When San Diego State cornerback Mike Lindsay was growing up in Los Angeles, family gatherings inevitably included games on the basketball court.<\/p>\n
While Lindsay has played plenty of football and baseball, he quietly mentioned after a recent spring practice that \u201cI really come from a basketball family.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lindsay used to play one-on-one with his aunt and uncle who, he discovered, had game even into their 50s.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was always trash-talking them, but they were whooping me,\u201d said Lindsay, who was never able to win. He claims he came close. Sure, sure.<\/p>\n
Lindsay\u2019s aunt and uncle are Cheryl and Reggie Miller, basketball Hall of Famers who had standout careers at USC and UCLA, respectively. Both won Olympic gold medals. Reggie Miller had a 19-year NBA career with the Indiana Pacers.<\/p>\n
Maybe it\u2019s for the best, then, that Lindsay seeks to make a name for himself in football.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got a scholarship for football,\u201d Lindsay said, before noting, \u201cThe adrenaline you get from football is nothing like basketball. It\u2019s just a different rush.\u201d<\/p>\n
A 6-foot-1 sophomore transfer from Idaho State, Lindsay comes into Saturday\u2019s Spring game bidding to become a starter on an Aztecs team that must replace NFL-caliber corners Chris Johnson and Bryce Phillips. SDSU coach Sean Lewis has frequently mentioned Lindsay\u2019s name over the past six weeks when highlighting spring standouts.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe tracks the ball well,\u201d SDSU secondary coach C.J. McGorisk said. \u201cHe showed some good contested man ability out there on the island, and he\u2019s gone up there and attacked the football.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lindsay said playing center field in baseball has benefited him on the football field.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really good at tracking the ball,\u201d Lindsay said. \u201cI love when the ball goes in the air. I love tracking it and going to get it.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the other thing is my length, and that\u2019s good for press man (coverage). I\u2019m a pretty long corner.\u201d<\/p>\n
At Idaho State last year, Lindsay had 28 tackles over 10 games with five pass breakups and an interception.<\/p>\n
Lindsay said he immediately noticed a difference in the level of competition when he stepped on the field at SDSU.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s more talent and guys are like-minded,\u201d he said. \u201cThey want to win just as badly as you do, and that makes you have to elevate mentally and physically to really compete and win.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s where Lindsay draws on the childhood 1-on-1 \u2014 and the after-game chats \u2014 with his aunt and uncle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still talk to them all the time,\u201d Lindsay said. \u201cThey always (emphasize) hard work and consistency. You can never beat that. You\u2019ve got to be competitive in everything you do, of course. Their competitive level was off the charts. As long as you\u2019re consistent, even if you take an \u2018L,\u2019 you\u2019ve got to step back up and you\u2019re going to be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Maybe he didn\u2019t win on the court, but Lindsay came out ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt got me better,\u201d he said. \u201cAll that growing up made me who I am today. Got me to San Diego State. And I\u2019m just grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n
Spring game details<\/p>\n
The Spring game begins at 2 p.m. on the grass practice field. The event begins an hour earlier, with family and fan activities taking place on the adjacent turf field.<\/p>\n
Admission is free, but parking for the day is $10. SDSU parking structure 7 is next to the practice fields.<\/p>\n
For kids, there will be a mobile video game truck, skills and drills stations, inflatables, balloon and caricature artist and a face painter. For adults, there will be a beer garden, food trucks and discounted SDSU merchandise for sale. An autograph session will follow the scrimmage.<\/p>\n
Afterward, Lewis is scheduled to throw out the first pitch for the Nevada-SDSU baseball game at 5 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.<\/p>\n
SDSU spring football game<\/p>\n
When: 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
Where: SDSU practice field on campus<\/p>\n
Tickets: Free at GoAztecs.com\/FBSpringGame<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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