Tag: San Jose Earthquakes

Get to know the Earthquakes’ new head coach Matias Almeyda

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: Ana Kieu

There is a new man in charge of the San Jose Earthquakes’ head coaching duties. That new man is Matias Almeyda, a Azul, Argentina native, who was welcomed as a member of the Black and Blue in San Jose, Calif. on Monday.

You can get to know the Quakes’ new head coach before the start of the 2019 MLS season. Here are five things that you should know about Almeyda.

1. Almeyda was one of the most shocking signings in the head coaching department for the Quakes, who shocked the domestic and foreign soccer worlds with the Monday signing.

2. Almeyda most recently served as the head coach of Chivas de Guadalajara from 2015-18. Almeyda led Chivas to five major trophies in three seasons, including the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League.

3. Prior to his Chivas’ tenure, Almeyda served as the head coach of two clubs in his native Argentina (River Plate and Banfield) and led both clubs to promotion from the second tier in his first season.

4. Almeyda was a successful player in Argentina and Europe. Almeyda made nearly 300 appearances for clubs around the world. The majority of Almeyda’s playing career was spent in Italy for Inter, Lazio and Parma. Almeyda also earned 35 caps for the Argentina National Team and represented his birth country at two FIFA World Cups in 1998 and 2002, respectively.

5. Almeyda was linked to a few high-profile jobs before the Quakes’ announcement, including several in MLS and Europe. Almeyda was also linked to the Mexico, Costa Rica and Argentina National Team openings.

Again, best of luck to Almeyda!

Earthquakes hire new head coach Matias Almeyda

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes announced Monday that the club has hired Matias Almeyda as their latest head coach. Almeyda’s a former Argentina National Team midfielder who most recently led Mexican side Chivas de Guadalajara to the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League title. Interim head coach Steve Ralston will remain in his position for the final two matches of the 2018 MLS season before Almeyda takes over in 2019.

The assistants on Almedya’s coaching staff will be announced at a later date.

“What we saw in Matias was a coach that brought success by creating a culture we strive to emulate,” said Earthquakes general manager Jesse Fioranelli. “He has demonstrated leadership qualities in Argentina with River Plate and Banfield, as well as in Mexico with Chivas. He has always had a winning mentality, both as a player and a coach, and most importantly, he is someone that knows how to redirect a team in a difficult situation with a commitment to a distinct style of play and youth development.

“Matias came here because he welcomes the challenge of helping our organization open a new chapter after a grueling season. He had several other opportunities available to him from clubs and national teams around the world but made it very clear the Earthquakes were the one he wanted to lead.”

Almeyda, 44, comes to San Jose with an extensive background both as a player and manager. He most recently served as head coach of Chivas from September 2015 to June 2018, where he led the club to five trophies in his three seasons. During his tenure, Almeyda managed numerous Mexican National Team players, including Carlos Salcedo, Omar Bravo, Alan Pulido, Oswaldo Alanis, Rodolfo Pizarro, Miguel Angel Ponce and Isaac Brizuela.

Almeyda’s side won the 2018 CONCACAF Champions League with consecutive wins over MLS clubs Seattle Sounders FC (3-1 agg.), New York Red Bulls (1-0 agg.) and Toronto FC (3-3 agg.; 4-2 PKs). It marked the club’s first CONCACAF Champions League title since 1962, the first year of the competition’s existence, and secured Chivas’ first-ever qualification for the FIFA Club World Cup.

In addition to their international success, Chivas also performed well domestically under Almeyda. Chivas won the nation’s biannual tournament, Copa MX, in 2015 (Apertura) and 2017 (Clausura), as well as the 2016 Supercopa MX. The club also won the Clausura 2017 Liga MX championship, their first league title in more than 20 years. He was subsequently named Liga MX’s Best Coach after winning the league double.

Prior to joining Chivas in 2015, Almeyda was head coach for multiple clubs in his native Argentina.

In June 2011, Almeyda made the rare transition from player to head coach, where he was tasked with leading a River Plate side that had just suffered relegation. In his debut season as manager, Almeyda led the Argentine power to a commanding 20-5-13 record and promotion back to the nation’s top league. The team also reached the semifinals of Copa Argentina with five consecutive victories, in which they allowed one total goal, before bowing out to Racing in penalties.

Almeyda left River Plate in November 2012, joining Argentina’s Club Atletico Banfield a few months later. Banfield had also recently suffered relegation and turned to Almeyda to restore the club to the Primera División.

Banfield won the championship and earned promotion in his first season, finishing with a 22-8-12 record and +31 goal differential, scoring a league-best 71 goals in 42 games. Only one other team finished with more than 54 goals that season.

