Tag: San Jose State Spartans

San Jose State football games named to Mountain West national TV package

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By: Ana Kieu

Three San Jose State Spartans home football games and one Mountain West conference road game are part of the conference’s 44-game national television package with CBS Sports Network and ESPN Networks.

San Jose State will be playing twice on Friday night starting with their Friday, September 27 conference opener at Air Force on CBSSN starting at 6:00 pm MT/5:00 pm PT. SJSU will be on CBSSN again the following Friday, October 4 for a 7:00 pm PT conference home game vs. New Mexico in CEFCU Stadium.

SJSU’s November 2 home game hosting Boise State now has a 7:30 pm PT game time and carried on CBSSN.

The Spartans’ final game in the conference’s national television package is Saturday, November 30 home game against Fresno State for the Valley Trophy. The game will be assigned to the ESPN Networks, but the game time will be announced at a later date.

With today’s announcement, AT&T SportsNet, Stadium, Spectrum Sports (Hawaii), CBSSN and ESPN will have an opportunity to select additional SJSU games for their respective broadcast packages.

Season tickets, group tickets and mini-plans are available for the entire San Jose State Spartans home football schedule at www.sjsuspartans.com/tickets or by calling (408) 924-7589.

Here’s the 2019 SJSU football schedule:

Josh Oliver was a Jacksonville Jaguars’ third round draft pick

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By: Ana Kieu

For San Jose State University tight end Josh Oliver, a dream came true on the second day of the 2019 NFL Draft as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ first selection in the third round.

Oliver was the 69th overall selection in the Draft. He was the fifth tight end, the second from the 12-team Mountain West, and the second player from one of the three Bay Area schools that included Pac-12 Conference members Stanford and Cal to hear his name announced in the Draft so far.

Video Highlights

“I like to pattern my game after Tony Gonzalez. As a freshman coming in (to San Jose State), my college coach showed me a lot of Tony Gonzalez tape and I’d like to do as much as he can,” Oliver said in his first interview with the Jaguars media. He will be united with new Jags offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who had the same position at SJSU during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

Oliver, the 6’5″, 250-lb tight end from Paso Robles, Calif., is the first SJSU player in 10 years to be chosen in the first three rounds of a Draft. In 2009, defensive lineman Jarron Gilbert, the 68th overall selection by the Chicago Bears, and cornerback Christopher Owens, the 90th overall pick by the Atlanta Falcons, were among the top 100 players drafted that year.

Oliver was a first-team All-MW choice as a senior in 2018. He caught a team-high 56 passes for 709 yards and four touchdowns. 38 of his receptions (67.8%) resulted in a first down, one of the top three percentages by a NCAA Division I FBS tight end last season. He concluded his college career playing in the 2019 Senior Bowl.

For SJSU, Oliver is the third tight end drafted by a NFL team since 1996. Brian Roche was a third-round draft choice, 81st overall selection, by the San Diego Chargers in 1996. In 2004, Courtney Anderson was an Oakland Raiders’ seventh round pick, 245th overall.

Groundbreaking Ceremony Set for San Jose State Football Operations Center

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State University and its Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the future construction of a new Football Operations Center on the east side of CEFCU Stadium, Home of the Spartans. The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday morning, June 5 at 11:00 am inside CEFCU Stadium.

Conceived in 2016 as a centerpiece in the development of the university’s 62 acres of land at the South Campus, the Football Operations Center will be a multi-story structure centralizing all of Spartan Football’s needs into one state-of-the-art building. The new facility will enhance all facets of football operations and provide a first-class environment for our student-athletes to succeed in the classroom, in competition, and in life.

“The Football Operations Center will provide our football team, athletics department and the entire university state-of-the-art spaces to compete and learn. This critical project will provide much needed services for our football program and will be utilized by other sport teams and campus divisions. The center will provide enhanced game-day experiences for our fans,” said Marie Tuite, SJSU’s director of athletics.

“This project is a crucial footprint to the overall renovation and enhancement of facilities on South Campus. Although our football program will be the main tenants, building multi-use facilities is always our objective.”

The new operations center will include locker rooms, an auditorium, offices, spectator seating on the 50-yard line and a Hall of Champions event space. The total project would be a rebuild on the stadium’s east side and also provide support to the Spartans’ men’s and women’s soccer programs.

Currently, the project budget is listed at $40-million. To date, $24.7 million has been raised for the Football Operations Center.

The work slated to take place during the summer includes removing bleacher sections along the stadium’s east side and landscape in order to set the foundation for building. During this time, SJSU will initiate a formal bidding process to determine both construction and architecture firms.

After the 2019 football season, the next phase of work will include moving the hill and relocating the scoreboard including lighting currently located along the east side — all required preparation for the physical construction of the center.

