AZTECS FOOTBALL PRESS CONFERENCE 9/19: CONFERENCE TIME

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Story by Liz Alper

Videos courtesy goaztecs.com

For Christian Chapman and Ron Smith’s portion of the press conference, click “read more” and scroll down

September 19, 2017 (San Diego) - With the Pac-12 behind them, SDSU football celebrated two wins against a tough conference and prepared to open Mountain West play against Air Force this Saturday.  Head coach Rocky Long, junior quarterback Christian Chapman and sophomore cornerback Ron Smith took the floor for this week’s press conference.

Despite the wins, Long wasn't euphoric.  “We enjoy it from the end of the game until the next morning around ten o’clock, when we start working on the next opponent. Our players get to enjoy it until Monday’s meeting, so they get to enjoy it for a couple days, and then hopefully they don’t enjoy it anymore and their minds are set on the next opponent...I’ve moved on. I got more important things to do than worry about that game.”

However, he said he enjoyed it and understood the significance. “I thought it was an awful big victory and it was great for the program when I saw everybody rush the field. I thought that was really cool.”

Would the players get cocky after back-to-back wins? “I don’t think we’re in that [hangover mindset]. I was wrong at this point last year. We had a very veteran football team and I didn’t think they would fall into that and they did. I don’t think this year’s team will.”

Chapman agreed. ““I think the guys here saw what happened last year and learned their lesson. You just can’t get complacent. Beating Stanford doesn’t mean it’s the end of the season. We need to keep this thing rolling; We need to prepare for Air Force. It’s our first conference game and our goal here is to win a conference championship. They are our step to getting there so we can’t take them lightly. They are a good program and we’re playing them at their home. They win a lot at home, so it’s a big task at hand just like [Stanford]. We’ve got to get after it.”

The Aztecs begin conference play against Air Force this weekend.  Coach gave the scouting report. “It’s the first team our offense has played where they will play man coverage and blitz everybody from every direction at different times. They have a good idea of what we do on offense, so there will be a lot of run stunts and run blitzes that will make it difficult for us to control the football. And for our defense, we’re playing against the triple option, which is impossible to get ready for in three days...Plus, they are really good guys; They are really tough and they have the right attitude about life. They are serving us so I have great respect for them.”

Does Long think SDSU is finally a competitor in the West Coast? “Well, I don’t really worry about what other people think. Speaking as a coach, no, it’s never enough. It’s never enough until you win every game…”

Lastly, Long probably gave Chapman the biggest praise of his career. “A long time ago to us as coaches, he proved himself. If you look at his record as the starting quarterback, it’s pretty darned good. As a coach looking at it, he proved that to us a long time ago. I hope he proved it to everybody else. Not many quarterbacks when they are harassed like that and are under pressure like that and get knocked down that many times come back and lead a game-winning drive and make several throws that are very important right before he gets hit. That’s a pretty good indication you’ve got a big time quarterback if you ask me.”

Chapman took a few hits against Stanford, but he says he's feeling better now. “Yesterday I kind of felt the brunt of it, but I’m feeling good now. I’ve been in the recovery room and the training room getting right so I’m feeling good now and [ready to] start preparation.”

Chapman resents the idea of being called a game manager. “You can say what you want, at the end of the day it’s your opinion. But I think what I’ve done here is win games and I want people to notice that. I’m just going to keep playing with my boys and if I keep winning championships, I’m going to have a good career here.”

SDSU takes on Air Force Saturday at 4:00 p.m.

 

 


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