SDSU

Warrior Wednesday: Dr. Allison Miner

/ 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

Warrior Wednesday: Bobby Smitheran

/ Hunter O. Hewitt / Leave a comment

Bobby Smitheran – Director of Football Operations

When people think about college football, what happens on Saturdays on the field is often what comes to mind.

Behind the scenes, however, several tasks must be completed on a daily basis to keep a football program running smoothly off the field. Coaches are often extremely busy, and have far too much on their plate to worry about the multitude of administrative issues that come along with Division 1 athletics.

For Bobby Smitheran, the director of football operations at San Diego State, the administrative side is his forte.

Smitheran came to SDSU in 2008, and initially worked for the athletic department as the liaison to the office of admissions, housing department, and NCAA Eligibility Center.

But in 2010, when former coach Brady Hoke left for Michigan and took most of his staff with him, Rocky Long needed to hire a new director of football operations. Smitheran was given the opportunity, and has done a great job taking over all the duties.

From organizing team meals to arranging travel plans for away games, Smitheran has a variety of responsibilities, but has done a phenomenal job of balancing it all.

For his efforts to keep the SDSU football program running smoothly, Bobby Smitheran is this week’s Wednesday Warrior.

LINKS:
Hunter Hewitt: WordPress – http://hunterhewitt.wordpress.com
Hunter Hewitt: LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/in/hunterhewitt
Hunter Hewitt: Twitter – http://twitter.com/hunterhewitt89
Hunter Hewitt: Facebook – http://facebook.com/hunterhewittSDSU
Hunter Hewitt: About.me – http://about.me/hunterhewitt
Hunter Hewitt: BrandYourself – http://hunterhewitt.brandyourself.com/
Hunter Hewitt: GoAztecs.com Player Profile – http://goaztecs.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hewitt_hunter00.html

by Hunter Hewitt

GO AZTECS

Aztec Stat of the Week: Overtime Games

/ Hunter O. Hewitt / 1 Comment

SDSU celebrates after its thrilling overtime victory over Nevada (Ernie Anderson/SDSU Media Relations)

Over the years, overtime games have been a rarity for San Diego State football.

According to GoAztecs.com, SDSU had only played in four overtime games before entering Saturday night’s contest vs. Nevada. That statistic changed Saturday, however, as the Aztecs defeated Nevada in overtime, 39-38.

With the thrilling overtime victory, the Aztecs improved to 4-1 all-time in overtime games. Following the game, one question likely popped up in the heads of many SDSU fans: When was the last overtime game for SDSU?

Last overtime game

On October 24, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium, SDSU defeated Utah 21-20 in overtime.

Behind quarterback Brian Russell and running back Larry Ned, the Aztecs won their fourth straight game to improve to 4-3 on the season. Utah scored first in the extra period, but missed the extra point, opening the door for SDSU. The Aztecs then scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Russell to Damon Gourdine, and converted the extra point to win the game.

SDSU went on to play in the Las Vegas Bowl that season, but fell to North Carolina, 20-13.

Brian Russell (left) and Larry Ned (right) helped the Aztecs beat Utah in overtime in the 1998 season

 

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

 

by Hunter Hewitt

GO AZTECS