Printer-friendly version
Like our sports coverage? Donate to help support ECM’s sports section! Type “Sports” on the donation line!
Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!
Story by Liz Alper
Videos courtesy goaztecs.com
For Quest Truxton and Trey Lomax's portion of the press conference, click "read more" and scroll down
October 3, 2017 (San Diego) - San Diego State football is cruising this season; they're now 5-0 and ready to make their national TV debut for the season on Saturday night against UNLV. This week, head coach Rocky Long and seniors Quest Truxton (WR) and Trey Lomax (S) sat down with the media at the weekly press conference.
Long's tone was somber as he talked about the difference this game in Las Vegas will be. "The tragedy that’s happened in Las Vegas has changed the feel of this game. I’m sure there are a lot of things that are going to be different at the game and at game time. I have no idea what’s going on in Las Vegas, especially with their football team and what the atmosphere is but obviously it’s going to be different than what we normally get ready for.
"I think they (the Aztecs) have to be mature guys that can handle more than just one thing. I’m sure, I haven’t heard yet, but I’m sure there’s going to be some things done at the game or before the game that we’ll be involved with. We’ll be standing by watching them memorialize the situation for the folks that died and that sort of thing. I’m sure we’ll be part of that so you have to prepare them for what’s coming and they got to be responsible enough and mature enough and old enough to realize the importance of the event...Obviously, we’re not going to change practice or meeting times or how we get ready for the game or anything like that. We’re going to get ready exactly the same way we always do.”
But then Long went back to business, giving us the scouting report on the Rebels. "Their football team is a very talented football team that started out slow but is getting better and better as they go. They played well last week and we’re tied for first in the Western Division of our conference so the winner of this is one up on the other. So the game is important, but it’s not nearly as important as everything else that’s going on.
"Obviously, all of them (the Aztecs) know what happened. I’m sure some of them have feelings about it, especially the five kids on our team that are from Las Vegas and I’m sure they feel it deeper than the rest of them do. But we’ll address it when we know exactly what’s going to happen at the game and what we’re required to be a part of. Our administration is working with their administration on how the game is going to go but we’re letting them take the lead. Obviously it’s their community, it’s their stadium so they’re taking the lead on what’s going to happen. They’ll tell us what it is and we’ll fall in line like we should.”
There were no plan to cancel the game, according to Long. "I mean, if there was any conversation about it they didn’t ask my opinion or they didn’t ask me. So I don’t think there was any consideration whatsoever of not having the game or not playing it there.”
Truxton echoed, “First off, it’s terrible what happened there and we’re sending prayers out to all the families and those that were affected by it. We’re going to be happy to do anything we can when we get there. I’m sure they’ll do something pregame or postgame just to honor those families and be with them so it’s definitely a thought in your mind but we still have to prepare the way we do and go out there and get ready to play football.
“This type of stuff is much bigger than football and a lot of things go on like that and the NFL will have a game. I think it kind of brings people together for the most part so I’m always for it. I love playing the game and I think it’s a good escape for us to get away from a lot of things. It really does bring us all together.”
Lomax said, “Like Quest said, thoughts and prayers to everyone out there. I’m sure Quest knew some people, I knew some people that were at that concert...As far as this week, we’re still preparing like it’s another game on our schedule but I’m assuming when we get out there it will be a different vibe and we’ll probably feel it out there. It’s been locker room talk the last couple of days but that’s obviously something you can’t not talk about. Once we’re out at practice, though, it’s pretty much just football.”
Long has coached the Aztecs for 10 years. During that time, he has stressed a winning philosophy. What makes players buy into it? “I believe that they came here because of that. I mean, we’ve been in that philosophy for how long now, nine, 10 years? It seems like a long time. Nine or 10 years it’s been the philosophy around here so every kid in our program knows what he’s getting into and he likes that way of playing football and wants to be a part of it.”
Despite the Aztecs' 5-0 record, Long feels they aren't a good football team. “We’re not even close to where I think we can be. We’re not playing very well right now. I mean, people may think I’m lying, but I’m not lying. We’re not playing very well right now, we’re playing just like a young football team plays. We make a lot of mistakes but the players have a great spirit, they play really hard, they think they’re going to win and somehow they’re finding a way to win. Now, that’s a pretty good situation, I think we’re going to get better. We obviously got to get better. Injuries are starting to hurt us a little now. It hurt us last week in the offensive line as we got younger instead of older. So if the injury bug doesn’t hit us hard, our team will continue to get better. Win or lose, we’re going to continue to get better.”
Last week against Northern Illinois, senior wide receiver Mikah Holder was ejected from the game for targeting. Long says it "wasn't intentional whatsoever."
SDSU takes on UNLV in Vegas on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
;
Recent comments