Tag: Mountain West Conference

Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By Ana Kieu

The awards continue for San Jose State placekicker Matt Mercurio.

After being named the Mountain West “Special Teams Player of the Week” on Monday, October 7, the redshirt freshman from Salinas, Calif., was named one of the three Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award “Stars of the Week” for his contribution in San Jose State’s 32-21 victory over New Mexico on Friday, October 4.

The graduate of Palma High tied a San Jose State single-game school record with four field goals and accounted for the Spartans’ last 12 points in the game after taking a 20-0 second-quarter lead.

Mercurio connected on field goals of 24, 33, a career-long 49, and a second of 24 yards as San Jose State improved its season record to 3-2, 1-1 in the Mountain West.

For the season, Mercurio is 7-of-10 kicking field goals and is San Jose State’s leading scorer with 36 points.

Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State football earned its first Mountain West win of the season by downing the New Mexico Lobos 32-21. Now, San Jose State heads out on the road to look for a two-game win streak with another MW win over the Nevada Wolf Pack.

Here’s the lowdown on the San Jose State-Nevada game:

GAME #6
San Jose State at Nevada
Saturday, October 12, 2019
Mackay Stadium, Reno, Nev.
1:00 p.m. PT
AT&T SportsNet/Mountain West Network

SAN JOSE STATE RECORD
3-2, 1-1 Mountain West.

NEVADA RECORD
3-2, 0-1 Mountain West. The Wolf Pack lost to Hawaii, 54-3, on September 29. Nevada had a bye the week of October 5.

RADIO COVERAGE
KKSF (910 AM, Oakland), RealTalk 910, is the new flagship radio station for San Jose State football. Justin Allegri calls the play-by-play. Kevin Richardson provides commentary. The Nevada broadcast begins at 12:30 p.m. PT with a pregame show.

Network affiliates are KION (1460 AM/101.1 FM, Salinas), KFIV (1360 AM, Modesto), KWSX (1280 AM, Stockton).

The San Jose State-Nevada broadcast with Justin Allegri and Kevin Richardson calling the action also will be carried on www.siriusxm.com Channel 981.

KSJS (90.5 FM, San Jose) also will broadcast the San Jose State-Nevada game starting with Ryan Carlson handling all duties starting at 12:45 p.m. PT.

TELEVISION
AT&T Sports Network will provide broadcast coverage beginning at 1:00 p.m. PT. Drew Goodman calls the play-by-play. Sed Bonner provides commentary. AT&T Sports Network is available on DirecTV Channel 684, and DISH Network Channel 414.

SERIES HISTORY
Nevada leads the series, 21-9-2. The Wolf Pack have won the last two games and nine of the last 11 in a series that dates back to 1899. A year ago, Nevada posted a 21-12 triumph over San Jose State.

San Jose State’s last win in the series was a 14-10 win in CEFCU Stadium on October 15, 2016.

The Spartans are winless in their last eight trips to Mackay Stadium in Reno. San Jose State’s last win there was a 49-30 decision on October 21, 2000.

ON THE MINDS
San Jose State can finish the weekend of October 12 with a 4-2 overall win-loss record for the first time since 2012 with a win at Nevada. Since then, the Spartans’ best win-loss record after six games was 3-3 in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

STAKES ARE HIGH
This game gives San Jose State its first opportunity since the 2015 season to be 2-1 in Mountain West action after three games and to win a conference road game since the November 26, 2016 triumph at Fresno State, 16-14. Since the win in Fresno, the Spartans returned to San Jose with a conference loss in nine consecutive contests — four in 2017, four in 2018 and earlier this season at Air Force.

SEEKING A WIN STREAK
The Nevada game marks the third time this season San Jose State can notch its first two-game winning streak since defeating UNLV, 33-10, on October 4, and winning at Wyoming, 27-20 in overtime, on October 18, 2014.

NATIONAL LEADER IN TURNOVER MARGIN
A point of emphasis for this year’s San Jose State team is finishing in the top-25 in turnover margin.

After six games, San Jose State is the national in turnover margin at +11 or 2.2 per game in games played through October 5. The Spartans have 11 interceptions, which is second nationally, and four fumble recoveries. Florida, which has played six games, is the national leader with 12 interceptions.

For its first five games, San Jose State lost the ball four times on three fumbles and one pass interception. Through games of October 5, the Spartans are tied for eighth nationally in fewest times losing the ball.

POINTS OFF OF TURNOVERS
After five games, San Jose State has scored 37 points off of opponent turnovers compared to none by the opposition. The 37 points have come in the three Spartan wins this season — 14 vs. Northern Colorado, seven at Arkansas, and a season-high 16 against New Mexico.

