Warrior Wednesday: Dr. Allison Miner

November 28, 2012February 10, 2013 / Hunter O. Hewitt / 4 Comments

Athletic trainer and physical therapist Allison Miner tapes the ankle of an SDSU football player before a game (Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations)

In the physical sport of football, injuries are inevitable. With each injury comes a long, strenuous, and mentally challenging rehabilitation process, one that needs the supervision of a knowledgeable physical therapist.

With the help of Dr. Allison Miner, San Diego State football players have been able to bounce back from injuries and recover the correct way for years.

Now in her eighth season as an assistant athletic trainer and physical therapist for SDSU athletics, Miner has helped countless athletes make their way back onto the playing field. From ligament damage in the knees to various shoulder surgeries, she has been instrumental in the recovery of many SDSU football players over the years.

An Aztec herself, Miner attended San Diego State and graduated in 2001 with a degree in kinesiology. She then went on to earn her doctorate of physical therapy at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash. in 2004. Following her time in Washington, she returned to San Diego and has been working for her former school ever since.

Although she works primarily with football, Miner assists with other sports as well. She is also a physical therapist for the Student Health Services department at SDSU.

For her hard work and dedication to keeping the Aztecs as healthy as possible, Allison Miner is this week’s Wednesday Warrior.

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by Hunter Hewitt

GO AZTECS

Aztec Stat of the Week: 18

November 20, 2012February 13, 2013 / Hunter O. Hewitt / Leave a comment

The Aztecs celebrate after defeating Air Force to improve to 6-1 in conference play (Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations)

This week, only one stat matters.

“Championships?”
“18.”
“Working on?”
“19.”

Since 2009, that is what has been said before every team meeting by the San Diego State football team. The coach asks two simple questions, the players give two simple responses.

In school history, 18 conference championships have been won, and Aztec fans have been anxiously awaiting the 19th for years.

SDSU controls its own destiny on Saturday, as they will finally have the chance to win their 19th conference championship when they take on Wyoming in their final Mountain West Conference game.

If the Aztecs win, there are two other games that will determine whether or not the Mountain West Conference championship is shared or won outright. SDSU, Boise State, and Fresno State are all 6-1 in conference play, and each have one game remaining.

Air Force vs. Fresno State – 12:30 p.m. pst on Saturday, Nov. 24 at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, Calif.

Boise State vs. Nevada – TBA on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Mackay Stadium in Reno, Nev.

If both Fresno State and Boise State lose their final conference games, SDSU will win the conference championship outright. Because there are no tiebreakers in the Mountain West, if either Fresno State or Boise State, or both, win their final games, it will be either a two-way or three-way tie for the conference championship.

Previous Conference Championships

In order of the most recent, the 18 conference championships in SDSU history are as follows:

1998, 1986, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1970, 1969, 1967, 1966, 1963, 1962, 1951, 1950, 1937, 1936, 1924, 1923, 1922

In 1998, led by head coach Ted Tollner, the Aztecs were co-champions of the Western Athletic Conference with a conference record of 7-1 and an overall record of 7-5. They tied with BYU and Air Force in the regular season, making the three teams co-champions in conference play. Air Force eventually went on to beat BYU in the conference championship game, but SDSU was technically still a co-champion in the regular season.

The last time SDSU won a conference championship outright was in 1986, when quarterback Todd Santos led the Aztecs to a 7-1 record in the Western Athletic Conference and an 8-4 record overall. The season ended with a heartbreaking 39-38 loss to Iowa in the Holiday Bowl.

This Saturday will determine if the Aztecs can secure their 19th conference championship, and the following Saturday could determine if it is won outright or shared.

WIN 19!

by Hunter Hewitt

GO AZTECS

Aztec Stat of the Week: Pass Break-Ups – Leon McFadden

November 13, 2012April 26, 2013 / Hunter O. Hewitt / 2 Comments

Leon McFadden breaks up a pass vs. North Dakota, one of his 10 pass break-ups this season (Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations)

When San Diego State defeated Boise State on Nov. 3, Aztec cornerback Leon McFadden recorded four tackles and a pass break-up in the game. The numbers weren’t eye-popping, likely because teams often shy away from throwing to McFadden’s side, but one statistic inched him closer to leaving his mark in the SDSU record books.

With the pass break-up against Boise State, McFadden improved his season total to 10, good for most on the team. He now has a total of 37 pass break-ups in his career, which ties a school record. He has matched former SDSU defensive back Eric Lewis, who also broke up 37 passes from 1995-1998.

What is most impressive about the statistic is that McFadden has managed to tie the record with a limited number of opportunities. Tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in the Mountain West Conference before the season began, he has developed a reputation as a shutdown cornerback.

Opposing offenses often focus on the side of the field where McFadden isn’t, taking away chances for the senior cornerback to make plays. Despite the reduced opportunities, he has still managed 56 total tackles and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, in his final season at SDSU.

With two games remaining and only one pass break-up needed, McFadden has a great chance to break the record and solidify himself as one of the best defensive backs to ever play at SDSU.

*UPDATE (12/21/12)

Leon McFadden recorded two pass break-ups in the final game vs. BYU. He now holds the record for most pass break-ups in San Diego State history with 39.

Did you miss last week’s “Stat of the Week” post about kickoff return yardage? Check it out here!

by Hunter Hewitt

GO AZTECS

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Hunter O. Hewitt

Warrior Wednesday: Dr. Allison Miner

Aztec Stat of the Week: 18

Aztec Stat of the Week: Pass Break-Ups – Leon McFadden