Tag: San Diego State Aztecs

Penn State offensive coordinator search: Sean Lewis taking HC job elsewhere

Penn State fans can scratch Sean Lewis off their offensive coordinator wish list.

Penn State’s search for a new offensive coordinator is continuing on now that the regular season has wrapped up. And while there has been no confirmed timeline to establish for when a decision may be made official, it is worth monitoring where some potential candidates could be looking. One name on most people’s wish list for offensive coordinator is Sean Lewis, Colorado‘s offensive coordinator. But it may be time to scratch him off the list.

As is being reported on Tuesday, Lewis appears set to take on the head coaching job at San Diego State. The Mountain West Conference program is replacing Brady Hoke, who announced his retirement toward the end of the season.

Lewis was a big hire for Deion Sanders at Colorado as he left his position as head coach of Kent State to run the offense for the Buffs under Sanders. But the struggles of the Buffs after a hot start led to Lewis having the primary play-calling responsibility pulled from him along the way. Still, Lewis is considered a well-respected offensive coach, and he figures to be a name worth watching moving forward.

But as far as Penn State goes, whether he was on the radar or not for James Franklin will probably never be known.

The Mountain West program is looking to replace Brady Hoke, who announced his retirement toward the end of the season.

It is still entirely possible Penn State already has its next offensive coordinator lined up. It may already be on the staff. Franklin had JaJuan Seider and Ty Howle split the role in the final two games of the season after removing Mike Yurcich from the staff following the loss to Michigan. If Penn State continues to let the search linger on up to the bowl game, then the chances are an internal hire is in the works.

For now, as far as we can tell, the search goes on.

Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

San Diego State vs. Colorado State: Game Preview, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Rams host the Aztecs as they hope to get to bowl eligibility. Here’s how the Rams can start that journey on the right foot.

[jwplayer tJPh0k22-sNi3MVSU]

San Diego State vs. Colorado State: Game Preview, How to Watch, Odds, Prediction

The Rams start their journey to bowl eligibility

Contact/Follow @J0shFr3d & @MWCwire

[mm-video type=playlist id=01g8ggatak2kacq2ps player_id=none image=https://mwwire.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Can the Rams get start fast and finish strong?

WEEK 11: San Diego State Aztecs (3-6, 1-4 MW) vs Colorado State Rams (3-6, 1-4 MW)

WHEN: Saturday, November 11th — 5 p.m. MST / 4 p.m. PST

WHERE: Canvas Stadium; Fort Collins, CO (36,500)

WEATHER: Partly Cloudy, 50 degrees at kickoff

TV: CBS Sports Network (Stream CBS Sports on Fubo and click the link here for a free trial)

RADIO: K99-FM 99.1 / ESPN 1600 AM

SERIES RECORD: This will be the 36th all time matchup between these two schools. San Diego State leads the series 22-14. Aztecs won 29-17 in San Diego in the last matchup in 2020.

WEBSITES: GoAztecs.com, the official San Diego State athletics website | CSURams.com, the official Colorado State athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): San Diego State | Colorado State

ODDS: Colorado State -3.5

OVER/UNDER: 46.5

SP+ PROJECTION: Colorado State by 1.5

FEI PROJECTION: Colorado State by 3.5

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: Colorado State has a 58.85% win probability (27.03-24.07)

Now to the keys to victory for the Rams.

Keys to a colorado state victory

1. Spread the ball around

Everyone knows Tory Horton and Dallin Holker are going to get the ball at some point. But Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Jay Norvell need to call plays for other receivers. Justus Ross-Simmons and Louis Brown have shown they can be playmakers. Dylan Goffney and others provide depth when needed and have also shown they can make plays when asked.

2. Start the third quarter strong

The Rams have been outscored 51-10 in conference play in the third quarter. Colorado State needs to make a change if they want to get to a bowl game. The Aztecs haven’t been the same Aztecs this year on both sides of the ball. The Rams need to come out with fire on both sides of the ball if they want to win.

