SDSU deserving of its One Shining Moment
We’re in a San Diego State of mind. All because the Aztecs gave up losing for Lent.
Lent isn’t over and neither are they.
San Diego State’s men’s basketball team went ugly — which means defensive — and defeated Creighton 57-56 Saturday in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight. The Aztecs for the first time are headed to pinnacle, the Final Four, and a date in Houston with upstart/dangerous Florida Atlantic.
San Diego State. That State. Our State. Our city. Final Four.
They now without question are Best in the West. And with this charge comes positive ramifications (which we’ll get to once we catch our breath).
Once it was folly, absolutely impossible, to believe this Impossible Dream could be dreamt. When I attended SDSU — and, no, smarties, it was after peach baskets — the Aztecs couldn’t make the Final 200. Prior to Steve Fisher’s arrival in 1999, they couldn’t crack the Final 300. No program in America was worse.
I went to San Diego State, I covered San Diego State, and have been on this job for a half-century, but nothing that’s happened regarding team athletics in this town can come close to matching 21st century Aztecs basketball.
Because 20th century Aztecs basketball, while existing, was about as sexy as a visitor wearing Madras plaid shorts, long black socks and sandals. Coaches, players and university officials tried their damndest to get the student and community involved. No dice.
Until Fisher, who brought along lieutenant Brian Dutcher, and The Loyal Dutchman hung around 18 years as coach-in-waiting. Fisher believed in a crushing defensive style that Dutch has taken to another platform on the scaffolds.
Although “experts” tried to make the Creighton finish controversial, the officials handled it correctly. Darrion Trammell was shoved off his shot, and his free throw won it.
But that’s done. Florida
Atlantic is next, and after the Final Four, we have to consider the effects of this Lenten run that went national.
As SDSU has taken its long walk spoiled through the Orchard of Hope, the greatest plum, the fruit all but forbidden, has been the too-high-out-of-reach Pac-12.
Or, depending on your age, the Pac-10. Or, bless you for your longevity, the Pac-8.
But it’s always been Pac-86ed for major Aztecs athletics. No fruit for you. They were kicked out before they were in. USC and UCLA always made sure they weren’t given so much as a stepstool.
Back when it was the Pac-8, and Don Coryell was blistering every football team in his way, Aztecs fans were clamoring for the school to step up in class — but going Division I in 1969 was only a half-step. The WAC and Mountain West couldn’t lift them higher.
Football was still good through the 1970s, but it fell off dramatically. And basketball simply wasn’t cutting it, not close to enough to earn the Pac-8-1012-whatever’s attention — even though football stirs the cocktail, and that sport could have played in the Power 5 conference.
Dutcher even mentioned USC and UCLA the other day. Those two L.A. schools didn’t want another Division I football school in Southern California. San Diego was a recruiting ground, and the Pac-12 offered more exposure and, of course, money.
But conference realignment dramatically has changed everything. The Trojans and Bruins are going off to the Big Ten and more riches, leaving the Pac two schools shy of 12.
Meaning: Not many major football schools in this state south of Stanford. There has been talk of the conference breaking up as it works on a new TV deal now that the two teams in its largest media market are vamoosing, but it’s looking as though it may stay together.
And it also appears SDSU, with its new stadium, constantly filled arena, good Olympic sports and its rise academically, will be the first choice to step in.
There is talk of the Big 12 becoming a suitor. Football teams in that league play zero defense, which is a plus for a school that plays little offense. The Big 12 also has become the best basketball conference.
But, when I look at this geographically — and historically — it’s hard to go against the Pac-12. Anything to get out of the elevated and sparsely populated Mountain West would be all right with me.
For sure, this run by Aztecs basketball isn’t going to damage their hopes. Just making it this far puts bold capital letters on their résumé. It also might help keep Dutcher around, who might triple his salary with the shift and remain where he prefers to remain. Recruiting, home and elsewhere, could improve tremendously, what with the Transfer Portal
Football, while not exciting offensively, might look better with the Portal being crowded with hundreds of good athletes.
The same goes for basketball, although Dutcher doesn’t torture himself going after one-anddones. He regularly uses nine players, and seven of them are seniors. He has reached this point due to his team’s maturity, and its willingness to get bloody without the ball.
I think this remarkable basketball advance has fully cut the rope, and released them on a cruise to better seas, better exposure, better treasures that up to now were hidden.
It’s been so long. So rough. But if this happens, and it looks as though it will, it may have been worth the wait.
This is San Diego State’s time. This is San Diego’s time. No other city is more deserving of a shining moment. Of any kind.