The voice of San Diego State football radio is changing for the first time in 20 years.
Local sports radio host John Schaefer will be Aztecs' soccer play-by-play announcer, replacing longtime broadcaster Ted Lightner.
Leitner has called SDSU football for nearly 30 years, including the past 19 consecutive seasons. He will serve as play-by-play for the 30th SDSU men's basketball game for one more year during the 2024-25 season.
“I still get to the point where I love my job, but the journey is very tiring. I'm tired of the road,” Leitner said Thursday.
“And, and I talked about this with Jon Schaefer, I don't think you should be doing something like this and keeping talented young players behind you into your 80s.”
Leitner told Shafer two years ago during the SDSU basketball team's run to the NCAA title game, “You paid your dues, so I'm greedy, so by continuing forever you I don't want to get in the way of that,'' he said.
Leitner began broadcasting SDSU sports in 1979, a year after arriving in San Diego as KFMB-TV's lead sports anchor.
He was the Padres anchor from 1980 to 2020, and also covered radio broadcasts for the San Diego Clippers and Chargers over the years.
“I never thought I would love what I do so much, and I am luckier than I ever thought possible,” Leitner said. “I just love the commentary. The preparation, the anticipation.
“I’m going to miss everything about it.”
Schaefer will join Rich Ornberger in the SDSU radio booth, who has served as the color analyst for Aztecs football games for the past seven seasons.
“I am truly honored to serve as the next voice for San Diego State football and to work alongside my friend and colleague Rich Ornberger,” Schaefer said. “We hope to provide Aztec fans with the soundtrack for many memorable moments to come.
“I would also like to congratulate Ted Lightner on his tenure with SDSU football. I hope he can continue to provide our loyal Aztec fans with the great play-by-play they have come to expect and deserve. ”
The SDSU game will be broadcast on San Diego Sports 760. Schaefer co-hosts the afternoon sports show. Ornberger has a six-year NFL career, including two seasons with the Chargers, and is a co-host on the network's morning show.
Schaefer came to San Diego in 2017. He has been on his SDSU football pregame show as well as the SDSU men's basketball pregame, halftime, and postgame shows.
When Leitner clashed with football and basketball, Schaefer filled in on the basketball broadcasts.
Schafer also has play-by-play experience with Mountain West Network, FOX College Sports, ESPN3, Big East Digital Network and Phillies Radio Network.
Schafer will make his debut on Aug. 31, when the Aztecs open the 2024 season against Texas A&M-Commerce at Snapdragon Stadium.
AztecFAST showcase
SDSU's spring practice culminates with Saturday's AztecFAST showcase, giving fans a first glimpse of the team under its new coach. sean lewis.
Kickoff is at 1pm at Snapdragon Stadium.
The event is free, but fans must secure tickets online at goaztecs.com/sdsu/AztecFastShowcase.
Parking is $10 and can be purchased online.
Lewis said this week that the event will be more of an open practice than a game.
It is planned to be divided into various sections, such as 1-on-1 situations and 7-on-7 practice. There are also tasks in the middle of the field and in the red zone that resemble more game-like situations.
Lewis estimated that 80 percent of his coveted “AztecFAST” offense was established during five weeks of training.
However, SDSU fans shouldn't expect too much from Lewis opening up the playbook. Not the same guy who wants to know what he thinks about the Aztecs.
“It's going to be toned down,” Lewis said. “There's still a paranoid ball coach in me. It's going to be a vanilla script, but it's still going to be a fun and exciting day.”
fast talker
Almost every time Lewis stands in front of an audience, he seems to be asked to explain what exactly this “AztecsFAST” attack means.
The topic came up again Tuesday during a press conference heading into the showcase.
Lewis said it includes run-and-shoot and via-and-shoot principles, as well as elements borrowed from Wisconsin's two-back offense and concepts introduced by the run game coordinator. mike schmidt.
Lewis then gave the most extensive explanation of AztecFAST ever.
“Our offense is probably the mongrel we found at the pound, and we end up bringing home something we love forever and forever.
“It's a little bit of everything. It's not a purebred of anything. But this is ours, and we really like it.”
Portal reopens
As if SDSU coaches weren't busy enough with the final week of spring football, the NCAA transfer portal opened on Monday, giving players two weeks to enter their names.
The Aztecs will join other coaches from around the country to once again vet a growing list that includes more than 600 players on opening day.
Lewis said the Aztecs will do due diligence “just to see if someone is a good fit or can help us as we move forward.”
“We need to make quick decisions here so that we don't disrupt our culture and the hard work we've done within our locker room,” Lewis said. Add value wherever you need it. … It's about building this roster to get to the championship level. ”
SDSU is expected to spend most of its time searching for players along both the offensive and defensive lines, which are the program's biggest areas of need.
“I still have some (scholarships) in my back pocket,” Lewis said.
When I asked how many people there were, they answered, “Undecided.”
SDSU had three scholarship players at linebacker. new zealand williams and Darrell Masanai and offensive linemen Kyle Stanback — leaves the team during the spring. Williams announced he would be entering the portal midweek.
The Aztecs can expect more players to head to the portal next week after evaluating the status of the program.