The 16 points came in handy in the 11-point win over New Mexico and seven points was the difference in a 31-24 victory at Arkansas. San Jose State defeated Northern Colorado, 35-18.

BACK-TO-BACK WEEKS BLOCKING A KICK
If it’s a Friday, it must mean the San Jose State will execute a blocked kick. In the Friday, September 27 game at Air Force, linebacker Hadari Darden was credited with deflecting an Air Force extra-point attempt after a Falcons’ third-quarter touchdown.

On Friday, October 4 against New Mexico, wide receiver Bailey Gaither blocked a first-quarter punt for the second time in his career.

The Spartans enter the week tied for eighth nationally in blocked kicks with two.

While you’re on the site, check out the recent press releases on Josh Love and Matt Mercurio:

JOSH LOVE & MATT MERCURIO NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYERS OF THE WEEK 
For the second time in three weeks, two San Jose State players received Mountain West football’s Player of the Week honors.

Quarterback Josh Love was named the Mountain West “Offensive Player of the Week” for the second time this season and kicker Matt Mercurio was named the Mountain West “Special Teams Player of the Week.”

Love, a senior, completed 24-of-36 passes without an interception for a season-high 405 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 32-21 conference win over New Mexico on October 4. The signal caller received the same Mountain West honor after San Jose State defeated Arkansas, 31-24, on September 21.

Mercurio, a freshman, tied a San Jose State single game school record kicking four field goals in five attempts and converted two extra point tries in the win. He accounted for the team’s last 13 points with a PAT and field goals of 24, 33, a career-long 49, and a second 24-yard field goal.

JOSH LOVE NAMED TO DAVEY O’BRIEN AWARD GREAT 8
San Jose State’s Josh Love is one of eight FBS quarterbacks named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 list for games played the week ending October 5.

Love completed 24-of-36 passes without an interception for a season-high 405 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans’ 32-21 conference win over New Mexico on October 4.

The fifth-year senior is the first San Jose State quarterback recognized by the Davey O’Brien Award for weekly excellence at the position since David Fales during the 2013 season.

For the year, Love has completed 61.9 percent of his passes with only one interception for 1,418 yards and seven touchdowns.

The other seven quarterbacks recognized as the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 for Week 6 include Ian Book, Notre Dame; Joe Burrow, LSU; Jett Duffey, Texas Tech; Sam Howell, North Carolina; Jake Luton, Oregon State; Brock Purdy, Iowa State; and Khalil Tate, Arizona.

The Davey O’Brien Award’s Quarterback of the Week from the Great 8 honorees will be announced on Tuesday, October 8.

Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By Ana Kieu

San Jose State quarterback Josh Love led the Spartans to a 31-24 comeback road win over Arkansas on September 21 and is now one of 185 national semifinalists for the 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy presented by Mazda.

Now in its 30th year, the award recognizes college football’s top scholar-athlete for combined academic success, football performance and leadership on the field and in the community. The National Football Foundation and the College Football Hall of Fame oversee the prestigious awards program.

Love, a senior from Mission Viejo, Calif., is in his third season as a starting quarterback for the Spartans. After three games, Love is realizing his best season at the major college level. He has completed 62.7 percent of his passes with only one interception for 815 yards and five touchdowns. More significantly, he led San Jose State on a fourth-quarter game-winning 75-yard touchdown drive at Arkansas after the Razorbacks tied the score at 24-24 with less than 3:00 remaining in regulation play.

Love, a business management information systems major, is a three-time Academic All-Mountain award recipient.

During his college career, Love has been very active in the team’s Beyond Football program. Most recently, he organized a presentation to the team by MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). He is one of the many Spartans to participate in the Silicon Valley YWCA’s annual Walk A Mile In Her Shoes fundraiser to raise awareness that any form of violence directed towards women must end.

To be eligible for consideration, a football student-athlete must be a senior or graduate student, in one’s final year of athletics eligibility, possess a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher on a 4.0 scale, be a significant contributor on the team, and demonstrate strong leadership and citizenship traits.

“These 185 impressive candidates truly represent the scholar-athlete ideal,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively.

“For more than 60 years, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete program has showcased more than 800 college football players who have been successful on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. And we are excited to celebrate the 30th year of the William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda, which honors the best of the best. This year’s semifinalists further illustrate the power of our great sport in developing the next generation of influential leaders.”

Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, former chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF’s Gold Medal, the Campbell Trophy Presented by Mazda is a 25-pound bronze trophy and increases the amount of the recipient’s grant by $7,000 for a total postgraduate scholarship of $25,000. This year’s postgraduate scholarships will push the program’s all-time distribution to more than $11.7 million.

“The NFF would like to personally congratulate each of the nominees as well as their schools and coaches on their tremendous accomplishments,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “We are extremely proud to highlight each semifinalist’s achievements, showcasing their ability to balance academics and athletics at the highest level. The NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from this outstanding group of candidates.”

From the 185 semifinalists, 12 to 14 finalists will be announced on October 30. Each finalist will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship and travel to New York City for the 62nd annual National Football foundation Scholar-Athlete awards dinner in December.

Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, former chairman of Intuit, former player and head coach at Columbia University and the 2004 recipient of the NFF’s Gold Medal, the Campbell Trophy Presented by Mazda is a 25-pound bronze trophy and increases the amount of the recipient’s grant by $7,000 for a total postgraduate scholarship of $25,000. This year’s postgraduate scholarships will push the program’s all-time distribution to more than $11.7 million.

In the history of the program, San Jose State wide receiver Tim Crawley was the Spartans’ first National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete in 2016.

Photo credit: @SJSUSpartanFB

By Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State Spartans football team earned more than just a 31-24 win over Arkansas inside Razorback Stadium last Saturday. The Spartans were also honored as Mountain West Players of the Week and the Reveal Suits National Team of the Week, respectively.

Here are the respective press releases:

Spartans Honored As Mountain West Players Of The Week
San Jose State quarterback Josh Love and defensive Bobby Brown, II were named the Mountain West Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, respectively, by the conference office.

Both players were instrumental in San Jose State’s 31-24 win at the University of Arkansas on Saturday, September 21.

Love completed a single-game career-high 32 pass on 49 attempts with one interception for 402 yards and two first-half touchdowns. With the score tied 24-24 late in the fourth quarter, Love engineered a five-play, 75-yard game-winning touchdown drive for San Jose State’s first win against a SEC opponent in school history.

Brown, II intercepted two passes and was credited with seven tackles in the team’s first road win since the 2016 season. His second interception came on Arkansas’ final offensive play of the game to ensure the Spartans’ victory.

San Jose State Named Reveal Suits National Team Of The Week
The Spartans scored on DeJon Packer’s 19-yard run with 1:13 left to break a 24-24 tie and win their first road game since 2016 and record their first non-conference road win since 2012, posting a 31-24 at Arkansas that superseded a host of other worthy candidates. For winning their first game over an SEC school, San Jose State (2-1) has earned the Reveal Suits National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Sept. 21.

The announcement came on “Full Ride” on ESPNU Radio on SiriusXM. Each Monday during the season the Reveal Suits National Team of the Week will be unveiled on the network. The FWAA’s All-America Committee selects the weekly winner and all Division I FBS and FCS schools are eligible to be selected.

This is the first time for San Jose State to win the FWAA’s National Team of the Week honor and the first for a Mountain West conference member since Wyoming on October 29, 2016.

The Spartans never trailed and led 24-7 at halftime — their largest lead in any game dating back to the 2016 season — and broke a 26-game losing streak to teams from the Power 5 conferences that dated back to 2006 at Stanford.

San Jose State got contributions in all three phases. Quarterback Josh Love completed a career-high 32 passes in 49 attempts for 402 yards and two touchdowns, his second career 400-yard game. The Spartan defense snagged five interceptions, most since 2008 at Hawaii. Kicker Matt Mercurio hit a career-long 47-yard field goal in the second quarter to extend the lead to 17-7.

“What a night for these players, these coaches and these fans,” head coach Brent Brennan said. “Obviously, when you look at the schedule, this is one of those games that everybody talks about. Sometimes it’s hard to get your team to focus on anything else because you are going on the road to play a SEC opponent like Arkansas with its history, how special this place is, the stadium, the crowd and all that stuff. Coming off a loss two weeks ago, our players just went to work. We practiced during the bye week a lot. I’m sure the players didn’t like that, but I think now they understand why. I’m just really proud of them because this has been a team.”

Here’s the scoop on what’s going on this week:

When asked about how he’s going to prepare for Air Force, head coach Brent Brennan said, “We’re going to get an incredible test of physicality and that’s something that we have to prepare for and be ready for because of who we’re playing, the type of team that we’ll be playing, and of course, the type of football that they’ll play.”

