Post by Frantic on Jun 16, 2016 13:04:17 GMT -8
As this slow period continues, I went back and found a post that I created in 2012. Some of the new psoters may get a kick out of it. Below are some all-time great quotes involving Aztec athletics. I know there are many more so feel free to add to the list...
Aztec Football
"I think if we find the right person that we will pay what it takes," Jeff Schemmel - 12/05 during the announcement that Tom Craft was fired.
“We really have done well from Sunday through Friday.” Chuck Long in 2008, the middle of a 1-8 season, just weeks before being fired.
“I have no plans to fire my football coach…he’s two-and-a-half years into a game plan that I believe in and approve of.” Jeff Schemmel. 2008, about three weeks before firing Chuck Long.
“My apologies to San Diego State, our fans and supporters…I know they are angry (at me), and I deserve it. I want them to be angry with me, not our staff and our players. We’ve hit bottom, and we now know what that looks like.” Chuck Long, 2008 after the 70-7 loss to New Mexico.
“[Chuck Long] has done everything as well as any football coach I’ve seen during my 20 years [in College Sports World], with the exception of putting wins on the scoreboard,” Jeff Schemmel, 2008 just weeks before firing Chuck Long.
“If you hit them in the mouth, they run to the beach.” Rocky Long - 2005, said to Jeff Schemmell in Long’s interview for the open SDSU job. Schemmell chose to hire Chuck Long instead.
“I guess you could call it an interview…The first thing he (Schemmel) told me was, ‘It’s fourth-and-20, but if you want to interview, OK.’ It was either that, or third-and-20; I’m not sure. I’m a former quarterback. I thought I’d take a shot, anyway. I didn’t convert.” Jim Harbaugh, discussing his 2005 interview with Jeff Schemmel for the head coach position. Schemmel chose Chuck Long instead.
“When you play the game, you've got play to win, and there's an intensity it takes to play to win and there's a demeanor you play with.” Brady Hoke 10/09.
"It starts with how you work in the weight room. It goes with discipline and accountability. The coaches and both groups of seniors have laid a foundation. We're big on respect, accountability and those things. We talk about it; those are things that are always important to any successful business or anything. That's where we've started from." Brady Hoke 12/10 before the P-Bowl.
We want to squeeze out a group of players who are going to play with great toughness. If you've covered us long enough you're going to hear that every time I speak. Toughness - mentally and physically - is essential in this game. Not everybody can play this game; toughness is a huge criteria for us. Effort is another one. It doesn't matter if you run a 4.5 (second) 40 (-yard dash) or a 5.2 40, you can play with effort and a huge sense of urgency. Championship teams don't beat themselves. They don't have dumb penalties, they don't have missed assignments. The discipline that you demand and expect every day from your players and us as coaches is important. They need to expect that from us as players, too. The fourth thing is accountability every day. Whether it is in the classroom, whether it is getting treatment when you need to get treatment, whether it is doing your assignment. Those four elements are a big part of our program." Brady Hoke - 8/2009, before the start of his first season at SDSU.
The Aztecs were “woefully weak when we arrived here. It was (in size and strength) and work-ethic.” Brady Hoke – 2008 in comments to boosters soon after being hired.
“This is where we usually quit...we lose one game and we quit. That’s what we’ve done in the past.” Unidentified senior football player to Brady Hoke after the 2009 opening loss to UCLA.
"I don't get to see San Diego State play that often, but I did see them against BYU this season and (Craft) is still running that wide receiver screen that we ran eight or nine times a game 10 years ago. I think the scoreboard will tell you that people have probably figured it out." Noel Prefontane 11/05.
"No matter what's happening on the field (at SDSU) right now, I'm supporting Tom Craft. Not only was he a great coach for me, but he was a close friend and a great team leader. He's an offensive mind who is very creative, and I know when I was there that we all loved playing for him. He just had that aura about him, that winning personality. You wanted to go to battle for him." Billy Blanton. 11/05.
"How do you deal with this? I mean, we lost to San Diego Stinkin' State." David Barr, Cal QB – 1994.
"We won the second half." Tom Craft – 2005. The Aztecs were down 30-3 at halftime, but came back to win the second half and lose 47-24.
“If the Aztecs dropped football altogether, or even dropped to a lower division, they would have to do two things immediately. They would have to add a men's sport to maintain the minimum six required for Division I status. And they would have to find a new conference because the Mountain West mandates that its members play at the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) level. Which would be a good thing.” Mark Zeigler, 12/2008, in his infamous op ed article calling for SDSU to drop D1 football.
“Ideas, even misstated, poorly researched ones, have consequences; so, I will say it once again, Div. I-A football will continue at San Diego State. Just as we do with the rest of our university, we will strive to make it better. I believe we have made a major step in that direction with the hiring of head coach Brady Hoke and what is already shaping up to be a first rate coaching staff. While Mr. Zeigler's opinions will be shared with prospective recruits across the southwest, we will not subscribe to his negativism. There are many who, like Mr. Zeigler, want our city, our university and our football program to settle for second best. My colleagues and I are not interested in that path.” Stephen Weber, 12/2008 in response to Mark Zeigler’s op ed article.
