Tag: NCAA

San Jose State to host Army at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

The San Jose State Spartans are set to host the Army Black Knights at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon at 12:30 pm PT on ESPNU and Watch ESPN.

In case you missed it, check out head coach Brent Brennan’s most recent press conference regarding the Spartans.

Here’s what you should know coming into Saturday’s matinee:

San Jose State’s record
0-5, 0-2 Mountain West. Most recently, the Spartans lost to Colorado State, 42-30, on October 6th.

Army West Point’s record
3-2. Most recently, the Black Knights defeated the Buffalo Bulls, 42-13, on September 29th.

What channels will the game be on?
ESPNU and WatchESPN will provide play-by-play coverage of the SJSU-Army game.  The live telecast is scheduled for 12:30 pm PT.

What stations will the game be broadcasted?
KLIV (1590 AM, San Jose) originates SJSU football broadcasts. Justin Allegri calls the play-by-play. Kevin Richardson provides commentary.

The Army broadcast begins at 12:00 pm PT with a pregame show.

SJSU’s network affiliate is KION (1460 AM/101.1 FM, Salinas).

For the first time
This will be the first meeting between the two teams. SJSU and Army are slated to play a home-and-home series through the 2021 season. The Black Knights would be the home team in 2019 and 2021.

38th school
SJSU will become the 38th school to play the three FBS service academy teams (Air Force, Army and Navy) with the completion of the Army game.

30 points
SJSU’s one of at least two teams to score 30 points in a quarter this season with its 30-point third quarter in its recent 42-30 loss to Colorado State.

North Texas scored 31 points in the second quarter of a 58-16 win over Incarnate Word on September 8th.

The last time SJSU scored 30 or more points in a quarter was a 35-point second quarter in a 69-41 win at UTEP on November 3, 2003.

Safety first
For the first time since playing in the 2012 Military Bowl, SJSU was credited with a two-point safety when Boogie Roberts tackled Colorado State running back Izzy Matthews in the Rams’ end zone on a first-down rushing attempt that started at the two-yard line.

National leader
Dakari Monroe’s the FBS national leader in passes defended with his 2.4 average. Monroe was credited with a personal single-game best four pass break-ups in the Colorado State game on October 6th.

For the season, Monroe has two pass interceptions and 10 pass break-ups.

The Josh Oliver factor
For the fifth consecutive week, Josh Oliver is the leading pass receiver among FBS tight ends. Oliver is averaging 6.20 receptions a game and has 31 catches for the season.

Oliver’s the only tight end listed among the FBS’ top-50 pass receivers in games played through October 6.

22 of Oliver’s 31 receptions this season resulted in a SJSU first down.

Oliver and Stanford’s Kaden Smith share the national lead for receiving yards by a listed tight end at 382 in games played through October 6th.

#22 is #2 again
For the second consecutive week, Thai Cottrell ranks second nationally in kickoff return average at 33.9 per return.

This season, Cottrell has returns of 96 at Oregon, 72 versus Hawaii and 44 yards versus Colorado State. Cottrell’s previous long return was 28 yards during the 2017 season.

Five-game streak in 2018
For the first time since the 2013 season, SJSU has a pass interception in five consecutive games in the same season.  With a pair of interceptions in the final game of the 2017 season, the Spartans have a six-game streak going intercepting a pass.

SJSU added two interceptions to its total versus Colorado State on October 6th. The Spartans have nine for the season–three more than in 2017–to rank seventh nationally among FBS schools.

Spartan nation, keep in mind that the Spartans have the heart, grit and energy. All the Spartans need to top off their actions is to put more than two wins in the win column this season.

San Jose State looks forward to Saturday’s game vs. Army at Levi’s Stadium

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Photo credit: @SJSUSpartanFB

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — This past weekend, San Jose State flipped the script by putting up 30 unanswered points versus Colorado State. While the Spartans saw a boost in their confidence levels, the “C” grade went to the Rams, who won last Saturday’s game 42-30 for a strange victory.

Fast forward to Monday afternoon, where head coach Brent Brennan gave his weekly press conference inside Simpkins Stadium Center at CEFCU Stadium.

