Aztec football: How we got here.

[AztecWilliam]

I was thinking that it might be of some interest, especially to new and younger Aztec FB fans, to reflect on the history of this school's gridiron program.

The first year was 1921. Perhaps one of the most notable feats early on was the tie with UCLA (13-13) in 1924! But there were other highlights, as seen in this list of outstanding seasons (and the list of championships at the end of this thread). These include highlights up to 1951. . . .

Year.....Won/Lost/Tied......Head Coach.

1923 8-2 C,.E. Peterson
1936 6-1-1 Leo Calland
1937 7-1.... " "
1947 7-3-1 Bill Shutte (Lost in San Diego's Harbor Bowl)
1951 10-0-1 " " (tied ASU)

Here are the won/lost records (with percentages) for the decades starting with 1950 . .

Decade Wins/Losses/Ties Percentage

1950s...41-44-4 = 48.3 (Record weighed down by the Governali years)
1960s...80-17-3 = 81.5% (Coryell renaissance)
1970s...82-26-4 = 75% (Coryell / Gilbert)
1980s...50-64-4 = 44% (The drift begins)
1990s...62-52-2 = 54% (Marshall Faulk, then a slow decline)
2000s...38 -80.. = 32.2% (The bottom falls out)

When we look at that progression we understand why we have no trouble exiting the parking lot after home games.)

All Time record. . . 475-385-32 = 55%

Obviously, the program has been in the sewer after 1999. Even two or three decent seasons in that period would have left us in much better position that what we face now. It's the drip, drip, drip of futility (caused mostly by bad hiring decisions) that has done the damage.

Here are the championships that the Aztecs have won. . .

Total Championship Year(s) 14

No Year Record Selector
1 1936 6-1-1 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
2 1937 7-1-0 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Champions
3 1950 5-3-1 California Collegiate Athletic Association Champions
4 1951 10-0-1 California Collegiate Athletic Association Champions
5 1962 8-2-0 California Collegiate Athletic Association Champions
6 1966 11-0-0 College Division National Champions
........California Collegiate Athletic Association Champions
7 1967 10-1-0 College Division National Champions
........California Collegiate Athletic Association Champions
8 1968 9-0-1 College Division National Champions
9 1969 11-0-0 Big West Conference Champions
10 1970 9-2-0 Big West Conference Co-Champions
11 1972 10-1-0 Big West Conference Champions
12 1973 9-1-1 Big West Conference Champions
13 1974 8-2-1 Big West Conference Champions
14 1986 8-4-0 Western Athletic Conference Champions

[zurac315]

I was born in San Diego in 1951. No wonder I'm an Aztecs fan. ;D

[AztecWilliam]

Jun 14, 2010 14:52:18 GMT -8 zurac315 said:

I was born in San Diego in 1951. No wonder I'm an Aztecs fan. ;D

Then I suppose you do not remember the earthquake that was felt during the year-end holiday season that year! ;D

AzWm

[Deja Vu U Monty]

24 years since a conference championship for the Miami of the West. So sad. Hope our great great grandchildren get to see one again.

[retiredaztec]

AzWm your chart is excellent. This is truly splitting hairs but during those glory years of the early '70's, (when I attended), State was officially a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Associaton, (the PCAA). I believe the conference became the Big West in the '80's. I know this is small potatoes, but our history of success is somewhat limited, and if you were there during that period you want to remember it as it was.

[oc74aztec]

Jun 14, 2010 18:05:36 GMT -8 Deja Vu U Monty said:

24 years since a conference championship for the Miami of the West. So sad. Hope our great great grandchildren get to see one again.

Worse yet, only once in 36 years. I knew the drought was bad but didn't realize it was that bad.