"What I know about San Diego State is the location and the talent in that area and throughout the state. If the university wants to build a championship program there, they can build a championship program just like the ones at USC, UCLA and Cal -- those other big-city schools out there." Bobby Bowden - 2011 interview with AztecSportsReport.
Aztec Basketball
"This is more people than we normally have at basketball games." Rick Bay – 1999. At the press conference announcing the hiring of Steve Fisher.
"I am thrilled to be the new basketball coach, ready to get started, knowing there will be a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done. I'm not naive to the fact that I think I can close my eyes and wave my wand and we're going to go from 4-22 to 22-4.” Steve Fisher – 1999, upon becoming the new Aztec coach. (Note: just three years later Fish went 21-12 and took the team to the NCAA Tournament)
“In a way, it was a relief [that Rick Majeris declined the Aztec job]. And Steve really wanted to come. Steve needed us as badly as we needed him. Clearly, there were a lot of jobs out there that were better than San Diego State. We were lucky to get him.” Rick Bay – 2011, on the hiring of Steve Fisher.
“In February 1999, I was actually offered the San Diego State job. I turned it down. I didn’t get far enough to get to the contract (negotiations). I did not think you could win at San Diego State. Most people didn’t think you could. It was a graveyard. Steve Fisher changed that.” Fran Fraschilla - 2014.
Miscellaneous
"It boggles my mind, not only that they've been down, but the inconsistency." Craig Thompson MWC Commissioner – 2005, referring to the entire Aztec athletic program.
"The projects we have for him right now are mostly related to campus issues relative to athletics. In other words, 'How can we be more successful at San Diego State, using his experience?' We've asked him to do some analysis for us on that sort of thing. He's been very good about it, whether that's admissions, whether that's fundraising, any of those things that can help us be more successful." Jeff Schemmell – 2/2009, discussing Chuck Long’s new $700,000 per year job while waiting for his football contract to expire.
“His ability to serve the university was compromised and I think Jeff reached that conclusion himself. I think he disappointed a lot of people. I think Jeff would say he disappointed himself.” Steve Weber 11/2009, upon the resignation of Jeff Schemmel.
“Habel is my homeboy”. Lorenzo Wade, 2007.
“The whole glue here is Steve Weber. He’s had a profound effect on our athletic program. He took an uncommon interest in the program out there, recognizing that a successful athletic program would give prominence to the university and community and would bring the student body together as it has.” SDSU Booster Leon Parma – 2011.
Aztec Football
"I think if we find the right person that we will pay what it takes," Jeff Schemmel - 12/05 during the announcement that Tom Craft was fired.
“We really have done well from Sunday through Friday.” Chuck Long in 2008, the middle of a 1-8 season, just weeks before being fired.
“I have no plans to fire my football coach…he’s two-and-a-half years into a game plan that I believe in and approve of.” Jeff Schemmel. 2008, about three weeks before firing Chuck Long.
“My apologies to San Diego State, our fans and supporters…I know they are angry (at me), and I deserve it. I want them to be angry with me, not our staff and our players. We’ve hit bottom, and we now know what that looks like.” Chuck Long, 2008 after the 70-7 loss to New Mexico.
“[Chuck Long] has done everything as well as any football coach I’ve seen during my 20 years [in College Sports World], with the exception of putting wins on the scoreboard,” Jeff Schemmel, 2008 just weeks before firing Chuck Long.
“If you hit them in the mouth, they run to the beach.” Rocky Long - 2005, said to Jeff Schemmell in Long’s interview for the open SDSU job. Schemmell chose to hire Chuck Long instead.
“I guess you could call it an interview…The first thing he (Schemmel) told me was, ‘It’s fourth-and-20, but if you want to interview, OK.’ It was either that, or third-and-20; I’m not sure. I’m a former quarterback. I thought I’d take a shot, anyway. I didn’t convert.” Jim Harbaugh, discussing his 2005 interview with Jeff Schemmel for the head coach position. Schemmel chose Chuck Long instead.
“When you play the game, you've got play to win, and there's an intensity it takes to play to win and there's a demeanor you play with.” Brady Hoke 10/09.
"It starts with how you work in the weight room. It goes with discipline and accountability. The coaches and both groups of seniors have laid a foundation. We're big on respect, accountability and those things. We talk about it; those are things that are always important to any successful business or anything. That's where we've started from." Brady Hoke 12/10 before the P-Bowl.
We want to squeeze out a group of players who are going to play with great toughness. If you've covered us long enough you're going to hear that every time I speak. Toughness - mentally and physically - is essential in this game. Not everybody can play this game; toughness is a huge criteria for us. Effort is another one. It doesn't matter if you run a 4.5 (second) 40 (-yard dash) or a 5.2 40, you can play with effort and a huge sense of urgency. Championship teams don't beat themselves. They don't have dumb penalties, they don't have missed assignments. The discipline that you demand and expect every day from your players and us as coaches is important. They need to expect that from us as players, too. The fourth thing is accountability every day. Whether it is in the classroom, whether it is getting treatment when you need to get treatment, whether it is doing your assignment. Those four elements are a big part of our program." Brady Hoke - 8/2009, before the start of his first season at SDSU.
