Ted Tollner: Coach at a crossroad

Steve Guiremand

Thursday, Oct. 11, 2001 | 9:58 a.m.

Nobody would have blamed Ted Tollner if he had left San Diego State last winter to become the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator for Butch Davis and the Cleveland Browns.

After all, Tollner's $350,000 a year salary reportedly would have been doubled. He would have been one step closer to getting an NFL head coaching job. And, perhaps more importantly, he would have had more job security.

And job security is something the likable 61-year-old, whose contract at San Diego State is guaranteed only through the end of this season, doesn't really have as the Aztecs (2-3, 1-1) prepare for Saturday afternoon's key Mountain West Conference game against UNLV (1-4, 0-1) at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Barring a strong finish, there's a pretty good chance that the injury-plagued Aztecs, who have sputtered to a 10-17 record since making a 1998 Las Vegas Bowl appearance, could be looking for a new head coach by Christmas.

Even Tollner, a quarterback guru who as a BYU assistant once managed to persuade LaVell Edwards not to switch a fellow named Steve Young to the secondary, admits he understands all the hot seat talk.

"That's accurate," he said. "I've been in this business for 40 years and I know part of that business is to win. When you don't, people say and write that. And if that scares you, you find youself moving on every year or two to a different job."

Tollner, 42-43 in his eighth season since taking over for Al Luginbill, decided it was worth that risk and decided to stay at SDSU.

"There were a lot of reasons," he said. "One, I just felt like it was the right thing to do. We were coming off not a very good year (3-8). And I felt like we had some unfinished buisness to take care of here."

And with 20 starters back, including standout running back Larry Ned, the Aztecs were one of the preseason favorites to win the Mountain West title.

However, once again a tough nonconference schedule and some injuries have caused the Aztecs to win just two of their first five games. Worse, attendance at Qualcomm Stadium has been poor with only 22,193 showing up for a game against Air Force two weeks ago and 20,064 for last weekend's 40-7 drubbing of Division II Eastern Illinois. That's never a good sign for a coach at a crossroad.

The good news for Tollner & Co. is they own an impressive conference road win at Colorado State (14-7). And three of their final four games are at home against BYU, New Mexico and Wyoming.

So a win over the Rebels on Saturday puts San Diego State right in the thick of the MWC race. And it also would give Tollner a real chance at taking care of some of that unfinished business.

Palepoi sat out Tuesday night's workout. He dressed and wore a knee brace at Wednesday afternoon's practice, but did not take a snap during any team drills, although he did take part in a few warmup exercises.

"It's pretty sore right now," Palepoi said. "I think I'll be able to play Saturday."

Any doubt?

"I think there's definitely a doubt, but I'm focused on playing and that's what I plan on doing," Palepoi said. "I really can't cut off of it a whole lot. I'm trying to let it heal a little bit more before I go out there and do some hard hitting."

If Palepoi is limited in his playing time, it would be a big blow for a Rebel defense that will be going against a veteran and physical San Diego State offensive line. The 6-4, 275-pound first team all-Mountain West Conference pick is third in the conference with 3 1/2 sacks.

Hall replaces junior Lon Sheriff, who started the first five games and shredded UNLV's secondary for 328 yards a year ago, but threw a costly interception in the final minute of the game that Amar Brisco ran back for the winning touchdown and a 31-24 Rebel victory.

"We're going to give Adam an opportunity to start and give Lonnie a chance to back off a little bit and see if he can take the pressure off himself," Tollner told the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Sheriff, plagued at times by a right thumb injury, has completed 51 of 99 passes for 586 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. Hall, who has played in all five games this season, has completed 23 of 48 passes for 316 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Hall was a first-team 5-A all-Texas state pick in 1998 at Austin's Westlake High School. He redshirted in 1999 at the University of Texas behind Chris Simms and Major Applewhite and then decided to transfer to San Diego State last year when his playing prospects looked bleak.

"I'm excited," Hall said. "It's what I've waited for for a long time."