Bryce Miller: Aztecs must add splash to substance after season that tested fans

There are plenty of rock-solid movies that have bored viewers senseless on the road to winning Academy Awards. Think "The English Patient." Think "Shakespeare in Love."

Real box-office buzz, the kind that draws in new eyeballs beyond bougie cinema goers, demands a healthy diet of "Guardians of the Galaxy" and Indiana Jones as well.

Keeping eyelids open matters in college football, regardless of the polish of the supporting actors and screen play. For every "Crash," the masses crave a wild, unpredictable thrill ride. They want Maximus growling, "Are you not entertained?"

San Diego State football's offense needs to high step into the 21st century, or at least the 20th. The Aztecs need to rivet more rumps to seats at Snapdragon Stadium, a can-do facility triumph that suffered an ouch-worthy 2022 debut in a sweltering thumping by Arizona on CBS.

The way to re-pen the narrative? Be "Gladiator," not "Out of Africa."

"Winning sells seats. I do know that," said Aztecs coach Brady Hoke, who is right, though only to a point. "We have to do what our guys do well."

San Diego State finished a middling 7-6 a season ago, failing to fully cash in on the honeymoon window for the new stadium. Traction in a city bubbling with things to do, with gorgeous distractions in all directions, a place that revolves around baseball's Padres, raises the bar.

Win? Yes. Win and be entertaining? Yes, squared.

Two seasons ago, the Aztecs roared to a program record 12 victories and a convincing Frisco Bowl victory. San Diego yawned, partly because the team became a renter in Carson. When big winning came, most of it felt out of sight and deflatingly out of mind.

The air leaked from the balloon in 2022. The Aztecs finished 117th out of 131 Division I teams in passing offense. They ended up 114th in total offense, behind the likes of Texas State and Old Dominion. Only 22 teams They won more often than not, but only barely … 17-14, 16-14, 14-10.

Fire up the fireworks, Aztecs. Force people into seats. Amp up the interest from star-laden high school recruits. In today's college football, style counts more than ever.

"I feel like we're just a closer unit," said running back Kenan Christon, a Madison High School star who began his college career at USC. "Not just the 1s. All the way down to the 3s or 4s, I feel like the whole offense together is just a closer, cohesive unit. I feel like the closer you are, the better you play."

The Aztecs also handed the keys to the offense to former quarterback Ryan Lindley, the program's most prolific passer. He has played and coached in the NFL.

Lindley inherited an Edsel. Can he swap for a Mustang?

"As you guys saw at FanFest, the offense kind of gave it to us," Aztecs safety Cedarious Barfield said. "They did real good, explosive. I think they scored like the first two drives. It's just a testament to those guys.

"… (QB Jalen Mayden and Lindley) being able to have that offseason together has just made a bigger jump and has set them up for just a great year."

That ranks as an encouraging sign, the offense scoring two passing touchdowns on the first two drives of its August scrimmage. Those still only count when there are strangers on the other side of the field.

Forcing a style or pace that is foreign can backfire, of course. You don't ask Shaq to fire up 3s like Steph Curry. You don't implore Kirk Cousins to skitter about like a water bug, a la Patrick Mahomes. There seems to be enough athleticism for the Aztecs to broom away the cobwebs, though.

Fans remain hesitant. Union-Tribune colleague Kirk Kenney reported that more than 10,000 tickets still were unsold 10 days out from Saturday's opener against Ohio.

Recruits need to see full stadiums. The nation's top quarterbacks and receivers drool over a fast-paced attack. San Diego State continues to unofficially audition for a power conference spot if one shakes out.

In all cases, the point-scoring product thirsts for punch.

"Trying to see exactly what we are as a football team is kind of exciting to me," Hoke said.

The key: When the 2023 film flickers to life, it also needs to be exciting for others.

©2023 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Copyright 2023 Tribune Content Agency.

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