As an alumnus of San Diego State University and a committed fan of the Aztecs sports teams, or a fan who should be committed, I want to know everything I can find out about the players, coaches, injuries, strategies, etc. when I pick up my morning newspaper or listen to the radio.
That's clearly not happening under the new regime of football coach Brady Hoke, who has closed practices to the public and media, and banned freshmen from speaking with reporters. The lone exception is he'll let the media in for the first 30 minutes of a couple practices each week, mainly so TV crews can get some fresh video. For those not in the know, the first 30 minutes of a football practice consists of stretching. Whoopee.
As a reporter by trade, I believe there is an obligation of transparency for people in public positions. Scrutiny by a good reporter gives the busy populace its only chance to evaluate its public institutions. SDSU football, as part of a state university and dependent on ticket sales to emotionally connected fans, requires scrutiny. If you think this is a stretch, I have two words for you: Chuck Long.
On the other hand, I've spent most of this decade covering the criminal courts and police stories, both government functions. There are times that you just can't get the information you want when you want it. After a while, you learn where the line is drawn, though there are a number of public lawyers who are media unfriendly and won't tell you anything for any reason. But these issues don't involve football.
Again, these people -- from District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis to San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders to Hoke -- work for us and should not be allowed to hide behind a "no comment." They're obligated to let the public see what's going on within their offices and, for better or worse, the press is the public's representative in such matters.
I'm not typing here to demand Hoke immediately open his practices to one and all. I do think he's erred by a matter of degree in that he's trying to reconnect local football fans and SDSU alumni to the program and yet he's shutting them out of watching practice. He should have said practice on this day or that day is open and the others are closed, or some formula of that type. He's installing new systems and it appears he's going to be using a lot of new players, including true freshmen, and he doesn't want anything revealed, or distraction to the kids trying to learn new things. I understand that.
Hoke has said, however, that at Ball State he loosened up the restrictions after the first couple of years and thinks he'll do the same here. We the media and the public need to make sure he does so.
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SDSU defensive coordinator Rocky Long justifies the restrictions by saying practices really don't tell you much about players, that to really judge them you have to see them perform in games. That appears to be applicable to former Helix QB Alex Smith, who lost his battle to start for the 49ers to Shaun Hill.
Smith, who missed the 2008 season with an injury, has failed to live up to his promise when he was drafted first out of Utah. The 49ers as a whole were awful the past few seasons but appear to be building steam in 2009, so this is a big season for them. I actually think the NFC is weak enough for San Francisco to be a wild card contender, so coach Mike Singletary better get his QB choice right.
The trouble is Smith looked great throwing the ball in off-season workouts. The Bay Area newspapers all had articles along the lines of: guess who's back in the QB mix? That's how well he was doing.
Then came the exhibition games. He threw a TD pass in the first contest against Denver but his completions averaged just over six yards. Against the Raiders last week he completed just 3 of his 9 throws and tossed an interception. His passer rating was 4.2. Not good.
So he lost his chance to start and, I'd bet, maybe his job. The 49ers have veteran Damon Huard and drafted Hoke's old Ball State signal-caller, Nate Davis. Therefore, look for Smith to be released in early September. Just my bet.
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Raiders LB Kirk Morrison (SDSU) separated his shoulder in that second exhibition game and will be out a few weeks. Former Aztecs WR Chaz Schilens had all but nailed down the Raiders top receiving spot before he also got hurt. Yuck. Best to the recovery for both.
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