3. Stay home on defense

San Diego State isn’t as run happy as they have been in previous seasons. They are more balanced. However, QB Jaylen Maden is their leading rusher. He can take off when needed. The Rams need to stay home, set the edge, and contain the QB. They also need to spy the QB. Letting the QB run has cost them in a couple games this season.

Prediction

It’s military appreciation night in Fort Collins. The Rams want to get to bowl eligibility and the fight starts this game. The Rams will play tough punch them in the mouth football. The Aztecs will have their moments, but the Rams will finish this one strong to earn their fourth win of the season.

Final Score: Colorado State 27, San Diego State 21

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=645997144]

[protected-iframe id=”f7652191f99ba13728097498e8a79cd8-137729785-123448869″ info=”https://open.spotify.com/embed-podcast/show/48681pqFq0kB9dhrtPPoNd” width=”100%” height=”232″ frameborder=”0″]

If the Pac-12 wants to expand, here’s who they should target

In order to stabilize, it’s pretty clear that the Pac-12 Conference needs to expand. Here are some candidates for them to bring in.

There are many things the Pac-12 Conference can do going forward in the wake of losing the Colorado Buffaloes to the Big 12 Conference, but the consensus thought is commissioner George Kliavkoff needs to do what he can to add some new members as quickly as possible.

With the departures of Colorado, USC and UCLA, the Pac-12 is about to shrink to the Pac-9 next year. In order to stabilize, they need to add one new member at the very least, and potentially three new members in order to get back to relative strength.

So who might they go after? Here are a few options:

25 best college football records in the last 10 years

Here are the top 25 records in college football since 2013. Are you surprised by any of these?

As much as you may not like to admit it, the 2013 college football season was a decade ago, and a lot has happened in the sport since then. Florida State stormed its way up through the rankings with a Heisman Trophy winner in Jameis Winston to win the final BCS national championship in history before the sport changed over to the new College Football Playoff in 2014. But the more time passed, some things seemed to be the same.

Alabama continued to dominate more often than not. Ohio State racked up more wins among Big Ten teams than anyone. And the top Group of 5 contenders typically came form the same group. But what schools have had the most success in the win column over the past decade as we begin to prepare for the 2023 season? The answer is not at all surprising, but the order in how the top 25 teams rank may give you a few surprises once you look through the records. It can also give you a reminder that while the past couple of seasons may have been great for some, the past decade saw things even out a little bit here and there.

Here is a look at the best records among FBS college football programs since the start of the 2013 season up through the end of the 2022 season. The records referenced are sourced from Team Rankings.

College 12-Pack podcast discusses San Diego State and previews the Big Ten

We’re back with the first of two podcasts this week.

We are still over a month away from the start of the 2023 college football season but there are plenty of talking points as we march towards the season.

Patrick Conn (College Sports Wire) and Tyler Nettuno (LSU Tigers Wire) return for the first of two episodes this week with a preview of the Big Ten as well as a discussion on the San Diego State Aztecs and their future.

San Diego State to stay in the Mountain West?

Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

At one point it seemed as though the San Diego State Aztecs were a shoo-in to join the Pac-12. However, the school announced they would stay in the Mountain West but with the conference rejecting their bid to stay, what is next for the Aztecs and the Pac-12?

Pat Fitzgerald mess at Northwestern

Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

When the guys recorded this episode, Pat Fitzgerald was still employed by Northwestern. The guys discuss how the student newspaper’s reporting uncovered a hazing scandal that ultimately ended up with the firing of Fitzgerald.

Big Ten Preview

Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch

The guys spend most of this podcast episode discussing the Big Ten as they preview the 2023 college football season. The Michigan Wolverines have been the class of the conference in each of the last two seasons claiming the conference title. Can Big Blue go for the three-peat?

Check out the full show where Patrick and Tyler make their picks for offensive MVP, defensive MVP, dark horse team, and more in their Big Ten preview show.

College Realignment: San Diego State gives resignation notice to MWC

San Diego State is one step closer to leaving the Mountain West Conference.

