SAN DIEGO — Even if San Diego State's football team wins its last two games, it'll finish with a losing record - the school's first since 2009. It’s a huge drop from just two years ago when the team won 12 games. “It's upsetting going to the games and wanting to have fun and stuff and seeing not-good football,” said SDSU sophomore Jason Rademacher.
A lot of students and alumni seem to feel that way. Attendance this season at Snapdragon Stadium is down considerably from last season. Four of the past six home games have had less than 25,000 fans. Last season, they never fell below that barrier. Fans say something has to change and Coach Hoke's retirement may be that something they need. “I'm not really sure what's going on in the dressing room, but I think something needs to change,” said SDSU junior Dylan Thompson. “I think it starts with the coach”
With so many colleges switching conferences right now, the timing for San Diego State to be a cellar dweller in football couldn't be worse. The goal is to be attractive to larger conferences and a losing football team doesn’t make you very desirable.
“I think this is the biggest hire San Diego has ever made in football,” said Coach John Kentera, who grew up around San Diego sports and hosts a popular talk show. He thinks the team should go after an offensive-minded coach, but he also believes fans have to be realistic. The school is probably going to end up with a young up-and-coming assistant who has little to no head coaching experience. And if that person does well, they probably won't be here long. “This is really kind of a stepping stone job in the Mountain West conference right now,” Kentera said. “You see guys all the time in the Mountain West Conference - their next job is in a Power 5 conference.”
Of course that could change if the Aztecs move to a Power 5 conference in the near future. And, if you put a good product on the field, fans will show up. The school’s basketball team is proof of that – packing Viejas Arena on a regular basis. “Viejas definitely gets pumping for sure,” Jason said. “ I remember going to the watch party for the finals game and that was one of the best sporting moments of my life.”
Hoke will finish out the season as the team's coach. A new hire should be announced sometime in December.
WATCH: SDSU Aztecs football coach Brady Hoke announces retirement