This rare film clip is of the September 14, 1968 San Diego State College Aztecs against the University of Texas Arlington Rebels. The Aztecs beat UTA in this game, 23-18 on their way to an undefeated record of 9-0-1. State finished as the ​College Division National Champion for the third consecutive year in the ​UPI Small College Football Poll. They were #2 in the A-P Poll. It was the second of three undefeated seasons under head coach Don Coryell. In 12 years on the Mesa, Coryell compiled a record 104-19-2. The team had winning streaks of 31 and 25 games. The Aztecs moved to Division I in 1969. Coryell moved to the NFL four years later. Coryell emphasized a passing offense because the top running backs and lineman were going to schools like UCLA and USC. Coryell concentrated on recruiting passers and catchers, especially from the junior college level. One of those was #12 Dennis Shaw (in the video). Shaw later set an NCAA record with nine touchdown passes in a game against New Mexico State in 1969. The defense coached by John Madden featured future television actor Fred Dryer. Number 24 with the interception in the video is Bob Howard, who played at Cal Poly SLO prior to San Diego State and went on to play for the Chargers. He passed away from cancer in 2008.
The 1968 Aztecs featured six players who went on to play in the NFL, including Dryer who was the 13th overall selection in the 1969 NFL draft.
The Aztecs averaged 36-thousand fans a game that year. Nine of the 10 games they played were at home.
As for the UTA Rebels, they would change their nickname to Mavericks in 1971 after controversy over the Rebel theme and Old South symbols.
John Howard, News 8 Sports Anchor