When the Football Operations Center is completed, the Spartan football program would move out of the Simpkins Stadium Center, opened in 1993 on the 7th Street side of CEFCU Stadium, to the opposite side of the stadium.

“The Football Operations Center will be a game-changer for San Jose State University. We are building a winning program here and our new home will provide our players, coaches, and staff the opportunities to succeed on the field, academically, and through our Beyond Football program,” said SJSU football head coach Brent Brennan.

“It will show future Spartans that we have a vision and a plan for a winning football program that goes to bowl games and competes for conference championships.”

The groundbreaking ceremony is open to the public. Parking will be available in the Park & Ride Lot, located across the street from the 7th Street side of CEFCU Stadium.

To learn how you can support Spartan football, please visit sjsufootball.com or contact Josh Thiel, deputy athletics director for athletics advancement, at (408) 924-1697 or joshua.thiel@sjsu.edu.

San Jose State and Western Michigan announce home-and-home football series

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. —  San Jose State University will play Western Michigan University in a non-conference home-and-home football series during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, respectively. Marie Tuite, the Spartans’ Director of Athletics, made the announcement for the university.

SJSU will travel to Kalamazoo, Mich. for the first time in program history for a Sept. 25, 2021 road game. The return game in San Jose, Calif. will be in CEFCU Stadium on Sept. 24, 2022.

When the Spartans face the Broncos on the road in 2021, it will be the first time these teams are competing against each other in football.

Western Michigan has been a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) since 1947. SJSU, a Mountain West member, has faced current MAC institutions: Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Toledo, Eastern Michigan and Central Michigan in its football history since 1979.

Richard Washington signs with San Jose State men’s basketball

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State men’s basketball has signed guard Richard Washington, a transfer from Tallahassee Community College, as part of their 2019-20 class, head coach Jean Prioleau announced on Thursday.

Washington comes to the South Bay after two seasons at Wake Forest and one season at TCC in Tallahassee, Fla. A product of Newport News, Va., Washington averaged 16.6 points per game at Tallahassee last season as a sophomore in 29 games and was named First Team All-Panhandle Conference.

“We are excited to welcome Richard to San Jose State,” Prioleau said. “He is a guy that brings a lot of experience, is a really good scorer and we feel he will be a great addition to San Jose State Basketball.”

Last season, Washington shot 46.2% from the field and held a 35.8% clip from 3-point range. He also pulled down 8.1 rebounds and tallied 3.1 assists per game. The 6’6″ guard had his best game against Andrew College on Nov. 28, 2018 as he set school records of 45 points and 10 treys.

Washington is rated the 18th-best junior college prospect of 2019 according to 247 Sports.

“Richard is an exceptionally hard-working student athlete who is destined for great things at San Jose State,” Tallahassee CC head coach Zach Settembre said. “Spartan Nation is getting a mature young man with high character and a very specific vision for his future. Rich is an elite shot maker, excellent passer and knows how to demand the best from both himself and his teammates. He is a proven winner, and Tallahassee Community College is thrilled that he is representing us at the Division I level in the Mountain West Conference.”

Prior to his stint at TCC, Washington spent two seasons playing for head coach Danny Manning at Wake Forest. Washington appeared in eight games off the bench as a freshman in 2016-17, but was sidelined in 2017-18 due to an injury and redshirted the season.

Washington played his high school ball at Walsingham Academy in Williamsburg, Va., where was a consensus three star prospect and rated as one of the top-30 players at his position by ESPN. A two-time all-state selection, he tallied 1,432 points during his junior and senior seasons, and was named MVP at four high school tournaments.

“I’m so grateful Coach Prioleau gave me this opportunity to play the game I love,” Washington said. “I’m really excited about what I feel we can accomplish. This means so much to me and I hope I can make the most out of it.”

Washington is the second signee in 2019-20, joining Omari Moore, who signed in Nov. He’ll have two years to play two at SJSU.

San Jose State football concludes pre-Easter festivities with spring game

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Spartan Nation had a lot to look forward to Saturday as the San Jose State football team hosted a long list of pre-Easter festivities at CEFCU Stadium. The list began with a helmet and jersey sale at 11:00 am, a town hall meeting and youth football camp at 12:00 pm, a family fun zone at 12:30 pm, an Easter egg hunt at 1:15 pm, a brew fest at 1:30 pm, and alas, a spring game!

SJSU head coach Brent Brennan said: “It was just a really awesome day.”

The spring game was broken down into 10 segments with two breaks.

The first segment featured the first offense versus the second defense. Running back Tyler Nevens displayed his durability in his position and was a part of the Spartans’ offensive attack. Nevens rushed for a good amount of yards.

