The sign on the door of the luxury box suite at Rice-Eccles Stadium said: “San Diego State Athletic Director.” Inside the luxury box, of course, there was no Athletic Director.
Though no doubt still embarrassed by the actions which led to his resignation earlier in the week, Jeff Schemmel probably felt fortunate he didn’t have to be in Salt Lake City on Saturday afternoon.
The SDSU football team, for the first time this season, brought back the ugly memories of recent years — a no-show like their former A.D. in a 38-7 loss to the Utah Utes.
Maybe it was to be expected.
The week kicked off with Brady Hoke’s young, improving team having its heart ripped out by Wyoming, the Cowboys scoring 24 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to all but end SDSU’s bowl hopes a week ago Saturday at Qualcomm, 30-27.
Then the Aztecs tried to recover from that drop-kick to the gut while the University’s Athletic Department was being shamed by the actions of Schemmel, who admitted to using the school’s funds to bankroll trips around the country for trysts with his mistress.
Schemmel resigned his post on Thursday. Less than 48 hours later, the Aztecs resigned officially from post-season play. Like Schemmel, they disappeared quietly.
Utah (9-2) had this victory well in-hand well before halftime, intercepting a pass to stop SDSU’s initial drive and scoring its first touchdown just two plays later. It was 14-0 by the end of the first quarter and 21-0 early in the second.
Then freshman quarterback Jordan Wynn, who less than 12 months ago was leading Oceanside High School to its fifth-straight CIF San Diego Section championship, threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jereme Brooks to make it 28-0.
Less than a minute later, Ryan Lindley’s second interception of the day was returned 30 yards for a score by Utah safety Joe Dale and it was 35-0. Utah finished the one-sided half with a 47-yard field goal by Joe Phillips as time ran out.
This was a day in which SDSU neither ran nor passed, neither stopped the run nor pass, and neither blocked or tackled. Lindley hit on just 4-of-18 passes in the first half (with two interceptions) mostly because he was either running for his life or watching his passes fall out of the hands of his receivers.
Wynn, on the other hand, had plenty of time to relax and completed bombs to David Reed and Brooks (both 44 yards) to set up the game’s first two touchdowns, both of which were scored on untouched runs from inside the 10 by running back Eddie Wide.
Utah coach Kyle Wittingham showed pity on SDSU in the second half by simply running out the clock and punting when third-down plunges came up short. SDSU finally scored on a 17-yard touchdown pass by Lindley to freshman Dominique Sandifer early in the fourth quarter.
SDSU (4-7) has now lost its last three games, tainting what had a been a season of solid improvement and promise just a few short weeks ago.
Under Hoke, the Aztecs had fought hard and played with energy and spirit to reach the .500 mark (4-4) by the end of October.
After the tumultuous week they and the University just experienced, however, they had neither fight nor energy on Saturday.
– Ello –
