What Is 2002 San Diego State Aztecs football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2002 San Diego State Aztecs football team represented San Diego State University during the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season, finishing with a 2–10 record under head coach Tom Craft. They competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and played home games at Qualcomm Stadium.

Key Facts

The 2002 San Diego State Aztecs finished with a 2–10 overall record and 1–7 in conference play.
Head coach Tom Craft was in his first full season leading the program.
The team played home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.
They competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 2002 season.
Quarterback Jay Harrison started most games, throwing for 1,657 yards and 8 touchdowns.

Overview

The 2002 San Diego State Aztecs football team represented San Diego State University in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by first-year head coach Tom Craft, the team struggled to find consistency, finishing with a 2–10 overall record and a 1–7 mark in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

The Aztecs played their home games at Qualcomm Stadium, a shared NFL venue that provided a professional atmosphere but limited on-campus engagement. Despite efforts to rebuild the program, the 2002 season was marked by offensive struggles and defensive vulnerabilities across a challenging schedule.

Record: The Aztecs finished the season with a 2–10 overall record, their worst since 1998, reflecting ongoing challenges in program development.
Conference affiliation: They competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), where they secured only one win against conference opponents.
Head coach:Tom Craft was in his first full season as head coach, taking over after the departure of Mike Stoops and aiming to stabilize the program.
Home stadium: All home games were played at Qualcomm Stadium, which had a capacity of over 65,000 but saw low attendance throughout the season.
Offensive struggles: The team averaged just 17.8 points per game, ranking among the lowest in the nation, highlighting difficulties in sustaining drives and scoring.

How It Works

The 2002 season followed standard NCAA Division I-A football rules, with the Aztecs competing in a 12-game regular season schedule. The structure included non-conference matchups and a WAC conference slate, culminating in no postseason appearance due to the team's record.

Season Structure: The NCAA allowed a 12-game regular season in 2002, with the Aztecs playing 7 non-conference and 5 conference games.
WAC Competition: The Western Athletic Conference included teams like Hawaii, TCU, and Fresno State, all of which posed significant challenges.
Offensive System: The Aztecs ran a pro-style offense under Craft, emphasizing balance but lacking the personnel to execute consistently.
Defensive Scheme: The team utilized a 4–3 base defense, which struggled to contain high-powered WAC offenses averaging over 30 points per game.
Player Eligibility: NCAA rules allowed four years of eligibility within five calendar years, with redshirt options used for key developing players.
Recruiting Impact: The losing record made recruiting difficult, as fewer than 15 scholarship signees joined in the 2003 class, affecting future depth.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2002 Aztecs to conference peers reveals significant performance gaps in both offense and defense.

Team	Overall Record	Conference Record	Points For	Points Against
San Diego State	2–10	1–7	214 (17.8 ppg)	378 (31.5 ppg)
Fresno State	8–4	6–2	342 (28.5 ppg)	254 (21.2 ppg)
Hawaii	10–3	7–1	450 (34.6 ppg)	302 (23.2 ppg)
TCU	8–4	5–3	312 (26.0 ppg)	220 (18.3 ppg)
UNLV	5–7	3–5	256 (21.3 ppg)	308 (25.7 ppg)

The table shows that while teams like Hawaii and TCU were competitive, the Aztecs ranked near the bottom in both scoring and defense. Their point differential of –164 was the worst in the WAC, underscoring systemic issues that persisted beyond a single season.

Why It Matters

The 2002 season was a low point in San Diego State football history, but it played a role in shaping future rebuilding efforts. Understanding this season helps contextualize the program's trajectory and the challenges of mid-major football.

Program Rebuilding: The 2–10 record emphasized the need for long-term coaching stability and better recruiting infrastructure.
Fan Engagement: Poor performance contributed to declining attendance, with average crowds below 25,000 at Qualcomm Stadium.
Conference Realignment: The struggles highlighted the Aztecs’ vulnerability as the WAC underwent realignment, eventually leading to their move to the Mountain West in 2005.
Coaching Evaluation: Tom Craft’s tenure was scrutinized, with the 2002 season a key factor in later decisions about program leadership.
Player Development: The season exposed talent gaps, prompting a shift toward junior college recruiting in subsequent years.
Historical Context: The 2002 record remains one of the worst in school history, serving as a benchmark for future improvement.

While the 2002 season was forgettable on the field, it provided critical lessons that influenced San Diego State’s eventual rise in the mid-2000s under new leadership and conference affiliation.