The second segment featured the second offense versus the first defense. A notable moment was when a deep pass was thrown through the air. The lucky fans in attendance who texted “C” for a deep pass won $100 gift cards to use at the SJSU bookstore.

The third segment featured the first offense versus the second defense. The Spartans offense was fired up and scored some touchdowns and field goals.

Brennan said: “The team put it in a lot of hard work and effort. Let’s hope they’ll keep this streak up.”

After the first break, there was the fourth segment, which displayed the second offense versus the first defense.

SJSU quarterback Josh Love said: “I feel really confident after all the work I’ve put in in the offseason as it helped me get comfortable with myself.”

The fifth segment was a little different as the third offense took on the third defense. Still, it was good all-around for both teams on the field.

Brennan said: “I thought the defense was lights out. It seemed like it was a little bit hotter today, but I thought they had some big hits and put some pressure on the quarterback. They all made plays.”

The sixth segment featured the first offense versus the second defense. The offense continued to put in the work with running and rushing plays. The defense made quite a few defensive stops, which was a positive thing.

SJSU defensive coordinator Derrick Odum said: “We’re working on a lot of things in practices. We’re going to start with our install a lot further down the line than we’ve ever had in the past, so that was really good, and if we could just polish up on a few things, we’ll be fine. I was excited to see the guys buying in and doing stuff.”

After the second break, there was the seventh segment, which displayed the second offense versus the first offense.

The eighth segment featured the first offense versus the second offense. Both offenses put on an offensive show and looked fairly promising to the offensive coaches on the coaching staff.

The ninth segment featured the second offense versus the first defense. Again, both teams appeared to be locked in like they were in previous segments.

SJSU safety prospect Tre Webb said: “I just have to work on knowing everything. I got to read the playbook inside and out. I have to be better — not only for myself, but also for the people around me.”

Finally, the 10th segment showcased the third offense versus the third defense. There was a Spartans touchdown late the game, which was like the cherry on top. Chance LaChappelle made a pass to Lenard, Jr. to close out the game. The defense edged the offense 26-24.

When asked how he’d characterize the Spartans’ defense so far, SJSU safety Jonathan Lenard, Jr. responded: “It’s everything. We’re swarming. We have these things called ‘blue line” and “100-100″ where you give 100 perfect effort, 100 effort of the time.”

Lenard added: “It’s also about the physicality. We like to play physical football.”

The Spartans open the 2019 regular season against the Northern Colorado Bears at CEFCU Stadium on Thursday, August 29. Brennan hopes this will be the season where his team kicks the door down and find ways to finish their games as a team.

Three San Jose State football players named to NFF Hampshire Honor Society

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By: Ana Kieu

For the first time in the 13-year history of the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society program, three San Jose State Spartans players from one team are receiving the prestigious recognition.

Quarterback Michael Carrillo, a master’s degree candidate in business administration; kicker Bryce Crawford, a communications studies major; and long snapper Harrison Hoffman, a business accounting major, are seniors from the 2018 Spartan team invited into the Society.

“It’s awesome. Those thee players are such incredible young men who did everything right all the time. It’s exciting to see them get recognized for their efforts academically,” said SJSU head coach Brent Brennan.

“We know how hard it is to balance the challenge of school and football and being a Division I athlete. Those guys all were exceptional. We were lucky to have them be important members of our football program.”

Football student-athletes from all NCAA and NAIA Divisions qualify for admission by maintaining a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average or better throughout their college careers, been significant players on their team during the 2018 season, and have completed their final year of eligibility.

“It means a lot. I value education a lot. To get the recognition at the end of all of it, all the hard work wasn’t for nothing. It’s pretty special,” said Hoffman, who first joined SJSU in 2017 and plans to work in public accounting after graduation.

“School is very important to me. It’s nice to get recognition when you work so hard for something.”

“It’s nice to be recognized for all the hard work we put in on and off the field. Here at San Jose (State), we put a lot of emphasis on school and making sure we excel in the classroom before we excel on the football field. It’s something I take a lot of pride in,” said Crawford, a 2018 nominee for the NFF’s Campbell Trophy, known as the “Academic Heisman.”

A record-number 1,643 student-athletes from 424 colleges and universities were named. The Society is an extension of the organization’s national scholar-athlete program. More than 10,000 student-athletes have been honored since the program’s inception.

Previous SJSU inductees include defensive end Travis Johnson (2012); guard Nicholas Kaspar and offensive tackle Jon Meyer (2013); linebacker Vince Buhagiar (2014); offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer (2015); linebacker Mark Amann and wide receiver Tim Crawley (2016); and offensive lineman Nate Velichko (2017).