Here’s my Q&A with Brennan:

1. It appears that the Spartans don’t have a strategy to close out football games. Has the coaching staff found a way to ensure the team won’t allow the next opponent to retake the lead and eventually win the game?
The goal is always to win the game. The hard part is closing out a game. I think everyone we play is good. It’s hard to beat anybody. So what it comes down to is being locked in and finding a way to either get a stop or move the football. We had multiple chances in the last two games to do that, so obviously that’s something that we’ve been talking about a lot.

2. The Spartans’ on-the-field confidence looks like it has increased. How can the team continue to ride high on its momentum coming into Saturday’s game vs. Army? Army most recently blew out Buffalo 42-13.
Army’s got a really good football team. I think everybody knows that. I think they have the total respect of everybody in this country. For us to continue to build some momentum, continue to develop as a football team, the biggest, most important thing is how we practice tomorrow. That’s the next chance for our players to get coached up and watch the film and get some comfort with what we’re doing, so tomorrow’s a really important day and the best way for us to build on our momentum is to continue to practice our tails off and continue to put in the work that’s necessary to win.

3. There’s a chance there will be an increase in fans and viewers for Saturday’s game at Levi’s Stadium. Do you think the extra crowd noise will be a positive factor for the Spartans?
Yes, absolutely!

Spartan nation, don’t miss out on the VIP-style events this week. The Spartans will be hosting Casino Night at Santana Row this Thursday. All proceeds will benefit the Spartan Athletic Fund. You can register through this link: . After that, San Jose State will take on Army at Levi’s Stadium for a Saturday matinee at 12:30 pm PT. If you can’t make it Saturday, you can watch the national stream on ESPNU or listen to the local broadcast on KLIV 1590 AM.

Cal Bears podcast with Morris Phillips: Cal looks to make amends against winless UCLA at home this Saturday

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photo from 247sports.com file photo: Cal quarterback Brandon McIlwain is all smiles before a game against BYU on Sep 8th who threw against the Arizona Wildcats last Saturday

On the Cal podcast with Morris:

#1 The Bears (3-2) gave the Arizona Wildcats (3-3) two touchdowns in a 24-17 give away. How badly did the defense falter?

#2 Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said looking ahead Cal is going to play in some tough environments and Saturday’s game performance was unacceptable.

#3 Cal quarterback Brandon McIlvain became Cal’s third starting quarterback platooning with quarterback Chase Garbers the three previous games. When Cal got into their third quarterback, you knew there were problems on offense.

#4 McIlwain threw 43 times, 32 completions, 2 touchdowns, 20 carries for 107 yards and passed for 315 yards. He did it all.

#5 This Saturday, October 13th, Cal hosts UCLA (0-5). Do you see Cal, who started out 3-0–now 3-2, having a chance to get back into the win column against the Bruins?

Morris does the Cal Bears podcasts each Monday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Three takeaways from San Jose State’s fifth straight loss

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Photo credit: @SJSUSpartanFB

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose State Spartans aren’t going to have its own Cinderella story this season, but they have plenty of things to look back on, and hopefully, learn from. In case you missed it, San Jose State lost their fifth straight regular season game and second straight home game to Colorado State 42-30. The Spartans were clearly unhappy with the final result, but there was nothing they could do except for prepare for this Saturday’s game versus Army West Point.

Here are my three takeaways from SJSU’s second straight home game vs. CSU. As always, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for reading.

3. Tyler Nevens’ return
Sophomore running back Tyler Nevens wasn’t listed in the Spartans’ possible starters list, but Nevens got to see some action on the field. Nevens returned from an injury, wore the No. 28 instead of the usual No. 23 and scored a 6-yard rushing touchdown late in the third quarter to help SJSU cut the Rams’ lead in half 28-14.

Nevens finished the night with 20 attempts, 73 yards, 1 touchdown 17 long gains and a 3.7 average. Not too shabby for a star running back who fought fairly hard in his much-anticipated return.

2. Tre Hartley’s impact
Fifth-year wide receiver Tre Hartley apparently realized that SJSU had to get back into the game vs. CSU. Hartley scored two passing touchdowns, a 24-yard passing touchdown and 51-yard passing touchdown, off quality passes from senior quarterback Josh Love.

Hartley finished the night with 96 yards, 2 touchdowns, 51 long gains and a 24 average along with 8 targets. Hartley’s apparent persistence helped the Spartans avoid a shutout by the Rams.

1. Rams’ vanishing offense
The Rams were off to a fiery start and carried a 28-0 lead to the locker room at the end of the first half. But the Rams, who were nearly as bad as the Spartans, came undone for the majority of the second half.