After avoiding relegation in 2014, Almeyda’s side surged ahead in 2015, finishing in eighth place in the 30-team league with a 14-8-8 record and earning qualification for the 2016 Copa Sudamericana. Almeyda departed for Chivas after the team’s successful 2015 season.

Almeyda became a head coach after a lengthy playing career that featured stints in five countries. The defensive midfielder played in nearly 300 club matches, including 129 in Italy’s top-flight Serie A, 63 in Argentina’s Primera División and 28 in Spain’s La Liga, also making 20 appearances in UEFA Champions League competition. He featured for some of the world’s most storied clubs, including Inter Milan, Lazio, Sevilla and River Plate.

Among the trophies he helped lift as a player are three Argentinian championships (’93, ’95, ’96), one Copa Libertadores (’96), one UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (’99), one UEFA Super Cup (’00), three Italian Cups (‘98, ‘00, ’02) and one Italian championship (’00).

Almeyda started and ended his playing career at River Plate, retiring in 2011, and immediately taking the reins as head coach at age 37.

Internationally, Almeyda made 35 appearances for the Argentina National Team, scoring five goals. He represented his country at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups.

Earthquakes fall 3-1 to the Red Bulls, but the #WondoWatch continues

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: Alexandra Evans

SAN JOSE, Calif. — The San Jose Earthquakes faced the second-ranked, Eastern Conference playoff-bound New York Red Bulls at home on October 6, crossing their fingers for a win. The Quakes have not prevailed in over a month.

New York picked up the first netter in the 29th minute when the ball slipped out of San Jose goalkeeper JT Marcinkowski’s hands, allowing Alex Muyl to take a shot from the left side, six yards outside the goal line.

And then they did it again three minutes later. The ball bounced off of San Jose’s right goal post (from the goalkeeper’s perspective) and redirected to the right. This phenomenon allowed New York’s Bradley Wright-Phillips to “rebound” the ball and kick it in toward the bottom of the left corner.

At halftime, the Quakes were down 2-0, which was a reflection of their performance over the month of September and a foreshadowing of the remainder of the match.

One-ninth of the way into the second half, at the 50th minute, Aaron Long bumped a header and put up another point for the Red Bulls. Danny Hoesen, eventually caught offside, attempted a shot at the 54th minute from outside the left of the Red Bulls’ defensive zone, which was immediately caught by goalkeeper Luis Robles. This prompted head coach Steve Ralston to substitute Vako for captain Chris Wondolowski (marking his 32nd appearance).

Wondo made his first scoring attempt upon entry at the 70th minute, when his shot from the center of the box was blocked. 13 minutes later, however, Wondolowski received a punt from Florian Jungwirth at the 83rd minute. His header from the right side of the goalpost earned him his 144th career goal, just one shy of former Earthquake Landon Donovan who holds the record for most career goals in MLS history.

The Quakes trailed 3-1, which was the final score at Avaya Stadium.

The San Jose Earthquakes are back at Avaya Stadium on Saturday, October 13 to face Cruz Azul at 5:15 PM PST.

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

Earthquakes struggle again in second half against Dynamo in 3-2 loss

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Photo: Michael Wyke/Contributor to chron.com: Houston Dynamo forward Romell Quioto is swarmed by fans after he jumped into the stands after scoring the winning goal against the San Jose Earthquakes during the second half of their MLS game at BBVA Compass Stadium Saturday, Sep. 29, 2018 in Houston, TX.

By Pearl Allison Lo

The San Jose Earthquakes’ inability to score in the second half again cost them as they fell to the Houston Dynamo 3-2 at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday.

The Quakes were up 2-0 after the first half,  but the Dynamo came back to earn the win in the 87th minute.

San Jose is now winless in their last five. Three of the results have been a one goal differential.

The Quakes opponent again put up a lot of shots against their net, as they were outshot 19-8.

Houston had just won their first ever US Open Cup on Wednesday.

San Jose started their scoring when they ended a scoreless streak that started after the 61st minute in their September 19th game.

Chris Wondolowski was the last member of the team to score and he did it again in the 37th minute. Tommy Thompson drew a penalty and Wondolowski converted to make him just two shy of the MLS all-time record with his 143rd goal.

The Earthquakes got help from the Dynamo eight minutes later when Alejandro Fuenmayor scored on his own net.

Wondolowski commented,”It was a great ball in by Jackson [Yueill], squared it across. I was there. Thought I would get a touch, but the defender came sliding in and got a touch as well.”

Two substitutions by either team filled in the gaps between each of Houston’s three goals in the second half.

