The San Diego State University football team will host its annual Aztec Fan Fest on Saturday, Aug. 22, at Qualcomm Stadium. The event will feature an intrasquad scrimmage, an Aztec apparel sale, special chalk talk with SDSU head coach Rocky Long and post-game autograph session.
Fan Fest gets underway at 3:30 p.m. Entrance is through Gate D. The event is free to the public with the exception of the chalk talk (which costs $25).
The scrimmage is scheduled to start at 5 p.m., followed by an autograph session with selected players. This will be fans’ first opportunity to see the SDSU football team prior to its season opener against the University of San Diego Toreros on Sept. 5.
The Aztecs, one of 27 schools across the country to play in a bowl game in each of the last five seasons, has been picked to win the Mountain West Conference’s West Division by the league’s media representatives.
SDSU finished last season 7-6, including 5-3 in MW play, and returns eight starters on defense.
Offensively, the Aztecs are led by Donnel Pumphrey, who rushed for a school-record 1,867 yards and 20 touchdowns as a true sophomore in 2014.
Former Mater Dei Catholic High School standout Nico Siragusa returns to help buttress the SDSU offensive line. The 6-5, 335-pound NFL prospect is listed as the starter at left guard after starting all 13 games at that position last year.
Siragusa, a junior, has two years of varsity experience on build on. He has appeared in two bowl games for the Aztecs: the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2013 and the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl in 2014.
The SDSU 2015 fall roster features three prominent former East County prep standouts: senior offensive lineman Robert Craighead and junior defensive linemen Micah Seau and Malcom Jackson.
Craighead, from El Capitan, appeared in all 13 games last season while making his first three career starts. He made four catches for 42 yards, including one touchdown reception.
Seau, who resides in Spring Valley but attended the Bishop’s School, played in five games last season, recording one tackle and one pass break-up as a linebacker.
At 6-3, 280 pounds, Jackson, from Mt. Miguel, is tabbed as a big defensive tackle who adds depth to the front line. He will be looking to move up from the team’s practice squad.
Jackson had two tackles in the Aztecs’ annual Red-Black spring game.
SDSU 2015 SCHEDULE
September
5: SDSU vs. USD at Qualcomm Stadium, 5 p.m. PT
12: SDSU at Cal-Berkeley, 2 p.m. PT
19: SDSU vs. South Alabama at Qualcomm Stadium, 5 p.m. PT
26: SDSU at Penn State, TBA
October
3: SDSU vs. Fresno State at Qualcomm Stadium, 7:30 p.m. PT
10: SDSU at Hawaii, 6 p.m. HT
17: SDSU at San Jose State, TBA
23: SDSU vs. Utah State at Qualcomm Stadium, 7:30 p.m. PT
31: SDSU at Colorado State, 1:30 p.m. MT
November
14: SDSU vs. Wyoming at Qualcomm Stadium, 7:30 p.m. PT
21: SDSU at UNLV, 7:30 p.m. PT
28: SDSU vs. Nevada at Qualcomm Stadium, TBA