“The difference is that you’re playing an SEC school and they’ve got a bunch of big bodies — big, long, athletic bodies. Now, you’ve come to the Air Force Academy and they have some of those, but they don’t have a team like those. What they got is a bunch of badass dudes that like to play football and they’re going to do it right every time. These guys are being trained to defend our country and I’m pretty sure they’re going to be physical. They’re violent and nasty and we got to be ready for them.”

Up Next: The Spartans open Mountain West action on Friday, September 27 at Air Force in a 5 p.m. PT conference contest.

Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By Ana Kieu

As the bye week comes to an end, San Jose State football will return to action at Arkansas on Saturday. In preparation for the upcoming road game, SJSU has been watching tape and holding practices, but we’ll see how things pan out since this is the Spartans we’re talking about.

Anywho, here are the details on Saturday’s game.

Game #3
San Jose State at Arkansas
Saturday, September 21, 2019,
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT, SEC Network

SJSU record: 1-1, 0-0 Mountain West. Most recently, the Spartans lost a non-conference contest to Tulsa, 34-16, on September 7.

Arkansas record: 2-1, 0-1 SEC. The Razorbacks downed Colorado State, 55-34, on September 14.

Series history: This will be the first meeting between these teams.

Play-by-play radio coverage: KKSF (910 AM, Oakland), RealTalk 910, is the new flagship radio station for San Jose State football. Justin Allegri calls the play-by-play. Tim Crawley provides commentary.

The Arkansas broadcast begins at 4:00 p.m. PT before game time with a pregame show.

Network affiliates: KION (1460 AM/101.1 FM, Salinas), KFIV (1360 AM, Modesto), KWSX (1280 AM, Stockton).

The SJSU-Arkansas broadcast with Allegri and Crawley calling the action also will be carried on www.siriusxm.com Channel 986.

Television: The SEC Network will provide broadcast coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. CT/4;30 p.m. PT. Dave Neal calls the play-by-play. D.J. Shockley provides commentary. Dawn Davenport is the sideline reporter. The SEC Network is available on AT&T U-Verse Channel 607, Comcast Channel 421, DirecTV Channel 611, DISH Network Channel 404 and on Watch ESPN.

SJSU & Arkansas’ Super Bowl head coaching history: SJSU and Arkansas are two of the six colleges and universities claiming two alums as Super Bowl-winning head coaches.

For SJSU, Bill Walsh coached the San Francisco 49ers to victories in Super Bowls XVI (1982), XIX (1985) and XXIII (1989) and Dick Vermeil led the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV (2000).

For Arkansas, Jimmy Johnson coached the Dallas Cowboys to Super Bowl XXVII (1993) and XXVIII (1994) wins. Barry Switzer took over for Johnson and coached Dallas to a Super Bowl XXX (1996) title.

The other four schools with two alums coaching teams to Super Bowl victories are Dayton (Chuck Noll and Jon Gruden), Miami (Ohio) (Weeb Ewbank and John Harbaugh), Eastern Illinois (Mike Shanahan and Sean Payton) and the University of the Pacific, 70 miles east of SJSU and an institution that no longer has football (Tom Flores and Pete Carroll).

Arkansas ties: Current Arkansas assistant coach Barry Lunney, Jr., was SJSU’s quarterbacks coach during the 2003 and 2004 seasons and co-offensive coordinator in 2004. The Spartans’ starting quarterback in 2003 was Scott Rislov, who went on to play three seasons of ARENA and one season of ARENA2 football.

Lunney coached three different starting quarterbacks in 2004, all of whom played in the October 2 NCAA record-setting contest for most points scored by two teams in a regulation four-quarter game won by SJSU, 70-63, over Rice. The Spartans trailed, 34-7, and took their first lead of the game with their final touchdown in the fourth quarter. The FBS two-team scoring record for a regulation game lasted until Pitt defeated Syracuse, 76-61, on November 26, 2016.

Former Razorbacks assistant coach Dr. Fitz Hill (1992-00) was SJSU’s head coach for four seasons (2001-04). He compiled a win-loss head coaching record of 14-33. The Spartans’ best season was in 2002 with a 6-7 record playing 13 games, nine of them on the road, in 13 weeks.

Arkansas graduate Keith Burns was an assistant coach at SJSU during the 2004 through 2009 seasons primarily as the defensive coordinator.

Former Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson (2010-11) was a SJSU graduate assistant in 1979 coaching linebackers.

Aguayo has himself another week: For the second consecutive week, SJSU linebacker Ethan Aguayo is the FBS national leader in tackles per game at 17.0.

Aguayo opened the season matching a single-game career best 20 tackles in the Northern Colorado victory on August 29. He added a game-high 14 stops in the September 7 game vs. Tulsa.