Mauro Manotas scored in the 56th minute.

Quakes interim head coach Steve Ralston said, “Frustration is a good word…to find ourselves up 2-0 was nice. I told the guys, ‘Listen, this has happened too much this season. We need to finish this game out…we have to raise our level of play.’ And we didn’t. Once they scored the first goal, we were mentally weak and we felt like this happened oh-so-many times to us and I don’t think we have the courage to get out of it right now.”

Tomás Martínez evened the score in the 68th minute.

Ralston put in Florian Jungwirth in the 76th minute and Danny Hoesen in the 82nd minute, but it was to of no avail.

Second-half substitute Romell Quioto gave the Quakes more heartbreak when he scored.

Ralston’s message after the horn blew, “I sat with them and told them, ‘It’s not good enough. We know that. We have to be brave and we have to pick each other up and we have to do the little things better.’ We’ll see. We have three games. What do they want to make of it?”

Up Next: The Quakes begins their last homestand of the season when they host the New York Red Bulls Saturday at 7:30 pm PT.

San Jose sports podcast with Ana Kieu: New Earthquakes coach, same old results; San Jose State has yet to defeat Hawaii in Nick Rolovich era

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Photo credit: mlssoccer.com and staradvertiser.com

On the San Jose sports podcast with Ana:

1. The San Jose Earthquakes fired head coach Mikael Stahre and assistant Alex de Crook last week. Assistant coach Steve Ralston has been serving as interim head coach since then, but was unable to win in his first match, as the Quakes lost 4-3 to Atlanta United at Avaya Stadium last Wednesday.

2. On a positive note, San Jose made Destinee Coronado, a young ovarian cancer patient, their honorary captain for the night versus Atlanta last Wednesday.

3. The Quakes were in L.A. to take on LAFC in MLS’ newest rivalry last Saturday. LAFC shutout San Jose 2-0. What went wrong?

4. The Quakes remain on the road. They’ll take on the Houston Dynamo this Saturday. Houston is an on-and-off team, so what should San Jose do in order to defeat them?

5. In Mountain West football, San Jose State has yet to defeat Hawaii in the Nick Rolovich era. The Spartans’ last win against Hawaii came in 2015 by a final score of 42-23.

6. The Spartan coaching staff was on the road last weekend to find new Spartans throughout California. Currently, there are 95 Spartans from California. How important is it to have hometown guys on this team?

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

LAFC held the Earthquakes to just 1 shot in 2-0 shutout

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By: Pearl Allison Lo

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Football Club prevailed over the San Jose Earthquakes again 2-0 Saturday to earn points in six straight games.

The teams’ only meeting previously was in the Bay Area at Avaya Stadium June 9, where LAFC won in stoppage time 4-3. This result ended an eight-game scoring streak and continued a four-game losing streak for the Quakes. The last time San Jose was shut out was July 28th versus Real Salt Lake. The last time the Quakes were shut out in a loss was the game previous to that one versus the Seattle Sounders.

After playing top team Atlanta on Wednesday, the Quakes played another top 3 team in LAFC. Both teams took a water break in each half on the first day of fall as they kicked off the first MLS game of the day. 6’3” Walker Zimmerman led LAFC with his first two goals of the season, the first scores with his new club. Captain Carlos Vela had the two assists and a game-high six shots and four shots on goal.

Quakes keeper JT Marcinkowski, who made his first MLS start Wednesday, started for the second game in a row. He was forced to make a career-high six saves. Marcincowski commented, “…this being my first away match in the MLS, I think it’s a pretty cool environment to be in…but at the end of the day, still didn’t get the result, so a bit frustrating, but definitely some stuff to look forward to.”

The Quakes have faced at least 18 shots in their last two games and at least 16 shots in their last three.

Corners were the name of the game in the first half. LAFC dominated possession at first. They started with three corners and six crosses and ended with nine corners to San Jose’s one.

Marcinkowski had two close calls involving Adama Diomande in the 14th and 19th minutes. During the first, Diego Rossi was close to connecting with Diomande, but Diomande got called offside. In the 19th minute, Marcinowski was able to race to the ball before Diomande.

After Marcinkowski made a high right hand save in the previous minute, Vela had a clear shot but it went to the hands of Marcinkowski in the 22nd. Rossi had a side angle shot in the 39th minute but was blocked. This precipitated three corners. The next corner would not fare so well after the Quakes got just a bit of breathing room.

Harold Cummings turned the ball over, Latif Blessing gunned for the net and Florian Jungwirth kicked the ball out for a corner. Zimmerman nailed the top left as he won the aerial battle in the 41st minute, making it 1-0.

