 "Photo: Daniel Sakow, Senior Staff Photographer")
 "Photo: Daniel Sakow, Senior Staff Photographer")
The application for the next Aztec Warrior couldn't be clearer.
As the preferred characteristic section reads, "The individual should be able to project an Aztec Warrior persona, both in physical appearance and in mannerisms." It continues to state that whoever wears the headdress should "behave in an aggressive, 'warrior-type' manner."
Two San Diego State students think they fit the bill.
That might explain the yelling and the screams of "Go Aztecs, come on, lets go, get off your seats" that were heard yesterday afternoon from the SDSU football practice fields.
Psychology junior Miguel Navarrete and social science and public administration senior Julian Quiñónez each interviewed with a committee comprised primarily of members of the SDSU Alumni Association - along with current Aztec Warrior Carlos Gutierrez - for the soon-to-be vacant role.
For the first time in several years, an SDSU student will don the traditional garb, a decision that was deemed necessary for Alumni Association Executive Director Jim Herrick.
"Everyone agrees, including Carlos, that we ought to have a student as a mascot at our university," Herrick said. "And we have some enthusiastic students. It'll work."
For it to indeed work, Herrick and the Alumni Association will rely heavily on Gutierrez to provide mentoring to the next Aztec Warrior. As part of an agreement made late in 2003, when Gutierrez agreed to once again fill the role that he vacated in 2001 amidst protests from student organizations such as Movimiento Estudantial de Chicano / Chicana de Azltán and the Native American Student Alliance, Gutierrez will stay on-board during the transitionary period.
"Carlos has done a great job of getting it launched," Herrick said. "And he's not going to be out of the picture - he's going to be the mentor, he's pledged that to us. He's going to be the elder."
Gutierrez might have his hands full - both hands.
"We're talking about having maybe more than one (Aztec Warrior)," Herrick said. "The thing is, there's such a huge demand. Right now, we have Carlos running around to every charity event in town, every parade. There's a lot of events, so it might make sense to have more than one person available to portray the Aztec Warrior."
Having two students represent the Aztec Warrior could present interesting conflicts, though. For so many years, Gutierrez was identifiable as the Warrior and, unlike mascots at schools such as Stanford or Colorado State, which feature a tree and a ram as their mascots, respectively, the Warrior's face is in plain view.
"The difference is, with our mascot, you're a real, live human," Herrick said. "You're not someone walking around with a big, giant head. It's really unique in that way. It's a big job to find somebody who can do it all."
Doing it all will include a combination of presence and passion, of culture and charisma. Gutierrez stresses that his job was as much getting a crowd on its feet as knowing why the conch shell holds significance to the Aztec culture, and both candidates share that understanding.
"Being Hispanic, I do feel a deeper connection, even though I'd be the first to admit that I am not of Aztec heritage," Navarrete said. "To claim that you're Aztec heritage is kind of a one-in-a-million shot. I do feel a deep sense of pride, being a little bit more related and a little bit more understanding of the Aztec culture and of that warrior spirit."
Added Quiñónez: "The Aztec Warrior, being someone that represents SDSU, needs to understand the Aztec culture. They need the knowledge and the respect. That would be my goal, to respect the culture and at the same time using it as a symbol of pride."
For Naverrete, though, it's also about making a State-ment.
"I've always had a sense of pride for the school," Navarrete said. "I've been very committed, and I feel a deep sense of obligation for San Diego State University and for being an Aztec. Ever since I got here in Fall 2002, I've always been very spirited at football games with my face painted, dressed up in a mask or costume.
"When I saw the article in (The Daily Aztec) saying they needed a new Aztec Warrior, I thought it was the next logical step. I've already made it this far."
Though both candidates seemed very enthusiastic in both their interviews with the committee and with reporters afterwards, they should know that the job isn't all roses.
There's some danger, too.
Gutierrez recalls a story from 1992 that is quite familiar to Aztec fans and professional wrestling enthusiasts.
"It was against Miami, and there was a lot of fighting go on before that - it's football," Gutierrez said. "Next thing you know, a fight erupts and it's moving toward the east end zone. I'm in the stands, but they were the removable ones, lower than usual."
As he continues, he begins to laugh.
"These guys are down below, and some (players) are swinging at me up above," Gutierrez said. "I'm right there at the edge. I have my foot down there trying to kick them in the head, just trying to keep them from getting to our quarterback. The Rock and I never had a confrontation, face-to-face, though. (But) he's still talking about it on Jay Leno and David Letterman.
"I'm still standing, though."
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