We can’t help but wonder about the Rams’ vanishing offense up until a gutsy fourth quarter when CSU scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown and a 55-yard interception to outlast SJSU. The Rams’ offense sputtered after a strong start, which allowed the Spartans to score 30 unanswered points. The Spartans just couldn’t close out the game.

Spartan nation, don’t forget that this Saturday’s game will be held at Levi’s Stadium. If you haven’t already purchased your tickets, you can call or text (408) 924-7589.

NCAAFB podcast with Michelle Richardson: Longhorns’ kicker Dicker boots the go-ahead for the win; Ohio State’s Haskins has career day with 455 yards; Howard just out of the grasp for win

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Photo credit: @bevobeat

On the NCAAFB podcast with Michelle:

#1 The Texas Longhorns got a scare from the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter. The Sooners scored 21 unanswered points, but the Longhorns kicker Cameron Dicker kicked a go-ahead field goal for the 48-45 win.

#2 Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins threw for a career-best 455 yards six touchdowns to beat Indiana 49-26.

#3 The North Carolina Central Eagles and the Howard Bison dueled it out in a close contest 40-35 a game that went down to the wire the Eagles came up a winner, but the Bison gave it everything they had,.

Michelle does the NCAAFB podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Utes down the Cardinal 40-21 at Stanford Stadium

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Photo credit: @Utah_Football

By: London Donson

STANFORD, Calif. — Going into Saturday, the Stanford Cardinal had to be feeling pretty good. Ranked at #14, despite coming off a 38-17 loss to Notre Dame last week, they held a 4-1 record. Looking for a chance to make some serious noise this season against the unranked Utah Utes under the lights in primetime.

The Utes had other plans and came out swinging. After trading scoreless possessions in the first, the Utes made into the red zone where running back Zach Moss would take pitch from inside the Cardinal 10-yard line and score one of his two touchdowns of the night. Giving them the early 7-0 lead, putting Stanford on their heels in the final minute of the first quarter.

KJ Costello, who was in at quarterback for the Cardinal, would orchestrate a drive down the field, getting his team into the red zone. A poor throwing decision later and he was picked off in the end zone by Jaylon Johnson, who dashed it backed down the field for a 100-yard pick six, doubling the Utes’ advantage. Utah continued to dominate the game on both side of the ball, giving the offense fits as the sacked Costello four times and picked him off twice. They would go into the half with a two-touchdown advantage, 21-7.

The second half saw the Cardinal find their moxie. After giving up a score early in the third, running back Cameron Scarlett would leap his way into the end zone virtually untouched. The Cardinal continued to rally four minutes later as Costello would find Michael Wilson in the corner of the end zone from just beyond the Utah 30-yard line. This would narrow the gap, 27-21, in front of a raucous crowd.

But Utah remained resilient. Having pushed the lead to 30-21, Utah had the ball with seven minutes left in the game on their own 42. After escaping a sack, quarterback Tyler Huntley tossed up a prayer off his back foot. His prayer was answered as wideout Samuel Nacua was able locate the ball and get in for six. It was Huntley’s only touchdown off the game, and it dashed the Cardinal’s hope for a comeback.

The Utes held onto the ball to eventually beat the Cardinal 40-21.

The Cardinal have a much-needed bye week and then head to the desert to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils on Thursday, October 18 at 6:00 pm PT.

San Jose State set the expectation off the field, but not on the field in 42-30 loss to Rams

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Photo credit: @SJSUSpartanFB

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Spartans were ready to work in Saturday’s game versus the Colorado State Rams inside CEFCU Stadium on Saturday night. The Spartans hosted an equally bad Rams team on “Set the Expectation” night, but was it as great of an idea as it appeared on paper?

CSU opened the scoring with what turned out to be a five-yard passing touchdown by Preston Williams. SJSU’s pass interference penalty on JaQuan Blackwell was declined. Wyatt Bryant kicked in the extra point for a 7-0 Rams lead at the 10:57 mark of the first quarter.

Despite an apparent helmet-to-helmet injury to Jonathan Lenard, Jr., SJSU had some good looks midway through the first quarter like, say, Tyler Nevens’ 17-yard pickup.

CSU made it 14-0 with 3:04 left in the first. Williams scored a 16-yard passing touchdown and Bryan kicked in the extra point.