The shot total in the first half was 11 (five on target) for LAFC and 3 for San Jose (one on target–Jackson Yueill in the 15th and 21st and Jahmir Hyka in the 30th). Two of the Quake’s shots were blocked. Vela led all in the first with three shots, two on goal and an assist.

Yueill had a close chance in the 54th minute, but his shot went just wide. It would be San Jose’s only attempt in the second half.

Former Quake Marco Ureña had his shot blocked in the 67th minute and a corner was conceded by Joel Qwiberg. This set up Vela and Zimmerman, who connected for a goal again in the 65th minute. Vela took the corner like before and Zimmerman, facing towards him, headed the ball into the net again, this one close to his back.

Regarding the defenses, San Jose Captain Chris Wondolowski stated, “I thought LAFC played pretty well, they were really organized…definitely a Bob Bradley coached team, very compact, well disciplined. I thought our defense played well too, we let two set piece goals, which is a bit uncharacteristic for us, got punished and rightfully so.”

San Jose made their last two substitutions in the 71st and 81st minute and had two more minutes of stoppage time in the second half but were unable to break through this time.

Quakes interim head coach Steve Ralston relayed, “Performance I thought was actually okay,.. Coming off the game on Wednesday on short notice, early game in heat, and me asking them to do the things that I ask them to do, is going to be hard…but I feel for this club going forward, this is what we need to do. Elaborating, he replied, “It’s a new formation we haven’t played all season. This is only the second game…” On what went wrong, “…we never could really get through in the final third, kind of ran out of ideas. What he wants the team to do, is to “…just press forward.”

San Jose’s Magnum Eriksson was not in the top 18 for just the second time this season.

Up Next: The Quakes travel to play the Houston Dynamo Saturday at 5:30 pm PDT.

Atlanta United came back from 2-goal deficit to top Earthquakes 4-3

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes

By Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE, Calif. — New coach, same result. The Steve Ralston era opened up with what has been a familiar theme for the San Jose Earthquakes (4-17-8) this season. Atlanta United (18-5-6) came back from a two-goal deficit and scored late in stoppage time to defeat the Quakes 4-3 at Avaya Stadium on Wednesday evening.

This was the first game the Quakes have played since they fired head coach Mikael Stahre on Monday and replaced him with interim head coach Ralston. Ralston, a former U.S. national team player, previously served as an assistant coach at the start of the season.

“Right now I’m disappointed,” said Ralston. “(I have) a lot of different emotions to be honest. Nerves, excitement. Not knowing what to expect. To have face this team, in your first game with one day (to prepare), it’s not an easy one.”

Josef Martinez scored the game-winning goal four minutes into stoppage time, thanks to a great set up by Miguel Almiron. Almiron sent in a centering pass into the middle that Martinez was able to head in past JT Marcinkowski into the left corner of the goal for his second goal of the night and league leading 30th MLS goal.

Marcinkowski was making his first MLS start in the San Jose net. He was tested early on by Atlanta FC, making three saves in the first 25 minutes of action.

“You always want to touch the ball early, make a clean save, make a clean pass (to) get your feed under you,” said Marcinkowski. “They’re a high scoring offense, they’re powerful, (at the) top of the league.”

San Jose would draw first blood in the 13th minute when Shea Salinas received the ball from Magnus Eriksson near the left wing. He sent over a crossing pass to an unchecked Nick Lima, who one-timed a header past Atlanta United goalie Brad Guzan into the far left corner of the net for his second goal of the season.

Quakes defender Guram Gashia kept Atlanta United from getting the equalizer at the 26 minute mark when he was able to block an on coming strike from Atlanta United midfielder Julian Gressel.

Quakes forward Danny Hoesen was injured in a collision with Atlanta United midfielder Jeff Larentowicz at the 18-minute mark. The result was a yellow card issued to Larentowicz. Hoesen remained in the game.

Hoesen then doubled the Quakes’ lead in the 43rd minute after Nick Lima sent in a long ball right in front of the defense box. Hoesen won the one-on-one battle against Atlanta United defender Michael Parkhurst and his initial shot was saved by Guzan. Hoesen then collected his own rebound and bent in a chip shot into the upper right corner of the goal for his team-leading 12th goal of the season.

Atlanta United’s Hector Villalba cut the lead in half two minutes before the end of the first half with a fantastic one-time strike from 20 yards out into the upper right corner of the goal that Marcinkowski and the Quakes could only admire from afar. Gressel sent a cross-field pass over to the left wing, where Villalba’s rocket of a shot was good for his sixth goal of the season.

