Back to school also means back to Qualcomm Stadium!

August 1 marked the beginning of football season for the Aztecs, with San Diego State’s media day. Head coach Rocky Long, and a few players sat down with print, online, radio and television reporters to answer questions about the upcoming season.

One of the many questions that Coach Long was asked during the press conference was, what are his thoughts were on starting this season off better than the last. According to "GoAztecs.com," Long answered, “Our players are realizing that we started off poorly last year and are having a different sense of urgency about starting off better.” The coach went on to discuss how the team has been working hard during the spring season, and during two-a-days, to start the season off strong. Although the team has a few injured players still in recovery, Long is confident that they will be healthy by the third week of games.

Along with Coach Long, Ezell Ruffin, one of the Aztec’s wide receivers, also made an appearance at media day. Several intriguing questions were sent his way as well, including a question about how he communicates to the rest of the team on what he wants the team to strive for. He said that, although the team has accomplished four straight bowl games, they are looking to accomplish something bigger; he said he tells the team, “Don’t be happy with just four straight bowl games, let’s get a BCS game, let’s try to win every game, let’s win back-to-back conference championships."

The team is excited for the first game of the season, at Qualcomm on Aug. 30, against the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks, and fans are just as excited. To celebrate the kick-off of the season, SDSU is holding its annual Student Tailgate on that day as well. At the tailgate, students can expect to find gourmet food trucks, a dunk tank, a photo booth and even a giveaway for the first two-dozen students to enter.

With the first home game right around the corner, the Aztec community is optimistic about another successful season. Whether the team is on the road or playing at home, students and fans plan to cheer them on and watch them continue their tradition of excellence in the Mountain West Division.