According to a report from Pete Thamel of ESPN, San Diego State has given the Mountain West Conference a notice that the university “intends to resign from the Mountain West Conference.”

However, in the same notice, the university asked for a one-month extension due to “unforeseen delays involving other collegiate athletic conferences beyond our control.”

San Diego State’s departure from the conference has been a work in progress now for quite some time. Last month, in an article from Ross Dellenger of Sports Illustrated, it was reported that San Diego State would be a “shoe-in” to join the Pac-12.

Chris Vannini of The Athletic would later report on Twitter that the “buyout to leave the league for fall 2024 doubles to almost $34 million on July 1”. Vannini also points out that the Pac-12 television deal not yet being completed is causing delays in San Diego State’s move to the conference.

The move for the Pac-12 comes a year ahead of the departure of UCLA and USC to the Big Ten. Following their departures, the conference is only expected at the current standpoint to have 10 teams.

San Diego State’s potential move to the Pac-12 could very well also be the first of what could be another run of conference realignment around the country.

There has also been discussion of programs such as Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado as potential universities leaving the Pac-12 that could be looking to change conferences as well. The ACC has also been of popular conversation lately with the future of many of the conference’s universities being up for debate.

Twitter reaction to reports that San Diego State will leave Mountain West

Realignment speculation. Realignment drama. It must be June. Social media is lighting up like a Christmas tree. #Aztecs #Pac12

Well, well, well, what do we have here? June realignment drama, just like last year. In June of 2022, the news broke that USC and UCLA were leaving for the Big Ten. In June of 2023, we have fresh reporting from ESPN’s Pete Thamel which indicates that San Diego State wants to leave the Mountain West.

While the Pac-12 — as of Friday at noon — had not yet extended an offer to the Aztecs to join the conference, everyone in the college sports industry is waiting for that to happen. One very obvious point raised by the San Diego State story is that it puts the spotlight on the Pac-12’s pursuit of a new media rights deal. Have media rights conversations been conducted behind closed doors with the expectation that San Diego State would be part of the conference? Was that the holdup here? Is that why no media rights package has been finalized? Everyone will speculate, but now we wait to see what domino will fall next.

Here’s a sampling of the Twitter reaction to the new reports about San Diego State possibly ushering in a new college sports realignment drama in the middle of the year:

REPORT: San Diego State intends to leave Mountain West Conference

ESPN reports SDSU wants out of the MWC. As of Friday at lunchtime, the Pac-12 had not extended an offer to the Aztecs.

Here we go, folks!

ESPN’s Pete Thamel is reporting that San Diego State University has written a letter to the Mountain West Conference that it “intends” to exit the league. In case you are wondering, no — the Pac-12 has not yet extended a formal invitation to the Aztecs to join the conference and replace USC as a Southern California-based member of the conference.

However, we can all put two and two together and reasonably conclude that the process of transitioning from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 is underway.

That doesn’t guarantee it will happen, but it certainly increases the odds. San Diego State had to make a movement such as this to initiate the process if that process was going to happen. Now we can even more seriously consider the possibility that the Aztecs will move to the Pac-12.

This is not a done deal. This is not a guarantee. It does, however, represent real movement — and not just a rumor or wild speculation — about the Aztecs and their future, which will affect other aspects of college sports realignment.

Below are various reports, tweets, and elements of speculation from the past several months surrounding SDSU and the Pac-12. Enjoy reading them, because as you probably know, speculation has been a constant feature of realignment talk. Today, we finally have a story which puts some meat on the bone and isn’t pure 100-percent rumor:

Wil Bateman makes bold, last-minute club change to climb into contention at 2023 RBC Canadian Open

In his second PGA Tour start, Bateman shot the low round of the tournament with a brand new putter in the bag.

