Russell Allen couldn't climb atop a soapbox with the aid of a stepladder; couldn't boast if threatened with bodily harm.

He doesn't care that he broke a school record that stood for 36 years when he recorded 22 tackles against Utah last season, or that he was recognized as the only San Diego State player worthy of inclusion on the All-Mountain West Conference preseason first team.

What Allen craves can't be plucked from a pile of personal accomplishments or stumbled upon in the recesses of an equipment room.

Allen wants to win. And the clock on the wall provides a noisy reminder that it's now or never.

“There isn't anyone who has ever played the game that wants anything more,” said Allen, a senior linebacker who has made 31 career starts since breaking into the lineup as a true freshman in 2005. “If you didn't have that incentive, there wouldn't be any reason to be out here doing this. The only thing I'm thinking about right now is beating Cal Poly (in the season opener). Being 1-0 sounds pretty good to me at this point.”

In his three seasons since arriving from Vista High as the San Diego Section's Defensive Player of the Year, Allen, the unquestioned leader of the defense, has ridden a wave that originated in a tempestuous sea and carries no guarantee of cresting without an accompanying crash.

During his tenure, which has included playing all three linebacker spots (he was even positioned at defensive end last season), Allen has seen SDSU exit a winner just 12 times in 36 games. His ambition of starting the season 1-0 would be the first time the Aztecs have done so in his career.

Rather than grouse, Allen is content to grind. Only two players in the nation last season had more tackles in a single game, and no player averaged more stops per game (10.6) in conference play.

“He can be as good as any linebacker in this league,” said Aztecs defensive coordinator Bob Elliott. “As good as he was in the game against Utah, he's capable of having games like that every week, and we need to get that out of him every week.

“The thing that really stands out about Russell is his unselfishness, his willingness to do what is best for the team. He never complains, and no one on this team works harder. He sets an example by the way he practices, and no one practices better than he does.”

It is an approach that has served him well, one that could move him past Kirk Morrison (now with the Oakland Raiders) as the school's No. 2 career tackler. Allen, who enters the season with 268 career stops, has averaged nearly 90 tackles per season after collecting 119 last year. As such, Morrison's total of 396 could be within reach.

“I remember when we were preparing for New Mexico last year and (then-redshirt freshman linebacker) Andrew Preston got hurt during practice on Thursday,” Elliott said. “On Friday, we had to move Russell from strong side to weak side and he did it without any trouble. That's the reason we ask so much of him, and sometimes it's not fair. But you'll never hear that from him.”

Even when the elation of a winning season continues to elude one of the surest tacklers in Aztecs history.

“When I think about all the guys that have been here and all the guys that are gone, it feels like I've been here a long time,” Allen said. “But I'm definitely not ready for it to be over.”

Extra points

Coach Chuck Long said the team is taking a cautious approach with senior safety Corey Boudreaux and sophomore tight end Alston Umuolo. Long said Boudreaux (sprained knee) and Umuolo, who had foot surgery before the start of spring drills, will be limited as the Aztecs begin their first week of two-a-days.

Junior Tony DeMartinis, who is being shuttled between defensive end and tight end, is making it even more difficult for coaches to determine at which position he's better suited. During their second day of practice in full pads yesterday, the Aztecs staged the Oklahoma drill, in which two linemen are pitted against each other with a running back following the block of the offensive player. DeMartinis dominated on both sides of the ball, earning the drill's “Iron Man” award.