San Diego (FCS) (1996-2003).

Prior Experience as Special Teams Coordinator: None noted.  However, from 1996 to 2003, McGarry coached special teams while he was the Head Coach at the University of San Diego (FCS).

Other Notable Facts: In 2002, McGarry was selected as the Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year.  McGarry has a very long coaching history at the University of San Diego (FCS) (Defensive Coordinator, 1975-1995)(Head Coach, 1996-2003).

GRADE (Coaching): A minus

SCHEDULE

Total Home Games: 6

Consecutive Home Games:

§  Week 9 (Fresno State) and Week 10 (New Mexico)

Total Away Games: 6

Consecutive Away Games:

§  Week 11 (at San Jose State) and Week 12 (at Hawai’i)

Bye Weeks:

§  Week 3 (September 10, 2013 through September 16, 2013)

§  Week 8 (October 15, 2013 through October 21, 2013)

MWC Non-Division Games (i.e. games against MWC Mountain Division Teams):

§  Week 7 (Away at Air Force)

§  Week 10 (Home vs. New Mexico)

§  Week 13 (Home vs. Boise State)

Week 1: Eastern Illinois (FCS) at San Diego State

Game #: 1

Game Date: Saturday, August 31, 2013

Kickoff Time: 5:00pm PT (7:00pm CT)

Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, CA)

Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level

Elevation Change for Eastern Illinois: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)

Travel Distance for Eastern Illinois: 1,677 miles (flight time is approximately 3 ½ hours)

Time Change for Eastern Illinois: decrease by 2 hours (CT to PT)

Field Surface: grass

Weather: insignificant (San Diego)

Stadium Noise: moderate

Week 2: San Diego State at Ohio State

Game #: 2

Game Date: Saturday, September 7, 2013

Kickoff Time: 3:30pm ET (12:30pm PT)

Stadium: Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH)

Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level

Elevation Change for SDSU: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)

Travel Distance for SDSU: 1,954 miles (flight time is approximately 4 ½ hours)

Time Change for SDSU: increase by 3 hours (PT to ET)

Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)

Weather: temperature may reach the 90’s by kickoff (3:30pm ET); humidity may exacerbate heat; summer rain is possible

Stadium Noise: high

Commentary: Combination of heat and humidity may cause problems for some SDSU players, especially in the 4^th quarter

Week 3: September 10, 2013 through September 16, 2013

BYE WEEK

Week 4: Oregon State at San Diego State

Game #: 3

Game Date: Saturday, September 21, 2013

Kickoff Time: 4:30pm PT

Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, CA)

Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level

Elevation Change for Oregon State: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)

Travel Distance for Oregon State: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for Oregon State: none

Field Surface: grass

Weather: insignificant (San Diego)

Stadium Noise: moderate to high (Qualcomm Stadium is a large professional stadium that has an open bowl design that dissipates noise)

Commentary: SDSU will have an extra week to prepare for this game because SDSU has a bye in the prior week (Week 3)

Week 5: San Diego State at New Mexico State

Game #: 4

Game Date: Saturday, September 28, 2013

Kickoff Time: 6:00pm MT (5:00pm PT)

Stadium: Aggie Memorial Stadium (Las Cruces, NM)

Elevation of Stadium: 3,980 feet

Elevation Change for SDSU: increase by 3,905 feet

Travel Distance for SDSU: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for SDSU: increase by 1 hour (PT to MT)

Field Surface: grass

Weather: insignificant (night game in late September)

Stadium Noise: moderate

Week 6: Nevada at San Diego State (MWC West Division Game)

Game #: 5

Game Date: Friday, October 4, 2013

Kickoff Time: 6:00pm PT

Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, CA)

Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level

Elevation Change for Nevada: decrease by 4,535 feet

Travel Distance for Nevada: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for Nevada: none

Field Surface: grass

Weather: insignificant (San Diego)

Stadium Noise: moderate

Week 7: San Diego State at Air Force

Game #: 6

Game Date: Thursday, October 10, 2013

Kickoff Time: 7:00pm MT (6:00pm PT)

Stadium: Falcon Stadium (near Colorado Springs, CO)

Elevation of Stadium: 6,621 feet

Elevation Change for SDSU: increase by 6,546 feet

Travel Distance for SDSU: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for SDSU: increase by 1 hour (PT to MT)

Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)

Weather: temperature could drop down to the 40’s by the end of the game

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: Air Force is playing this game just 5 days after traveling 1,515 miles home from Annapolis.  Consequently, Air Force may use a simplified game plan that SDSU can exploit with new, complex plays.  SDSU has a significant elevation increase of 6,546 feet that will likely have an adverse effect in the 4^th quarter, especially on SDSU linemen.   Moreover, in the 4^th quarter, there could be a significant momentum shift in favor of Air Force based on the elevation change for SDSU and extremely high stamina of Air Force players, including Air Force linemen.  In the 4^th quarter, Air Force players will be running strong while some SDSU players are running out of gas.  SDSU has one day less than a full week to prepare for this game because SDSU has a game on Friday in the prior week (Week 6).

