With training camp fewer than 48 hours away, new San Diego State football coach Sean Lewis discussed how eager he is to finally step foot on the field with the season in sight.
“Looking forward to getting on the grass with the team for the first (time),” Lewis said during Tuesday’s first on-campus news conference ahead of the 2024 season.
The coach added that he can’t wait “to start training camp and get this team unified and connected so that we can be game-ready … Really eager to get going to see where we’re at, what we’ve got and how close-knit we can get this team.”
The Aztecs take the field Thursday morning for the first of 25 practices leading up to their Aug. 31 season opener against Texas A&M-Commerce at Snapdragon Stadium.
SDSU had 15 spring practices to get acquainted with the new “AztecFAST” offense Lewis brought with him to San Diego in November, when he was hired to replace Brady Hoke. A new defense also will be installed, with the Aztecs going from a 3-3-5 to a 4-2-5 alignment.
“Guys are having a better understanding of what we’re looking for,” Lewis said. “These next two, two-and-a-half weeks (are) where we get to go into our football bubble and really dive into the work and immerse ourselves from sun up to sun down and really dial in the details of all of it. Really looking forward to seeing the growth as we dive into this process.”
SDSU went 4-8 last year under Hoke. It was the program’s first losing season since 2009. Success — and, certainly, progress — could be viewed as a 6-6 regular season that results in bowl eligibility.
The Aztecs were picked eighth in the Mountain West’s preseason media poll, so a .500 record would exceed outside expectations.
Lewis said the challenge for the Aztecs is to find out “what are you going to do when it really, truly counts?” The program includes 115 players. More than half of them are new to the program.
“We’ve got to get them to where they’re not thinking about (the play call) and they’re just playing,” he said. “That’s the next step that I’m really looking forward to the team taking as we move through camp here.
“It’s all about the people. Scheme is one thing. But to me the great hurdle that we get to overcome and the opportunity that we have in front of us is to take all the people in the building, old, new, whatever the case might be, to become a team.”
Next phase
The Aztecs recently completed an eight-week summer conditioning program directed by Jeff Sobol, the head of football performance.
Lewis said it was designed to have the players physically and mentally ready for camp.
“Coach Sobol and his staff did an unbelievable job of taking each individual young man and increasing their work capacity, increasing their size, their strength, if that was the goal, or maybe refining some guys up front to shed a few pounds so we can play at the pace we want to,” Lewis said.
“They did their piece. Now it’s our job as a football staff to turn these great athletes into a football team and get them prepared for the task that comes here in about a month.”
Penny in his thoughts
Former SDSU running back Rashaad Penny retired from the NFL this week.
Injuries limited Penny’s production over six seasons, though he did rush for 1,951 yards and 13 touchdowns. His best season came in 2021, when Penny had 749 yards and six touchdowns while playing for the Seahawks.
With more time on his hands, Penny is more than welcome to visit the Aztecs.
“Anyone that’s ever donned the red and the black here and has been a part of the program,” Lewis said, “you want to come out for practice, you’re always welcome.
“Those guys have truly sacrificed and given to this university. It’s the foundation of which we’re able to build off. Having those relationships, having them around the guys and continuing to make sure that this will always and forever be their program first and foremost, the doors will always be open. Those relationships are crucial.”
Single-game ticket sales
Single-game tickets for the 2024 season go on sale starting Thursday morning.
Tickets start at $23 for the Aug. 31 season opener against Texas A&M-Commerce. Season-ticket packages start at $200 for the six-game home schedule that also includes games against Oregon State (Sept. 7), Hawaii (Oct. 5), Washington State (Oct. 26), New Mexico (Nov. 8) and Air Force (Nov. 30).
The Aztecs are offering two-and-three-game mini-plans as well.
Ticket information is available at goaztecs.com/tickets or by calling (619) 283-7378.
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