Buzz Around Team Camps 8/20/09

Just when you thought that USC's injury riddled team was getting back to full strength, guess again. Here's Wednesday's skinny of the Buzz:

San Diego State via http://www.signonsandiego.com

As ticket sales and attendance have continued to decline, San Diego State football games at Qualcomm Stadium have cost city taxpayers more than $310,000 in losses the past two years, according to stadium officials. Now the city wants SDSU to help make ends meet in the future - a point that has led to a hang-up in negotiations for a new lease between the Aztecs and the city.

As far as practices go via http://www.goaztecs.com

San Diego State football held a two-and-a-half hour practice on Tuesday afternoon at the SDSU practice fields.

In addition to the typical practice segments, the Aztecs once again worked on short-yardage situations.

Prior to practice, head coach Chuck Long released an updated depth chart, marking the first change since fall camp began. He singled out junior Ikaika Aken-Mooleta for making the jump to the top line at right guard.

"Aken-Moleta has come a long way since we got here," Long said. "We were not sure if he was going to be here or not. He got overweight and he slimed down. He has done a great job this camp and has been a good story for us."

The junior's progress at right tackle enabled the coaching staff to move Lance Louis to right tackle.

"(Aken-Moleta) had a real good spring and got better and better," Long said. "His progression has helped us move Lance to the outside."

The Aztecs will hold their next to last two-a-day practice tomorrow. This is the final full week of fall camp, before the team begins its game-week preparations for the Aug. 30, opener against the Mustangs at Qualcomm Stadium.

Michigan via http://www.freep.com

One of Michigan's two verbal commitments at the quarterback position in the class of 2009 has decided to re-open his recruitment and is no longer pledged to the Wolverines. The father of Chesapeake, Va., four-star quarterback Kevin Newsome confirmed Tuesday afternoon with rivals.com that the family has informed Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez that Newsome will start looking at other schools. Newsome's father said Michigan will still be considered as his son moves forward with his recruitment. One factor expected to be important, however, is the proximity of a school to his Hampton Roads-area home. Virginia Tech should be atop the list of new contenders for his services ,and Newsome's former high school coach already has publicly lobbied for him to play his college football in-state.

Pittsburgh via http://pittsburghlive.com

Junior Bill Stull will be named the Panthers' starter again appears to be a formality. Stull has taken his snaps exclusively with the first-team offense, has worn a red jersey to indicate off-limits to contact in practice and has earned the respect and admiration of coaches and teammates. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt said Stull would have been the "best-kept secret" in the Big East Conference last season. Instead, Stull took a medical redshirt, while the Panthers' passing game struggled with a pair of freshmen quarterbacks in Pat Bostick and Kevan Smith. They combined to throw almost twice as many interceptions (17) as touchdowns (nine).

Southern Cal via http://www.latimes.com

USC’s backfield, already in flux with quarterback Mark Sanchez coming back from a knee injury, sustained another blow Tuesday when running back C.J. Gable suffered hip and ankle injuries. Gable, a redshirt sophomore who started the 2006 and 2007 openers, sustained a sprained left hip and ankle when he was tackled during a scrimmage drill. Gable redshirted in 2007 after having abdominal surgery following the third game. He was on crutches Tuesday when he emerged from the locker room.

Meanwhile on the Southern Cal front via http://www.dailynews.com

USC assistant coach John Morton took the unusual step of saying he should be fired Monday, perhaps a first for a coach in the Pete Carroll era. Morton's offense was that he forgot to play wide receiver Jordan Cameron during Saturday's scrimmage at the Coliseum. "I totally screwed that up. I didn't put him in," Morton said. "I should be fired for that. I made a mental error. I ask the players not to make mental errors so I shouldn't make them myself." Cameron, a transfer from Ventura College, has been impressive in practices, so his absence from the scrimmage was noticeable.

Although the coaches have not said who would start, Aaron Corp appears to be ahead of Mitch Mustain based on recent performances. Mustain was intercepted by safety Marshall Jones during Monday's practice. "I like the way Aaron handled the four-minute drill," offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. "They both did a nice job though. I think we've gotten a fairly good assessment so far."

USC's Damian Williams could end up on the receiving end this season of passes from Mitch Mustain, his long-time friend and fellow transfer from Arkansas. The wide receiver left a messy situation at Arkansas to transfer to USC, and the Razorbacks' loss has been his (and Trojans') gain.