Aztecs game moved to Dec. 1

Coach Chuck Long said there is no talk of football at San Diego State, and now the distracted, distraught Aztecs won't have to worry about playing Saturday.

They were scheduled to host Brigham Young, but the game has been rescheduled for Dec. 1 because of the San Diego-area wildfires that have forced 350,000 homes to be evacuated. Qualcomm Stadium is being used as a shelter for 10,000 displaced residents.

San Diego State canceled practice Tuesday, and Long and Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson agreed it would be unfair to ask the Aztecs to play with such little preparation.

The coaching staff and many players were evacuated.

"We do have a lot (of players) in dorms on campus, and right now campus is about the safest place to be," Long said.

Coaches and about 70 San Diego State athletes visited Qualcomm on Monday to distribute blankets and food. They planned to return Tuesday.

"I went home the other night before it hit (my neighborhood), and it felt like snow with all the ash coming down," Long said.

Other MWC and San Diego State events have been affected. The conference men's and women's cross country championships will be at New Mexico on Saturday.

"There is a far greater priority than sporting events in the San Diego area at this time," Thompson said in a written statement.

• QB CHANGE? -- Karsten Sween was last year's hero. Now Wyoming probably is turning to Ian Hetrick.

Coach Joe Glenn said Hetrick will take "the lion's share" of the first-team snaps in practice this week as the Cowboys prepare to host UNLV.

"We're not trying to throw (Sween) under the bus," Glenn said. "The guy's a good quarterback. His confidence is shaken a little bit."

Sween came off the bench to help turn last season around, but Wyoming has scored only one touchdown the past two weeks. The Cowboys (4-3, 1-2) lost both games, probably knocking them out of the MWC race.

• REVERSING THE SKID -- UNLV (2-6, 1-3) is coming off four straight losses.

"It's been very frustrating because I know we're better," coach Mike Sanford said. "Other people know we're better."

Sanford said backup linebacker Jimmy Miller is suspended for the Wyoming game for breaking team rules. Tailback Chris Brogdon (ankle) is out, defensive end Faauo Faga (knee) is questionable, and wide receiver Ryan Wolfe (ankle) and safety Tony Cade (knee) are probable.

• BLAKE IS BACK -- Once-dominating defensive end Tommy Blake returned to practice this week for Texas Christian, which has a bye.

Blake has missed the past four games after taking a medical leave. Blake told the Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram he was overburdened with stress to live up to expectations.

"We'll have him back hopefully, if he gets all he needs done, for the final four games," TCU coach Gary Patterson said.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2914.