Wikipedia

1968 San Diego State Aztecs football team

The 1968 San Diego State Aztecs football team represented San Diego State College[note 1] during the 1968 NCAA College Division football season.

1968 San Diego State Aztecs football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1 (UPI small college)
APNo. 2 (AP small college)
Record9–0–1
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorRod Dowhower (1st season)
Home stadiumSan Diego Stadium
Seasons
← 1967
1969 →
1968 NCAA College Division independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 San Diego State   –   9 – 0 – 1
No. 3 Chattanooga   –   9 – 1 – 0
Indiana State   –   9 – 1 – 0
Indiana (PA)   –   9 – 1 – 0
Nevada Southern   –   8 – 1 – 0
UC Riverside   –   7 – 1 – 1
Ashland   –   8 – 2 – 0
No. 7 Eastern Michigan   –   8 – 2 – 0
Lincoln (MO)   –   8 – 2 – 04
St. Norbert   –   6 – 2 – 1
Tennessee State   –   6 – 2 – 1
Hawaii   –   7 – 3 – 0
No. 14 Tampa   –   7 – 3 – 0
No. 17 Akron   –   7 – 3 – 1
Northeastern   –   6 – 3 – 0
Southern Illinois   –   6 – 3 – 0
Cortland   –   5 – 3 – 0
Boston University   –   5 – 3 – 1
Northern Arizona   –   6 – 4 – 0
Pacific (CA)   –   6 – 4 – 0
Samford   –   6 – 4 – 0
Northern Michigan   –   5 – 4 – 0
Parsons   –   5 – 4 – 0
Drake   –   5 – 5 – 0
UC Santa Barbara   –   4 – 4 – 1
Santa Clara   –   4 – 5 – 0
Portland State   –   4 – 6 – 0
Wayne State (MI)   –   3 – 6 – 0
Wabash   –   3 – 6 – 0
Colorado College   –   2 – 6 – 0
Kentucky State   –   2 – 7 – 0
Milwaukee   –   2 – 7 – 0
Lake Forest   –   2 – 8 – 0
Northern Illinois   –   2 – 8 – 0
Mississippi Valley State   –   1 – 7 – 0
UC San Diego   –   0 – 7 – 0
Rose Poly   –   0 – 8 – 0
Cal Poly Pomona   –   0 – 10 – 0
Rankings from AP small college poll

This was San Diego State's last year in the College Division of the NCAA. They had been a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) for the previous 29 years, but competed as an Independent during the 1968 season. The team was led by head coach Don Coryell, in his eighth year, and played their home games at San Diego Stadium[note 2] in San Diego, California.

The team finished the season undefeated for the second time under Coach Coryell, with nine wins, zero losses, and one tie (9–0–1). At the end of the season, the Aztecs were voted the College Division national champion for the third consecutive year in the UPI small college football rankings and No. 2 in the AP small college football rankings.

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 14UT Arlington*
W 23–1835,227[1]
September 20Northern Illinois*
  • San Diego Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
W 40–2130,560[2]
September 28at Montana State*No. 1 AP / 1 UPI
W 34–229,000[3]
October 12Texas Southern*No. 1 AP / 1 UPI
  • San Diego Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
W 42–2338,305[4]
October 19Cal State Los Angeles*No. 1 AP / 1 UPI
  • San Diego Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
W 37–1444,169[5]
October 26San Jose State*No. 1 AP / 1 UPI
  • San Diego Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
W 48–634,641[6]
November 2Fresno State*No. 1 AP / 1 UPI
  • San Diego Stadium
  • San Diego, CA (rivalry)
W 42–1224,387[7]
November 9Southern Miss*No. 1 AP / 1 UPI
  • San Diego Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
W 68–743,766[8]
November 23Tennessee State*No. 1 AP / 1 UPI
  • San Diego Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
T 13–1337,713[9]
November 30Utah State*No. 2 AP / 1 UPI
  • San Diego Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
W 30–1937,425[10]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP/UPI Poll released prior to the game

[11]

Roster

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1968 San Diego State Aztecs football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 12 Dennis Shaw
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DE 77 Fred Dryer
S 27 Nate Wright
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach

Don Coryell

Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  •   Injured
  •   Redshirt

Team players in the NFL/AFL

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The following San Diego State players were selected in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft.[12]

Player Position Round Overall NFL Team
Fred Dryer Defensive end 1 13 New York Giants
Lloyd Edwards Tight end 3 75 Oakland Raiders
Tom Nettles Flanker 7 179 Kansas City Chiefs
Doug Fisher Linebacker 12 290 Pittsburgh Steelers

The following finished their college career in 1968, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[13]

Player Position First NFL Team
Clancy Oliver Defensive back 1969 Pittsburgh Steelers
Nate Wright Defensive back 1969 Atlanta Falcons

Team awards

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Award Player
Most Valuable Player
(John Simcox Memorial Trophy)		 Tom Nettles
Outstanding Offensive & Defensive Linemen
(Byron H. Chase Memorial Trophy)		 Larry Findley, Off
Fred Dryer, Def
Team captains
Dr. R. Hardy / C.E. Peterson Memorial Trophy		 Dennis Shaw, Off
Mike Meagher, Def
Most Inspirational Player Mike Meagher

[11]

Notes

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  1. ^ San Diego State University was known as San Diego State College from 1935 to 1971.
  2. ^ San Diego County Credit Union Stadium (SDCCU Stadium) was known as San Diego Stadium from its opening in 1967 through 1980.

References

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  1. ^ "Aztecs Rally, Nip Arlington". Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. September 15, 1968. p. C-1. Retrieved January 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  2. ^ Arvid Koontz (September 21, 1968). "San Diego State Wins 40–21, Northern's Offense Improved". The DeKalb Daily Chronicle. DeKalb, Illinois. p. 6. Retrieved January 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  3. ^ "Aztec Defense Keys Triumph". Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. September 29, 1968. p. S-2. Retrieved January 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  4. ^ "Parks Leads CSLB To Upset Victory". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 13, 1968. p. D 15. Retrieved January 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  5. ^ "Aztecs Crush Diablos, 37-14, Before 44,169". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 20, 1968. p. D-2. Retrieved January 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  6. ^ "San Jose Falls Victim To San Diego". Fresno Bee. October 27, 1968. p. 4-S. Retrieved January 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  7. ^ Bruce Farris (November 3, 1968). "Aztecs Start Slow, Then Trample FSC". Fresno Bee. p. 1-S. Retrieved January 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.   
  8. ^ "Aztecs Crush Mississippi Grids 68-7". Fresno Bee. November 10, 1968. p. 4-S. Retrieved January 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  9. ^ "Tennessee State Ties Aztecs With Defense". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 24, 1968. p. D 18. Retrieved January 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  10. ^ "Aztecs Power Past Utah State 30-19". The Fresno Bee. Fresno, California. December 1, 1968. p. S2. Retrieved January 16, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. 
  11. ^ a b "San Diego State 2016 Football Media Guide". Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  12. ^ "1969 NFL Draft". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  13. ^ "San Diego St. Players/Alumni". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
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