The Spartans trailed the Rams 14-0 at the end of the first. SJSU had to fine tune their offense in the next three quarters in order to pick up a win over CSU.

SJSU attracted some positive attention to themselves as Zamore Zigler intercepted K.J. Carta-Samuels’ pass intended for a CSU receiver midway through the second quarter.

CSU expanded its lead to 21-0 with 3:24 left in the second. Warren Jackson tallied a 16-yard passing touchdown and Bryan kicked in the extra point.

CSU extended its lead to 28-0, thanks to Jackson’s second touchdown on the night–a eight-yard passing touchdown–and Bryan’s kick for the extra point with 23 seconds left in the second.

The Spartans dug themselves into a larger deficit 28-0 at halftime.

SJSU, however, salvaged something in the third quarter. Josh Love completed a pass to Tre Hartley, who ran the ball for a 24-yard passing touchdown, and Bryce Crawford followed up with a successful kick for the extra point. The Spartans avoided a shutout, but were still down 28-7 with 7:47 left in the third.

SJSU cut the Rams’ lead in half with 5:17 left in the third. Tyler Nevens rushed for a six-yard rushing touchdown. Crawford kicked in the extra point to bring his team within 14 points, 28-14.

SJSU pulled within seven points just 3:09 later. Hartley scored his second touchdown on the night–a 51-yard passing touchdown off a pass from Love–and Crawford kicked in the extra point to pull closer to the Rams, 28-21.

It seemed like CSU wasn’t worried whatsoever, as SJSU tied the score 28-28 with 28 seconds left in the third. Thai Cottrell scored a one-yard passing touchdown and Crawford kicked in the game-tying, extra point. Just five seconds later, Boogie Roberts scored a safety to put the Spartans up 30-28.

The Spartans put up 30 unanswered points for a 30-28 lead at the end of the third.

CSU, however, refused to back down. Izzy Matthews rushed for a one-yard rushing touchdown and Bryan kicked in the extra point for a 35-30 Rams lead at the 11:26 mark of the fourth quarter. And, as if the confidence level wasn’t already high, CSU hurriedly capitalized on SJSU’s first turnover on the night for a 42-30 lead on Rashad Ajayi’s 55-yard interception and Bryan’s kick for the extra point.

The Spartans suffered their fifth straight loss, 42-30, to the Rams.

Notes
Spartans’ possible starters
Offense: Justin Holmes, Jackson Snyder, Troy Kowalski, Trevor Robbins, Jake Colman, Deano Motes, Josh Oliver, Josh Love, Malike Roberson, Thai Cottrell and JaQuan Blackwell.

Defense: Bryson Bridges, Boogie Roberts, Sailosi Latu, Jesse Osuna, Kyle Harmon, Ethan Aguayo, Jamal Scott, Dakari Monroe, John Touissaint, Tre Webb and Jonathan Lenard, Jr.

Up Next
The Spartans head to nearby Levi’s Stadium to face the Army Black Nights next Saturday at 12:30 pm PT on ESPNU.

San Jose State is more than Mountain West football

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Photo credit: @SJSUSpartanFB

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — After high-energy practices, San Jose State has geared up to welcome its next Mountain West opponent, the Colorado State Rams, to CEFCU Stadium on Saturday for a Set the Expectation game.

In case you didn’t know, Set the Expectation was launched by Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor who was gang raped by four football players. Set the Expectation is a pledge for male college and high school athletes. The latter can have their parents sign their pledges with them. Contrary to popular belief, the pledges aren’t legally binding documents, just a simple step towards accountability for the players and coaches. In addition, the coaches can use the pledge as a blueprint to have a serious conversation about consent, domestic violence and sexual assault.

Saturday’s Set the Expectation game was scheduled at the right time, as October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. SJSU’s Beyond Football program made it clear that they proudly support the YMCA Silicon Valley and asked fans to donate money for the amazing non-profit at https://www.gofundme.com/settheexpectationsjsustanford.

Aside from Beyond Football and Set the Expectation, SJSU has proved fans time and time again that the local community is one of the most important things in everyday life. The Spartans volunteer for local charities, non-profits and schools.

The #MeToo and #TimesUp movements were culture shocks in North America, but the actual changing of the existing laws will take at least a year for real results. Of course, the brave women and men have shown us how far we’ve come, but there’s also the thought of how far they need to go in order to make things happen for the safety and well-being of the younger generations.

