SDSU FOOTBALL: Long hears kind words after close loss

By Tom Shanahan - For The North County Times | Sunday, September 7, 2008 7:08 PM PDT ∞

SAN DIEGO ---- The text messages began popping up on Chuck Long's cell phone after his San Diego State football team nearly stunned Notre Dame and the college football world before falling 21-13.

Among those sending messages were Bob Stoops, Oklahoma's head coach on whose staff Long served; Dick Khoury, a longtime NFL coach who lives in North County; and Brian Sipe, the former San Diego State and NFL quarterback, who is Santa Fe Christian School's head coach.

"I got a lot of messages from people about how they loved the way we competed and that we did ourselves proud on a national scale," Long said. "I heard from a lot of San Diego people. I'm anticipating and hoping this will help us in recruiting, but, again, we're looking for that big win."

Long was speaking as he came off the practice field Sunday afternoon, and he added he expects to hear a message from Hayden Fry, his old Iowa coach who is 79 years old, once he plays the messages waiting for him on his office phone.

"I don't think Hayden knows how to text," Long said with a laugh.

San Diego State's third-year head coach expects to hear Fry appreciated the play of the Aztecs' offensive and defensive lines.

"We had great intensity on both lines, and they set the tone of the game," Long said. "The offensive line allowed one sack in 59 (pass) attempts. The defensive line was all banged up, but did a terrific job."

Without defensive tackle Siaosi Fifita, defensive end Ryan Williams, defensive end Eric Ikonne, defensive end Michael Snead and three other defensive linemen who have been lost for the season, the Aztecs were forced to move defensive end Jonathan Soto to tackle and outside linebacker Russell Allen to defensive end.

The Aztecs (0-2) hope to get some of their injured defensive linemen back in time for Saturday's nonconference game at San Jose State (0-2). The Spartans lost 35-12 Saturday at Nebraska after opening the season with a 13-10 win over UC Davis.

Fifita (knee), a starter who has missed the first two games, and Ikonne (ankle), a backup who played extensively in the opener, might be closer to returning than Williams (concussion). Long said more will be known on Tuesday, but the team "came out of the Notre Dame game in pretty good shape."

Long also praised starting defensive tackle Ernie Lawson and true freshman backup defensive tackle Jerome Long.

"(The team) dug down deep, and they were passionate before the game," Long said. "We came out on the short end, but I told them if they keep up that same effort and intensity, we're gong to win a lot of football games."