Luginbill Puts An End on Discussion of UCLA

SAN DIEGO — Aztecs Coach Al Luginbill, unable to find anything positive in the Aztecs’ 35-7 loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, wants to lay it to rest for good.

“I’m not going to talk about it anymore, because it’s over, it’s done,” he said. “And to be honest with you, I just want to play another game. Tomorrow night, if they’d let us.”

But as the Aztecs practiced without pads for 60 minutes Monday, their first day of preparation for Saturday’s Western Athletic Conference game at New Mexico, Luginbill did have some encouraging words for tackle La’Roi Glover, a true freshman from San Diego.

“By the middle of the season, he’ll be a factor to deal with,” said Luginbill of Glover, 6 feet 2, 275 pounds, who played at Point Loma High. “He just gets better each week. He’s got tremendous push, and he’s played against the best three offensive lines that we will play against.

“There’s may be some mismatches coming down the line. In his favor.”

Glover, 18, who was a Parade All-American last year, saw his limited playing time increase against UCLA on Saturday, and his five tackles and one assisted tackle led all Aztec linemen. With the Aztects down 14-0 in the third quarter, Glover stopped two successive Bruin drives.

With third down and three yards to go at the UCLA 47-yard line, Glover stopped running back Kevin Williams for no gain, forcing a punt. On the next UCLA drive, Glover fought off a chop block at the knees and dived to recover quarterback Rob Walker’s fumble at the Bruin 39. The Aztecs couldn’t capitalize, running four plays for three yards.

Glover had only two tackles before the UCLA game, one a quarterback sack against Brigham Young.

Aztecs Notes

Al Luginbill will stick with the same offensive line that finished the UCLA game after center Mike Alexander left with a mid-foot sprain that will sideline him this week. Guard Joe Heinz will play center and Mark Koenig will play Heinz’s weak guard position. Tackle Chris Rodahaffer also is practicing at center, while backup center Burton Ewert is working out at tackle.