Long standing tall against Aztecs dropping football

Don’t expect San Diego State to drop football as long as staunch supporter Stephen Weber is university president.

But Weber’s support didn’t stop Leon Rosenstein, emeritus professor of philosophy, from making noise last week about trying to shut down the victory- and money-starved program.

Aztecs coach Chuck Long, in his second season after serving as Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator, brushed aside the suggestion by saying on every campus there is a faction that wants to get rid of football. Even at Oklahoma, there were those who wanted the program dropped. But because of the team’s success, those voices remained silent, Long said.

“We’re an easier target because we’re not winning,” he said. Dropping Aztecs football ”would send waves across the campus in many respects.”

Players who otherwise would not receive a college education would be affected, as well as the entire athletic program. If the Aztecs dropped football, all of their sports would be booted from the Mountain West Conference.

But problems linger. Football brought in $4.77 million in revenue last fiscal year compared with $7.3 million in expenses, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. This for a program that has not had a winning season since 1998.

Long has a strong ally in Weber.

“I wouldn’t have come here without the support of the president,” Long said. “I wouldn’t go someplace that was thinking about dropping football. That wouldn’t have been a smart career move.”

• IRRITATED COMMISSIONER — Usually affable MWC chief Craig Thompson sounded on edge during Tuesday’s league teleconference.

For sure, he was not happy with San Diego State athletic director Jeff Schemmel, who has publicly stumped for bringing Boise State into the conference. Thompson shot down such speculation two weeks ago, but Schemmel brought the topic to life again.

Thompson said expansion isn’t “even on the agenda.”

“I don’t know where (Schemmel) came up with that,” Thompson said.

• CONGRESSIONAL PRESSURE — Utah’s Orrin Hatch was among senators from four Mountain West states to send a letter to cable and satellite systems urging them to pick up The mtn., a network devoted to coverage of the conference.

The mtn. is available on many cable systems, including Cox in Las Vegas, but still is not seen in some areas and is not on a satellite system.

“Despite some claims to the contrary, it appears that the hurdles preventing an agreement are not technical in nature,” the letter stated. “Indeed, other conferences and providers have been able to make programming arrangements that have made games and other programming available through both cable and satellite outlets. We strongly believe that, when it comes to programming conflicts, the interests of consumers should be the foremost concern.”