[connatix div_id=”3f8b015acdd24c648befc5d5dac47469″ player_id=”b5b22055-8c69-4186-8375-d8426b37ec56″ cid=”7cbcea0d-4ce2-4c75-9a8d-fbe02a192c24″]

NORTH YORK, Ontario – Wil Bateman was stuck in traffic heading from the driving range to the putting green on Friday morning at the 2023 RBC Canadian Open.

He arrived at the green with just seven minutes before his tee time, and despite the fact that he’s playing in his second PGA Tour event and first national open, the 29-year-old made a bold move and changed putters from a blade to a mallet.

“Honestly, I felt like I hit it great yesterday and just, I didn’t make anything at all. Last night I was like, ‘You know what, I’m just going to put the blade in the bag and go warm-up with it this morning and see what happens,’” explained Bateman. “I made like the first six putts from like 20 feet or so, and I was like, ‘Okay, this is in the bag today.’”

And it’s going to stay in the bag after Bateman signed for the low round of the tournament thus far, a 6-under 66 at Oakdale Golf and Country Club that moved him inside the top 20. As Bateman said, “When they bring out the cameras and the little fuzzy little mic, you know you’re doing something right.”

The only thing crazier than making a last-minute putter change is the fact that he has never used that putter in competition before. Talk about high risk, high reward.

After attending San Diego State, Bateman’s journey through professional golf has been a bumpy one. The Edmonton native, who now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, has spent the majority of his career bouncing around between PGA Tour Canada and Latinoamerica. His only previous PGA Tour start came at the 2016 Puerto Rico Open (missed cut), but after finishing No. 1 last season on PGA Tour Canada, Bateman has made 11 starts this year on the Korn Ferry Tour, with two top-five finishes.

“Coming here this week, I just try to treat it as another tournament. Coming here, I knew I was a little bit nervous, but then when I got out there and played some practice rounds it really does feel like another tournament,” he said. “Obviously it’s a bigger stage and players are better. But everybody’s trying to do the same thing. Still trying to get the ball in the hole. So obviously this weekend’s going to be electric. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Electric indeed.

Bateman’s entire family is on hand to witness his Tour debut in his home country – brother, mom, dad and step parents, the whole lot – and the Canadian contingent of fans have rallied around him, as well.

A Canadian hasn’t won his national open since Pat Fletcher in 1954, a drought that fan-favorite Mike Weir nearly ended in 2004 before his playoff loss to Vijay Singh. Canadian golf is trending in the right direction this year, with Mackenzie Hughes (Sanderson Farms Championship), Adam Svensson (RSM Classic) and Corey Conners (Valero Texas Open) all earning wins.

What a story it would be if Bateman added his name to the list.

[lawrence-auto-related count=4 category=1375]

USC athletic director candidate profile: J.D. Wicker, San Diego State

Wicker might want to join the Pac-12 by staying at SDSU, but he is associated with growth and improvement. Why not consider him?

USC seems to be taking its time in the search for a new athletic director. Hiring a number of big hitters as a transition team meant to evaluate and research candidates — which president Carol Folt did last week — points to a longer search instead of a shorter one. We remind you that when we talk about “candidates,” we’re not referring to formally announced pursuants of the job or people USC has publicly named. We are merely referring to people USC probably should consider for the opening.

J.D. Wicker of San Diego State is an athletic director USC should pursue.

Wicker’s accomplishments speak for themselves. He got an on-campus football stadium built. That requires a ton of work and skill.

We wrote this about him earlier in May, after he was named the Sports Business Journal Athletic Director of the Year:

“Wicker, who was 53 years old at the beginning of 2023, could simply wait for San Diego State to move to the Pac-12, which would naturally be a reason for him to stay with the Aztecs. However, a move to the Big Ten might be too good for him to pass up if he receives at least a job interview. It will be fascinating to see if Wicker gains traction as a possible candidate.”

San Diego State’s run to the 2023 NCAA Men’s Final Four and national championship game dramatically increased the national profile of the Aztecs. Wicker has overseen multi-sport growth and improvement at SDSU, in the same region where USC is building toward greater success. The rationale for considering Wicker is self-evident.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 tag=696090378]