Aztecs Past, Present and Future Come Together on Campus

On the first day of spring the Red and Black scrimmage attracted more than 2,000 Aztec football fans to the SDSU Sports Deck for a preview of the 2010 season. For the second year in a row the annual Aztec Family Day event was held on campus, this time on the same day that thousands of prospective students, their families and community members visited campus as part of Explore SDSU: Open House festivities.

(l-r) Teacher John Cotter with students Devon Owen, Dylan Owen and Leo Dakessian at Aztec Family Day March 20.

More exciting to many fans than the black unit's 10-7 victory over the red squad was the post-game opportunity to meet the Aztec players.  Elementary school teacher, John Cotter, brought two of his current students and a former student to the scrimmage from Encinitas to check out the team and get autographs from their favorite Aztecs.

“All three boys just signed up for Pop Warner this morning so I thought it would be fun to bring them down here and get them fired up for the fall,” Cotter explained.

Fifth grader Devon Owen was excited to meet DeMarco Sampson. “He’s a great wide receiver,” the young fan said. His brother, Dylan Owen, was after the autograph of wide receiver Denso Dylan “because his last name is Dylan and my name is Dylan,” the third grader admitted.

Aztecs wide receiver DeMarco Sampson signs the shirt of Xavier Lewis at Family Day.

Soon-to-be-Aztec mom Sherele Keels brought her son, Mahbu, and grandson, Xavier Lewis, to Family Day. Mahbu Keels is a cornerback from San Diego’s Mission Bay High School who will join the Aztecs this fall.
 
“This event is wonderful,” Sherele Keels said of the scrimmage. “I love San Diego State and I’m proud to know that my son is going to be an Aztec and stay locally so I can come to all the games. I haven’t missed a game since he was six years old. I’ve been very impressed with (coach) Brady Hoke and his staff and the recruitment process, so I’m just excited.”

As mother and son looked on, little Xavier had his shirt signed by DeMarco Sampson, who described the fan turnout as “amazing.”

“It’s a family atmosphere,” observed Sampson. “It’s a real good feeling just to be around it and to be a part of it.”

Former Aztec linebacker Darius Wesber after alumni touch football game at Family Day.

Setting the tone for the day was a reunion of former players in a touch football game before the Red and Black scrimmage. Aztec teams from across several decades were represented by the alumni players who took the occasion to revive their competitive spirit.

“There’s been a lot of trash talking and everybody reliving their old days,” said Darius Wesber, an Aztec linebacker from 1997 – 2000. “You think back to the old days and remember when you were out here practicing, competing and scrimmaging against each other, so it’s a good event.”

After their game, the alumni players gathered for pictures, then formed a human tunnel for the current team members to pass through running onto the field. Between the alumni, the current team, and the recruits and young fans on hand for Family Day, Aztec Football past, present and future was well represented.

View a photo album of Family Day.