Aztecs fighting for lives

Tim Graham

Thursday, Oct. 16, 1997 | 9:21 a.m.

The season kicked off when three of his players were thrown in jail on rape charges and held on $1 million bonds before training camp even started.

And it has not gotten any better for San Diego State coach Ted Tollner.

"It's difficult, but there's always a risk in every football season," he said. "And once you start a season you have to play it out."

And that's what the Aztecs are doing.

The arrest of star split end Az-zahir Hakim, receiver Lonny Mitchell and running back Tyrone Evans -- even though they eventually were freed -- set the tone for 1997.

SDSU won its season opener over Navy but has dropped five straight heading into Saturday's 6:05 p.m. game against UNLV at Qualcomm Stadium.

"It's a lot more fun where you're not losing, but we're the only ones who can control it," Tollner said. "You have to fight yourself out.

"We have to get our own selves right and win a football game. Our players are competitive and are tired of what's been going on."

But the Aztec program has taken two more major hits in preparing for the Rebels. Evans, the team's second-leading rusher, was arrested again last Thursday for allegedly beating his girlfriend. On Monday, he was indefinitely suspended from the team.

The same day, Tollner announced starting quarterback Kevin McKechnie, the man responsible for 74 percent of the Aztecs' offense, would miss four to six weeks and possibly the rest of the season with a fractured vertebra in his mid-back.

A replacement has not been named.

"We're tremendously discouraged," said the 56-year-old Tollner, who signed a landmark, 10-year guaranteed contract extension in February. "I think any team that has lost five in a row, regardless of how it's happened and what the records are of the people who've beaten you, you're disappointed.

"We thought we would be a factor in the (Western Athletic Conference) race, and we haven't won in over a month. Our confidence and morale aren't what you'd expect it to be, but there's still a lot of fight in our players and a determination to practice and try to dig ourselves out as far as we can."

Rebels recovering

Sam Brandon, listed on UNLV's depth chart as one of two kickoff returners, did not practice Wednesday. The true freshman receiver was kicked below the knee Tuesday. He will practice today and is probable for Saturday.

Defensive end Talance Sawyer, who leads the WAC in tackles for losses with 12 in six games, practiced for the first time Wednesday. UNLV trainers gave him Monday and Tuesday off to rest a right shoulder sprain suffered against Texas Christian.

Backup defensive end Jean-Hans Stallsmith seems to have recovered from a sprained ankle incurred four weeks ago against Hawaii. Stallsmith has missed the last three games but is practicing. He is listed as probable.