1973 San Diego State Aztecs football team

1973 San Diego State Aztecs football
PCAA champion
Conference	Pacific Coast Athletic Association
Ranking
Coaches	No. 19
Record	9–1–1 (3–0–1 PCAA)
Head coach	Claude Gilbert (1st season)
Home stadium	San Diego Stadium
Seasons ←  1972 1974  →

1973 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
San Diego State $	3	–	0	–	1			9	–	1	–	1
San Jose State	2	–	0	–	2			5	–	4	–	2
Pacific (CA)	2	–	1	–	1			7	–	2	–	1
Fresno State	1	–	3	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Long Beach State	0	–	4	–	0			1	–	9	–	1
$ – Conference champion

The 1973 San Diego State Aztecs football team represented California State University San Diego ^{[note 1]} during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association. ^{[note 2]}

The team was led by head coach Claude Gilbert, in his first year, and played home games at San Diego Stadium ^{[note 3]} in San Diego, California. They finished the season as Conference Champion for the second consecutive year, with a record of nine wins, one loss and one tie (9–1–1, 3–0–1 PCAA).

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 22		at Utah State *	Romney Stadium Logan, UT	W 35–7	10,225	[1] [2]
September 30	7:30 p.m.	Kent State *	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	W 17–9	28,416–28,461	[3] [4]
October 6		No. 13 Houston *	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	L 9–14	37,489	[5] [6]
October 13		New Mexico State *	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	W 27–0	36,552	[7]
October 20	7:30 p.m.	at Pacific (CA)	Pacific Memorial Stadium Stockton, CA	W 13–10	14,783–14,785	[8]
October 27		Florida State *	San Diego Stadium San Diego	W 38–17	26,492	[9]
November 3	7:30 p.m.	at San Jose State	Spartan Stadium San Jose, CA	T 27–27	18,501	[10]
November 10	7:30 p.m.	Long Beach State	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	W 17–2	26,961	[11]
November 17		at Fresno State	Ratcliffe Stadium Fresno, CA (rivalry)	W 41–6	6,419	[12]
November 24	7:30 p.m.	North Texas State *	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	W 56–9	17,383	[13]
December 1		Iowa State *	San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA	W 41–29	38,627	[14]
*Non-conference game Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game All times are in Pacific time

^{[15] [16] [17]}

Team players in the NFL

The following were selected in the 1974 NFL draft. ^[18]

Player	Position	Round	Overall	NFL team
Claudie Minor	Tackle	3	68	Denver Broncos
Jesse Freitas	Quarterback	6	133	San Diego Chargers

The following finished their college career in 1973, were not drafted, but played in the NFL. ^[19]

Player	Position	First NFL team
Herb Dobbins	Tackle	1974 Philadelphia Eagles
Keith Denson	Wide receiver	1976 New York Jets

Team awards

Award	Player
Most Valuable Player (John Simcox Memorial Trophy)	Jesse Freitas
Outstanding Offensive & Defensive Linemen (Byron H. Chase Memorial Trophy)	Claudie Minor, Off Rich Ash, Def
Team captains Dr. R. Hardy / C.E. Peterson Memorial Trophy	Jesse Freitas, Off Joe Amaral, Def
Most Inspirational Player	Darold Nogle

^[16]

Notes

1. San Diego State University was known as California State University, San Diego from 1972 to 1973.
2. The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from its founding in 1969 through 1987.
3. San Diego County Credit Union Stadium (SDCCU Stadium) was known as San Diego Stadium from its opening in 1967 through 1980.

References

1. "Utah State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
2. "San Diego State Wins, Getting 35 in 2nd Half". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. September 23, 1973. p. III-14. Retrieved March 15, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
3. Ray Yannucci (October 1, 1973). "Flood of Mistakes Ruins Kent State". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron, Ohio. p. B-5. Retrieved January 16, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
4. "Aztecs slip by Kent State". Daily Times-Advocate. Escondido, California. October 1, 1973. p. A10 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Houston 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2016.
6. "Houston's 442 Yards Rushing Through Aztecs net 14-9 Win". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 7, 1973. p. III-14. Retrieved February 22, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
7. "49ers Remain Winless, Lose to Pacific 10-6". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 14, 1973. p. III-14. Retrieved January 16, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
8. "PCAA San Diego St. 13, Pacific 10". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 21, 1973. p. III-15. Retrieved January 16, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
9. "Aztecs whip Florida St". Daily Times-Advocate. October 28, 1973. Retrieved September 24, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
10. Gary Rubin (November 4, 1973). "Aztecs tie Spartans with two seconds left". The Argus. Fremont-Newark, California. p. 14. Retrieved January 16, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
11. Jim McCormack (November 11, 1973). "Aztecs sack 49ers, 17-2". Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. p. S-1. Retrieved January 16, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
12. "Freitas is just 'peachy' as Aztecs bowl over FSU 41–6 on aerials". The Fresno Bee. November 18, 1973. Retrieved September 24, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
13. "Aztecs sack 49ers, 17-2". Denton Record-Chronicle. Denton, Texas. November 25, 1973. p. C-1. Retrieved January 16, 2017– via Newspapers.com.
14. "Freitas leads Aztecs to easy 41–28 victory". The San Francisco Examiner. December 2, 1973. Retrieved September 24, 2025– via Newspapers.com.
15. "San Diego State 1973 Schedule" . Retrieved December 6, 2016.
16. "San Diego State 2016 Football Media Guide". Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
17. "Schedule/Results (1973 San Diego State)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
18. "1974 NFL Draft". Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
19. "San Diego St. Players/Alumni" . Retrieved December 8, 2016.