On September 5 the San Diego State Aztecs will kick off their 2009 football season in the Rose Bowl with PAC-10 opponent UCLA. That series has not gone well for the Aztecs in recent years and there is no reason to expect what would be a major upset this time around, but it is clear that things have changed at Aztec training camp.

 “This is the toughest camp that I have ever gone through,” said Aztec defensive end Jonathan Soto. “You would think that being a senior with a lot of experience under my belt that I would breeze through it, but that is not the case at all. We are doing things we have never done before to get to places we have never been before. We are changing the mentality and attitude of San Diego State football.”

 Change, in the case of the Aztecs is a good thing. They have not won a bowl game since 1969 and have not even been invited to one since 1998. A dismal 2-10 a year ago the red and black defeated only one Mountain West opponent last season, UNLV. 

 The beginning of any new season brings with it a certain sense of optimism. With new coach Brady Hoke, a new coaching staff and an entirely new attitude, 2009 might one day be remembered as the beginning of a long needed turnaround on Montezuma Mesa. Soto believes that it will be.

 “We have made a lot of improvements and we are really coming together as team right now. I think we are meshing well. You can see it on the field.”

 Unfortunately, the prying eyes of journalists have not been privy to this progress as Hoke runs his football program like the Defense Department runs its nuclear weapons program, behind closed doors and off-limits to fans and media alike. Media contact occurs on only a limited basis and away from the practice field. It is quite a departure from the open door policy run by the highly personable Chuck Long. If Hoke can somehow succeed where a long list of coaches including Long have failed, nobody will care how he runs his program. He has made a believer out of Soto.

 “The coaches are cutting us no slack. Coach Hoke is really focusing on our intensity. When you have such intense practices things tend to run a whole lot smoother. We are competing every day out there and there are winners and losers. During each practice there is a certain period where the defense competes against the offense and the losers have to run afterwards. Coach Hoke is a strict disciplinarian and an in-your-face kind of guy. You get it done or you leave. I love that mentality.”

 Soto is billed as a defensive end, but he can slide over to the tackle position whenever necessary. That versatility is another thing that Hoke is preaching as his team prepares for the opener. He hopes to build enough depth to minimize the effect of the inevitable injuries that always accompany football. Last year the team was particularly hard hit by the injury bug. This year, so far at least, things have been better.

 Soto is excited to be opening the season in the Rose Bowl.

 “I am from the L.A. area so playing there will be a big deal for me. UCLA is a great PAC-10 team. We are working really hard to get ready for them.”