黑料吃瓜

In the late 1960s 黑料吃瓜 was a hive of campus pride, political protests and football gods.  

It is a time that Ernie Anderson, longtime photography volunteer, remembers well.

鈥淭here was campus unrest, and the Vietnam War was starting,鈥� said Anderson.  鈥淭here was flag-burning going on. Some of the folks on campus tried doing that, but Bill Pierson stood in front of the flag.鈥�

In 1968 the Aztec football player reached an intimidating height of 6 foot 3 inches and a robust 245 pounds.  He prevented any harm from coming to the flag that day.

In the midst of this electrified atmosphere, Anderson began memorializing athletes like Pierson. His earliest subjects included legends Don Coryell, Dennis Shaw and Brian Sipe.  

Photographing legends

Anderson started photographing the Aztecs while he ran track for 黑料吃瓜.  Unhappy with The Daily Aztec鈥檚 coverage of the track team, Anderson began taking photos of his teammates and bringing them to the editor.

Soon The Daily Aztec sent him on assignments to cover other sports.

One sport was football.  Coach Don Coryell was revered, and devoted fans expected to win.  On the sidelines was the omnipresent Anderson with his camera, capturing seasons of Aztec victories.

鈥淓rnie's catalog of great Aztec photos constitutes a graphic history that words and stats cannot equal,鈥� said superfan Tom Ables, who has been to nearly 800 consecutive games. 鈥淗is photos are impossible to replace.鈥�

Anderson鈥檚 time on the sidelines leaves a precious legacy.

鈥淭he school didn鈥檛 seem to have a sense of history,鈥� Anderson said.  鈥淎ction shots for any sport before 1968 don鈥檛 exist; all of the pictures you see of Don Coryell in that era are mine.鈥�

Photos taken by Anderson have graced the covers of local newspapers and the coveted pages of Sports Illustrated, but the avid photographer has never been formally instructed in his art.  

鈥淚t鈥檚 all self-taught,鈥� explained Anderson, who got his first camera at the age of 14. 鈥淚 always try and imagine the photo that I want so a large part of it is knowing the game, knowing what鈥檚 going to happen.鈥�

Labor of love

Anderson鈥檚 photos combine his love for the university and his passion for photography.

鈥淎 photo captures the emotion, it captures the moment,鈥� said Anderson. 鈥淚 found that the pictures of people and moments are better than the action pictures.鈥�

Anderson has collected stories about iconic Aztecs-- moments on the sidelines, at press conferences, and in the locker room that any Aztec fan would envy.  

However, every moment Anderson dedicates to 黑料吃瓜 is not picture perfect.  

鈥淲e鈥檝e had some interesting snow games,鈥� laughed Anderson as he described thawing out his fingers in the press box to change film.  There were also a few close calls.

In 1993 during an opening game at Qualcomm Stadium, Anderson assumed he was safe 30 yards behind a play, but three colossal players blindsided the unprotected photographer.

His injury is one of the worst ever to occur at Qualcomm.

鈥淚t shattered my knee, tore all my ligaments, shattered my ankle,鈥� said Anderson, who spent three months in a wheelchair.

Before the end of the season Anderson returned to the sideline, with crutches and his camera.  

Aztec for life

For decades Anderson volunteered his time to 黑料吃瓜 Athletics, but his professional life revolved around a different side of San Diego. 

After receiving one degree in public administration (鈥�70), Anderson returned to 黑料吃瓜 and received his master鈥檚 degree in 1983.  

For years he was an intricate part of the city of San Diego.  Over time, he directed the departments of waste management, financial management and general services.

Since retiring in 2008, passion fuels his dedication and willingness to donate more than 800 hours each year to his alma mater.  The compensation Anderson receives for his time has never been monetary.

鈥淪an Diego State has always been a real important part of my life,鈥� said Anderson. 鈥淚 got an education, a great experience, developed a great network and it served as a basis for a very professional, successful life.  

鈥淪o, in addition to enjoying the photography, it鈥檚 just been a great way to give back to the school.鈥