by Dan HayesSenior Staff Writer
After their performance against Oregon State, the members of theoffensive line could use a boost. This week they will get a 290-poundcan of Red Bull as Jonathan Ingram returns to the starting lineup.
“Jon brings some toughness to the group,” said offensive linecoach Damon Baldwin. “He brings toughness and experience which weneed right now in our running game.”
The sophomore quick guard suffered a right knee sprain in theseason opener against Arizona State and hasn’t played since. He wasthe second casulty on the offensive line which has had a myriad ofproblems with injuries.
In the loss at OSU the Aztecs lost one of their most durablestarters, Chester Pitts to a concussion. Pitts, the weak side tacklewill return this week. However, who will start at the other tackleslot is still up in the air.
According to Baldwin it will be a game-time decision on whether tostart redshirt freshman Brendan Darby or sophomore Raul Gomez.
“Right now we’re alternating him and (Raul) Gomez at strongtackle,” Baldwin said. “We may just rotate both guys until one cansolidify the position. Neither guy has taken the position yet.They’re both sort of flopping around.”
The butler did it
It was two years ago this week that SDSU’s Jomar Butler first madehis presence felt on the football field. The safety intercepted apass from Tulsa quarterback John Fitzgerald and ran it back 28 yardsfor the go-ahead score in a 24-14 win at Tulsa.
The win was the first of the year for the Aztecs who went on towin seven of their final eight games to earn a bid to The Las VegasBowl.
Butler found his way into six games in the 1998 campaign,recording six tackles and breaking up three passes. But then Butler’scareer as an Aztec went south. He sat out all of the 1999 Spring Campafter suffering a hernia and eventually left the team for personalreasons.
“First we had to consider to allow him to rejoin”, said defensivecoordinator Ken Delgado. “When he left there weren’t good feelings onboth parts.”
After sitting out for a year. Butler came back to the team thispast Spring. Defensive coordinator Ken Delgado had been hoping thatButler could help out on Special Teams. What he’s received in returnis more than he could have expected.
“We had very modest expectations when he returned,” Delgado said.”But he’s immediately started doing positive things.”
Butler began the season playing only on the special teams unit,but moved up the depth chart and into the starting lineup at Arizonadue to injuries. In two games as a starter, Butler has accounted for18 tackles and also forced a fumble on a lateral by Arizonaquarterback Ortege Jenkins.
“I think the biggest things he brings are his experience and hisathleticism,” said linebackers coach Charlie Camp. “He’s played inthis system for a year and he can really hit.”
‘Mr. Consistency’ and the ‘FlashyKid’
They stand on opposite sides of the field but they are linkedtogether by position. Through the first four games the cornerback duoof Ricky Sharpe and Donte Gamble have held their own but have provensusceptible to the big play — at least on one side.
“So far Ricky Sharpe has been Mr. Consistent,” said defensivebacks coach Fred Bliel. “Donte has been flashy, and more up and downwhich you would expect out of a junior college transfer that wasn’there for spring ball.”
After playing in nine games for SDSU last season and having adecent Sapring, Sharpe was named the starting cornerback. So far hehas been one of the most consistent players on the defensive side ofthe ball. In the first four games, Sharpe has only allowed one passover 15 yards and is tied for the team lead in tackles with 32.
“I felt pretty comfortable out there,” Sharpe said. “I feel I’vedone a good job but we haven’t won yet.”
Gamble on the other hand has seen his share of ups and downs. Thejunior cornerback from El Camino JC has given up his share oftouchdown passes. However, he also leads the team in pass breakupswith five and has forced three turnovers.
“Donte has given up some big plays and he’s made some big plays,”Bliel said. “We’ve got to work on his consistency.” –
Quotable
“He’s (Ingram) a sparkplug on the offensive line. He’s there toopen up big holes and he’s going to help out the line a lot and getthem going.” — running back Larry Ned on the return of quick guardJonathan Ingram.
Notes
Saturday’s matchup with Wyoming will be the 22nd meeting between the two teams. The Cowboys hold a 13-8 advantage. Defensive tackle Jerome Haywood returned to practice this week after missing all of last week for personal reasons. For the second consecutive week quarterback Lon Sheriff was off limits to the media.
