During his 10-year run as the University of San Diego’s most successful head football coach, Dale Lindsey developed a term that he said characterized his athletes.

To be called “a USD man” was the highest compliment. Lindsey used the term to describe a player who succeeds academically, plays for the love of the game, is focused on succeeding and carries himself with class.

USD kicks off its 63rd football season at 5 p.m. Saturday against Cal Poly, and senior safety Ruben Lopez is the epitome of Lindsey’s “USD man.”

A double major in finance and business administration, Lopez is on track to graduate in May. He carries a 3.5 GPA. As for love of the game, USD is a non-scholarship program. At a university where annual tuition tops $56,000, Lopez and his peers essentially pay to play.

As fo

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