Vako turned in the play of the game, and quite arguably the goal of the year, giving the San Jose a 3-1 lead in the 58th minute when he was able to take possession of the ball inside the right slot in the defense box. He dribbled around Atlanta United’s Chris McCann toward the middle, out-deked Gressel and fired a left-footed shot that curled in past Guzan for his 10th goal of the season.

In a weird turn of events the Quakes thought they had a 4-1 lead when captain Chris Wondolowski fired home a goal after receiving a wide-open pass from Anibal Godoy. However, after video review, it was determined there was a hand ball called on Eriksson inside their defense box that resulted in a penalty shot for Atlanta United. Martinez tapped in the penalty for his first goal on the night–and his 29th of the season–in the 70th minute.

With the Quakes’ heads still spinning from the goal that wasn’t, Almiron tied the match just three minutes later in the 73rd minute when Martinez dribbled inside the defense box and was tackled. No call was made on the tackled by referee Fotis Bazakos, who had a rough night on the pitch to put it lightly, and the rebound laid open where Almiron buried it into the left corner of the net for his 12th goal of the season.

In the 90th minute, Vako sent in a shot toward the goal that hit the elbow of Leandro Gonzalez Pirez that Bazakos apparently didn’t see, nor did the VAR decide it was worth replaying. That had San Jose scratching their heads in frustration.

“We’ve had this referee before,” said Wondo. “He’s had pivotal calls that’s come against us many times. To be honest I felt (we were) a little cheated by the refs (tonight).”

GAME NOTES: This was the second meeting all-time between the two clubs. Atlanta United won the first ever meeting back on July 4th, 2017 4-2.

Quakes defender Shae Salians was issued a yellow card in the 53rd minute when he slid in late on a tackle attempt on Villalba.

The announced attendance was 15,948.

The match was part of Mexican Heritage night at Avaya Stadium.

UP NEXT: The Quakes travel to Los Angeles to take on the LAFC on Saturday, September 22 at 5:30 pm PDT at Banc of California Stadium.

Headline Sports with London Marq: Garoppolo, 49ers look to avoid the INT Sunday; Halos look to be spoilers as A’s chase Yanks; Raiders drop to 0-2 in close battle with Denver; Quakes make a coaching change; plus more

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Photo credit: @KNBR

On Headline Sports with London:

#1 The A’s battle the LA Angels this week and the Angels want to be spoilers and try and set the A’s chase of the New York Yankees in the AL Wild Card a peg or two.

#2 The Oakland Raiders played a nail-biter on Sunday, but lost to the Denver Broncos just by one point. Derek Carr looked and threw well, but the Raiders tried as hard as they could and lost their second game of the season, dropping them now to 0-2.

#3 With all the losses mounting, the San Jose Earthquakes fired head coach Mikael Stahre and assistant coach Alex de Crook. The Quakes have won only four games this season. When do you think Stahre should have got fired.

#4 The San Francisco Giants, who are a good 12 games out of first place, and their current hosts, the San Diego Padres, who are some 26 games out, will mostly look at their call ups during this series since the playoffs are dimming each day.

#5 The San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had a rough outing against the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium. The Niners had a 17-point lead, but lost it as their lead collapsed to just three points. If it wasn’t for a holding penalty late in the fourth quarter, the Lions would have been in field goal range or at best scoring range after picking off a Garoppolo pass.

London Marq does Headline Sports each Wednesday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

San Jose sports podcast with Ana Kieu: Both Earthquakes and Spartans can use paper bags

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Photo credit: @SJEarthquakes and @SJSUSpartanFB

On the San Jose sports podcast with Ana:

1. The San Jose Earthquakes returned to Avaya Stadium…only to lose to Sporting Kansas City 5-1.

2. Quakes captain Chris Wondolowski put the Native American community first before the match vs. Sporting KC at Avaya Stadium. Wondo is half Native American through his mother, Janis Hoyt, who was born into the Kiowa tribe from Oklahoma. Wondo is also a member of the Kiowa tribe.

3. The Quakes host the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta United at Avaya Stadium tonight. Do you think the Quakes will get blown out again?

4. Despite the 35-22 loss, the San Jose State Spartans put on quite a show against No. 20 Oregon at Autzen Stadium.

5. After the bye week, the Spartans will welcome the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors for this year’s Homecoming game on September 29th. Coach Nick Rolovich and his Rainbow Warriors have proved they weren’t the same team they were last year. What should coach Brent Brennan and his Spartans do in order to prepare for this Mountain West contest? Also, do you think the Spartans can beat Hawaii?

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