Sports at Lunch, Chuck Long

07-19-2006

By Tom Shanahan, San Diego Hall of Champions

Chuck Long didn’t take long to announce his bowl game expectations for 2006 season when he appeared Wednesday at the Hall of Champions for Sports at Lunch.

As the former Oklahoma offensive coordinator stepped behind the lectern, he pulled up for display a black leather travel bag he called a “a bowl bag.” He brought it to present to Hall of Champions founder Bob Breitbard. Long wants Breitbard and Aztecs fans to start packing for what would be SDSU’s first bowl trip since 1998 if the Aztecs prove to be winners Long’s first season.

“This is a bowl bag for the future,” Long told the audience at Sports at Lunch as he cited reasons he believes the Aztecs can win in 2006.

“I have a great staff, and these guys have been a part of 60 bowl games between them,” Long said. “You can feel it in our office and our players can feel it on the field. And we’ll feel it in training camp, too.”

Long’s Sports at Lunch appearance was a chance for Aztecs fans to hear from the coach following the Mountain West Conference Media Days on Monday at Tuesday in Coronado. Long said he been impressed by the turn out among his players for summer workouts before the players report for training camp in a couple of weeks.

“We’ve had 75 and 80 guys participating,” Long said. “It’s one of the best summers we’ve had, according to our strength coach, Jon Francis. I believe teams are built in the summer. It’s important for them to show they’re committed and learn who their leaders are.”

Aztecs players who attended Sports at Lunch and signed autographs for approximately 200 boys and girls from youth groups were quarterback Kevin O’Connell, running back Lynell Hamilton, linebacker Russell Allen, linebacker Joe Martin, cornerback Terrell Maze and offensive lineman Patrick Justman.

One of the youth groups attended as the guests of San Diego State alumnus Marshall Faulk, who sponsored a table.

Sports at Lunch also included an appearance by Mountain West Conference Deputy Commissioner Bret Gilliand, who announced a deal between CSTV and Comcast to broadcast MWC sports on television. The Mountain West Sports Network will premiere on Comcast systems in Utah, Colorado and New Mexico, while the conference and cable company continue to negotiate to bring the network to MWC markets in San Diego and elsewhere.

Long introduced his players to the audience and said you can expect him to use as many players as possible that he sees working hard in practice and playing hard on the field.

“I believe in getting guys involved in the game,” he said. “They have ownership in the team that way. That makes practice better and more fun. One thing at Oklahoma, is we had fun. Football is exciting. These guys will enjoy the taste of winning.”

Long cited the success of the SDSU men’s basketball and softball teams winning MWC title.

“Our team has seen them bask in the championship glow on campus from their professors and from their fellow students,” he said. “I used that as an example. I want our players to know what it will be like. We’ll get big crowds to our stadium.”

Long said injured tight ends Lance Louis and Erc Miclot are progressing in their rehab from knee surgery. They could both still play this season, but Long said added Miclot’s injury was more serious than Louis' injury. He pointed out Miclot, who played as a true freshman, still has the option of using a redshirt season.

Long, in response to a question from the audience, also explained his plan to close practice to the general public and limit media interviews to Monday and Tuesday.

“A lot of it has to do with Wednesday night classes and study hall,” Long said. “I want to get them off the field. I want to take things off their plate.”

He said he will start the season with a policy of closed practices to the general public, but it could change in the future.

“The reason is we’re putting a new system in place,” he said. “We already know we’ve had an opponent at practice sneaking around. They’re trying to get an edge and we want to keep our system a surprise. But it may change in the future.”

He also talked about how he was encouraged with the prospects at tight end, including a sleeper new to the roster, behind Louis and Miclot. He said one of the most important battles will be among the receivers, but he believes in spreading the ball around to receivers instead of focusing on a go-to guy. He considers it important to find five offensive linemen working in a unit together as early as possible.

What else did Long say about his receivers, tight ends, offensive linemen and other positions? Who is the new tight end name to watch? You should have been at Sports at Lunch.

Tom Shanahan can be contacted at 619-699-2334 or toms@sdhoc.com.