Beyond Football recently shared a snippet of head coach Brent Brennan’s comments on Set the Expectation in his weekly radio show at the Hukilau in San Jose’s Japantown. This video highlight proves that Brennan has been using his platform in all sorts of ways.

The Spartans are more than student-athletes. They’re part of the 90%. They’re talented players on the field, informed men off the field and educated scholars in the classroom. Whether or not the Spartans enter the NFL, they’ll leave SJSU as fine, young men who have a lot to offer the Silicon Valley and beyond. At the end of the day, education is an important thing. Without education, one wouldn’t have class, dignity and respect.

Two San Jose State football names that you should know

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State football has been a horrendous Mountain West team so far. But that doesn’t mean that the Spartans players aren’t putting in work on and off the field.

The Spartans’ defensive tackle Boogie Roberts and tight end Josh Oliver have been balling out this past week.
Roberts, a fifth-year graduate student, touched the ball in four different ways and scored his first offensive touchdown in SJSU’s epic, five-overtime home loss to Hawaii 44-41 at CEFCU Stadium. Moreover, Oliver was named as the John Mackey Tight End of the Week by the John Mackey Award.

Roberts was the first known SJSU defensive player to recover a fumble as a defensive player and score a rushing touchdown on offense in the school’s 125-year history of the sport. Roberts was also added to the Paul Hornung Award Weekly Honor Roll. The Paul Hornung Award’s currently in its ninth season. It’s given annually to the most versatile player in major college football by the Louisville Sports Commission and football legend Paul Hornung. The winner and his family will be honored at the annual Paul Hornung Award dinner presented by Jewish Hospital Sports Medicine at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville in March 2019. This will be the Paul Hornung Award’s third year as an associate member of the National College Football Awards Association. The LSC launched the Paul Hornung Award in 2010 to honor its namesake and native son as well as to promote outstanding performances by versatile college football players who often go unnoticed.

Oliver recently matched a career-high with eight receptions for a single-game career-best 158 yards and one touchdown in SJSU’s 44-41 loss to Hawaii in a whopping five overtimes. Oliver’s incredible night included a 14-yard touchdown reception that extended SJSU’s lead to 24-16 in the third quarter. Oliver also caught a career-best 70 yard reception in the conference contest.

Oliver’s 158 receiving yards are the most by a Spartan playing any position in a single game since 2013. Other honorable mentions this week include CJ Conrad, Mickey Crum, Mik’Quan Deane and Drew Sample.

The 2018 John Mackey recipient will be announced on December 5, 2018 and then presented live on December 6, 2018 at the Home Depot College Football Awards Red Carpet Show on ESPNU. Other key dates include the 2018 Mackey Semi-finalists on November 15, 2018 and the 2018 Mackey Finalists on November 22, 2018.

The John Mackey Tight End of the Week is an honor distinct from the annual John Mackey Award. This weekly honor was started in 2004 to draw attention to individual play by tight ends during the season. The Tight End of the Week acknowledgment doesn’t have a direct bearing on the final John Mackey Award selection process. The John Mackey Tight End of the Week honor will run until the announcement of the eight semifinalists.

The John Mackey Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association that encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. The 24 awards boast over 750 years of tradition selection excellence.

San Jose sports podcast with Ana Kieu: Earthquakes lost again; SJSU has to do more than just learn from mistakes

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

On the San Jose sports podcast with Ana:

1. San Jose Earthquakes interim head coach Steve Ralston is 0-3 in his position so far. What can you say about his work ethic late in the 2017-18 MLS season?

2. What are your three takeaways from the Quakes’ disappointing road loss 3-2 to the Houston Dynamo?

3. The San Jose State Spartans lost a heartbreaker 44-41 to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on homecoming. Was there anything you’d like to talk about that you didn’t mention in your three takeaways article?

4. The Spartans have to do more than learn from their mistakes. Head coach Brent Brennan said that the loss was the fault of not only him, but also his coaching staff. Which coach do you think will be ousted first and do you think any players will request trades sooner than later?

5. Switching gears to San Jose State men’s basketball, they’ve put the same faces in different positions. Ryan Cooper was promoted to Assistant Coach and Trent Miyagishima took Cooper’s place as Director of Basketball Operations.

Ana does the San Jose sports podcasts each week for SportsRadioService.com