The Aztecs were “woefully weak when we arrived here. It was (in size and strength) and work-ethic.” Brady Hoke – 2008 in comments to boosters soon after being hired.
“This is where we usually quit...we lose one game and we quit. That’s what we’ve done in the past.” Unidentified senior football player to Brady Hoke after the 2009 opening loss to UCLA.
"I don't get to see San Diego State play that often, but I did see them against BYU this season and (Craft) is still running that wide receiver screen that we ran eight or nine times a game 10 years ago. I think the scoreboard will tell you that people have probably figured it out." Noel Prefontane 11/05.
"No matter what's happening on the field (at SDSU) right now, I'm supporting Tom Craft. Not only was he a great coach for me, but he was a close friend and a great team leader. He's an offensive mind who is very creative, and I know when I was there that we all loved playing for him. He just had that aura about him, that winning personality. You wanted to go to battle for him." Billy Blanton. 11/05.
"How do you deal with this? I mean, we lost to San Diego Stinkin' State." David Barr, Cal QB – 1994.
"We won the second half." Tom Craft – 2005. The Aztecs were down 30-3 at halftime, but came back to win the second half and lose 47-24.
“If the Aztecs dropped football altogether, or even dropped to a lower division, they would have to do two things immediately. They would have to add a men's sport to maintain the minimum six required for Division I status. And they would have to find a new conference because the Mountain West mandates that its members play at the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) level. Which would be a good thing.” Mark Zeigler, 12/2008, in his infamous op ed article calling for SDSU to drop D1 football.
“Ideas, even misstated, poorly researched ones, have consequences; so, I will say it once again, Div. I-A football will continue at San Diego State. Just as we do with the rest of our university, we will strive to make it better. I believe we have made a major step in that direction with the hiring of head coach Brady Hoke and what is already shaping up to be a first rate coaching staff. While Mr. Zeigler's opinions will be shared with prospective recruits across the southwest, we will not subscribe to his negativism. There are many who, like Mr. Zeigler, want our city, our university and our football program to settle for second best. My colleagues and I are not interested in that path.” Stephen Weber, 12/2008 in response to Mark Zeigler’s op ed article.
"What I know about San Diego State is the location and the talent in that area and throughout the state. If the university wants to build a championship program there, they can build a championship program just like the ones at USC, UCLA and Cal -- those other big-city schools out there." Bobby Bowden - 2011 interview with AztecSportsReport.
Aztec Basketball
"This is more people than we normally have at basketball games." Rick Bay – 1999. At the press conference announcing the hiring of Steve Fisher.
"I am thrilled to be the new basketball coach, ready to get started, knowing there will be a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done. I'm not naive to the fact that I think I can close my eyes and wave my wand and we're going to go from 4-22 to 22-4.” Steve Fisher – 1999, upon becoming the new Aztec coach. (Note: just three years later Fish went 21-12 and took the team to the NCAA Tournament)
“In a way, it was a relief [that Rick Majeris declined the Aztec job]. And Steve really wanted to come. Steve needed us as badly as we needed him. Clearly, there were a lot of jobs out there that were better than San Diego State. We were lucky to get him.” Rick Bay – 2011, on the hiring of Steve Fisher.
“In February 1999, I was actually offered the San Diego State job. I turned it down. I didn’t get far enough to get to the contract (negotiations). I did not think you could win at San Diego State. Most people didn’t think you could. It was a graveyard. Steve Fisher changed that.” Fran Fraschilla - 2014.
Miscellaneous
"It boggles my mind, not only that they've been down, but the inconsistency." Craig Thompson MWC Commissioner – 2005, referring to the entire Aztec athletic program.
"The projects we have for him right now are mostly related to campus issues relative to athletics. In other words, 'How can we be more successful at San Diego State, using his experience?' We've asked him to do some analysis for us on that sort of thing. He's been very good about it, whether that's admissions, whether that's fundraising, any of those things that can help us be more successful." Jeff Schemmell – 2/2009, discussing Chuck Long’s new $700,000 per year job while waiting for his football contract to expire.
“His ability to serve the university was compromised and I think Jeff reached that conclusion himself. I think he disappointed a lot of people. I think Jeff would say he disappointed himself.” Steve Weber 11/2009, upon the resignation of Jeff Schemmel.
“Habel is my homeboy”. Lorenzo Wade, 2007.
“The whole glue here is Steve Weber. He’s had a profound effect on our athletic program. He took an uncommon interest in the program out there, recognizing that a successful athletic program would give prominence to the university and community and would bring the student body together as it has.” SDSU Booster Leon Parma – 2011.