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
College Division national champion
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1 (UPI small college)
APNo. 2 (AP small college)
1968 record9–0–1
Head coach
Home stadiumSan Diego Stadium
(Capacity: 50,000)
1968 NCAA College Division independents football records
Conf  Overall
TeamW L T  W L T
No. 2 San Diego State   –    9 –0 –1
No. 3 Chattanooga   –    9 –1 –0
Indiana State   –    9 –1 –0
Nevada Southern   –    8 –1 –0
UC Riverside   –    7 –1 –1
No. 7 Eastern Michigan   –    8 –2 –0
Lincoln (MO)   –    8 –2 –0
La Verne   –    7 –2 –0
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
Pacific (CA)   –    6 –4 –0
Samford   –    6 –4 –0
Parsons   –    5 –4 –0
Wheaton (IL)   –    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
Milwaukee   –    2 –7 –0
Lake Forest   –    2 –8 –0
Northern Illinois   –    2 –8 –0
Rose Poly   –    0 –8 –0
Cal Poly Pomona   –    0 –10 –0
Rankings from AP 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.

They 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 Poll and No. 2 in the AP Small College Football Poll.

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 14Texas–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[note 3]*No. 1 AP / 1 UPI
  • San Diego Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
W 48–634,641[6]
November 2Fresno State[note 4]*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]

[11][12]

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

Don Coryell

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

Team players in the NFL/AFL

The following San Diego State players were selected in the 1969 NFL Draft.[13]

PlayerPositionRoundOverallNFL Team
Fred DryerDefensive End113New York Giants
Lloyd EdwardsTight End375Oakland Raiders
Tom NettlesFlanker7179Kansas City Chiefs
Doug FisherLinebacker12290Pittsburgh Steelers

The following finished their college career in 1968, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[14]

PlayerPositionFirst NFL Team
Clancy OliverDefensive Back1969 Pittsburgh Steelers
Nate WrightDefensive Back1969 Atlanta Falcons

Team awards
AwardPlayer
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 PlayerMike Meagher

[12]

Notes
  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.
  3. San Jose State University was known as San Jose State College from 1935 to 1971.
  4. California State University, Fresno was known as Fresno State College from 1949 to 1971.

References
  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. "San Diego State Yearly Results". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  12. "San Diego State 2016 Football Media Guide". Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  13. "1969 NFL Draft". Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  14. "San Diego St. Players/Alumni". Retrieved December 8, 2016.
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