Week 8: October 15, 2013 through October 21, 2013

BYE WEEK

Week 9: Fresno State at San Diego State (MWC West Division Game)

Game #: 7

Game Date: Saturday, October 26, 2013

Kickoff Time: TBA

Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, CA)

Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level

Elevation Change for Fresno State: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)

Travel Distance for Fresno State: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for Fresno State: none

Field Surface: grass

Weather:  insignificant (San Diego)

Stadium Noise: moderate to high (Qualcomm Stadium is a large professional stadium that has an open bowl design that dissipates noise)

Commentary: Fresno State, SDSU (and Boise State) were 2012 MWC Co-Champions.  Last season, Fresno State won by a score of 52-40 and Fresno State QB Derek Carr threw for 536 yards, but SDSU grabbed 2 interceptions against Carr, including a 96-yard “pick-6” by SDSU CB Leon McFadden (68th overall NFL pick by Browns), which is more impressive given that Carr is among the nation’s best quarterbacks at avoiding interceptions.  SDSU will have an extra week to prepare for this game because SDSU has a bye in the prior week (Week 8).

Week 10: New Mexico at San Diego State

Game #: 8

Game Date: Saturday, November 2, 2013

Kickoff Time: TBA

Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, CA)

Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level

Elevation Change for New Mexico: decrease by 5,025 feet

Travel Distance for New Mexico: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for New Mexico: decrease by 1 hour (MT to PT)

Field Surface: grass

Weather: insignificant (San Diego)

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: New Mexico has an extra week to prepare for this game because New Mexico has a bye in the prior week (Week 9)

Week 11: San Diego State at San Jose State (MWC West Division Game)

Game #: 9

Game Date: Saturday, November 9, 2013

Kickoff Time: 7:30pm PT

Stadium: Spartan Stadium (San Jose, CA)

Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level

Elevation Change for SDSU: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)

Travel Distance for SDSU: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for SDSU: none

Field Surface: artificial (FieldTurf)

Weather: insignificant (night game in early November)

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: Last season, San Jose State QB David Fales threw 3 touchdown passes in the 4^th quarter to lead San Jose State to a come-from-behind victory by a final score of 38-34

Week 12: San Diego State at Hawai’i (MWC West Division Game)

Game #: 10

Game Date: Saturday, November 16, 2013

Kickoff Time: 5:30pm HT (7:30pm PT)

Stadium: Aloha Stadium (Honolulu, HI)

Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level

Elevation Change for SDSU: insignificant (less than 1,000 feet)

Travel Distance for SDSU: 2,611 miles (flight time is approximately 5 hours)

Time Change for SDSU: decrease by 2 hours (PT to HT)

Field Surface: artificial (UBU Sports Speed S5-M)

Weather: rain is always possible in Honolulu

Stadium Noise: moderate

Week 13: Boise State at San Diego State

Game #: 11

Game Date: Saturday, November 23, 2013

Kickoff Time: 7:30pm PT (8:30pm MT)

Stadium: Qualcomm Stadium (San Diego, CA)

Elevation of Stadium: effectively sea level

Elevation Change for Boise State: decrease by 2,620 feet

Travel Distance for Boise State: insignificant

Time Change for Boise State: decrease by 1 hour (MT to PT)

Field Surface: grass

Weather:  insignificant (San Diego)

Stadium Noise: moderate to high (Qualcomm Stadium is a large professional stadium that has an open bowl design that dissipates noise)

Commentary: Re-match of great upset.  Last season, SDSU produced a 21-19 upset win over Boise State in Boise.  (SDSU radio announcer was an entertaining character).  Boise State, SDSU (and Fresno State) were 2012 MWC Co-Champions.

Week 14: San Diego State at UNLV (MWC West Division Game)

Game #: 12

Game Date: Saturday, November 30, 2013

Kickoff Time: TBA

Stadium: Sam Boyd Stadium (Las Vegas, NV)

Elevation of Stadium: 1,600 feet

Elevation Change for SDSU: increase by 1,525 feet

Travel Distance for SDSU: insignificant (less than 1,000 miles)

Time Change for SDSU: none

Field Surface: artificial (TurfTech)

Weather: insignificant (game in late November)

Stadium Noise: moderate

Commentary: UNLV has two extra days to prepare for this game because UNLV has a game on Thursday in the prior week (Week 13)

GRADE (higher grade indicates favorable schedule): C plus

NOTE: Grading Standards: Grades are based on a national scale.  Unlike modern academia, my grades are not inflated.  A grade of “C” is average.  A grade of “C” is neither good nor bad; it is simply average.  A grade of “A” or “F” is rare.