Steve and Cheryl Caplan commit $1 million to San Jose State football

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State University announced Thursday that they received a $1 million gift commitment from Steve and Cheryl Caplan. The gift is the latest commitment in a growing list of seven-figure gifts that will support a new football operations center on the east side of CEFCU Stadium, Home of the Spartans. An additional $1 million from their estate will establish the Caplan Family Faculty Fellowship in the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business, the Caplan Family Teacher Innovation Fund in the Connie L. Lurie College of Education, and a Spartan Athletics Fund Scholarship endowment.

“My favorite donor stories are those that begin with ‘They met while they were students at SJSU.’ Throughout a lifetime of giving back, Steve and Cheryl’s passion, commitment and love for San Jose State has never wavered,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Marie Tuite. “This gracious gift reflects their strong belief in and support of SJSU Athletics. However, more importantly, this gift also confirms their pledge to the educational mission of the university. Countless students will benefit from their impactful and inspirational gift. A sincere ‘thank you’ to two great Spartans.”

The Caplans first met at SJSU and recognize the role that the university plays in the economic well-being of Silicon Valley. They hope this gift will enable SJSU to continue its good work for future generations, help build a stronger foundation for Spartan football and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and inspire friends and fellow alumni to invest in the university.

Spartans for Life
A 1965 graduate of SJSU’s College of Business, Steve is the retired owner and president of KBM Workspace, an office furniture and design company. He joined the firm when he was a senior at SJSU and purchased the company in 1984, helping it grow from a local dealership to a large company with business throughout the U.S. and Canada. He is a founding board member of the Tower Foundation of SJSU, an auxiliary organization whose sole mission is to serve the philanthropic purposes of SJSU. Currently serving his third term as a board member, Steve is also an active volunteer, helping alumni discover ways to support Spartan Athletics, including the development of a new football operations center.

Cheryl taught public school after graduating from SJSU’s College of Education in 1967. The mother of two boys, she served as a volunteer in the Loma Prieta School District and worked with the principal and superintendent, researching and implementing curriculum, and creating a preschool testing program that helped parents, teachers and children prepare for kindergarten. She became well-versed in the issues challenging education, including communication between families and schools, adequate funding and teacher preparation.

Steve’s goal with Spartan Athletics is to raise awareness and support the funding effort for the renovation of the east side of CEFCU Stadium. The Caplans believe that the future of SJSU Athletics is very bright, as there is a very cohesive team in place that understands the critical nature of the need for competitive facilities that will put the university on equal footing with others in the conference.

The Caplans have been on the boards of service organizations such as the San Jose Hospital, Samaritan Health Systems, The Health Trust, YMCA of Silicon Valley, KTEH/KQED Public Television, Santa Clara County Boy Scouts of America, the San Jose Rotary Club and Tahoe Maritime Museum and Gardens.

“Through this magnificent gift and with hearts full of appreciation, Cheryl and I acknowledge the gift of education we received as young adults,” said Steve. “We hope these gifts will enable San Jose State to continue its good work for future generations of students and student-athletes alike. We also wish to model philanthropic behavior for our family members, friends and future generations of Spartans.”

“The Caplans are longtime, incredibly dedicated supporters of San Jose State. This generous commitment is a testament to their deep and abiding passion for this institution,” said Vice President for University Advancement and Tower Foundation CEO Paul Lanning. “They believe in the importance of both academics and athletics as vital elements of a comprehensive university. We’re so thankful for their leadership as dedicated alumni, volunteers and donors to their alma mater.”

“Steve and Cheryl Caplan have been incredible partners with San Jose State football over the years,” said SJSU Football Head Coach Brent Brennan. “They are helping us connect with and inspire Spartans to invest in our program, and they’re leading by example through this most generous gift. I am grateful to the Caplans, as this gift represents another step forward in providing our program the facilities it needs to compete at the highest level in the Mountain West.”

To track fundraising progress and learn how you can support Spartan football, please visit sjsufootball.com or contact Deputy Athletics Director for Athletics Advancement Josh Thiel at (408) 924-1697 or joshua.thiel@sjsu.edu.

About San Jose State University
The founding campus of the 23-campus CSU system, SJSU provides a comprehensive university education, granting bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in 250 areas of study — offered through its eight colleges.

With more than 35,000 students and nearly 4,370 employees, SJSU continues to be an essential partner in the economic, cultural and social development of Silicon Valley and the state, annually contributing 10,000 graduates to the workforce.

The university is proud of the accomplishments of its more than 280,000 alumni, 60 percent of whom live and work in the Bay Area.

About San Jose State Athletics
SJSU sponsors 22 (nine men’s and 13 women’s) NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports programs for approximately 470 student-athletes annually. In football, the Spartans are a member of Division I’s FBS, the NCAA’s highest level of competition.

The Spartans’ primary conference affiliation is with the Mountain West. Selected teams belong to the MPSF, the WAC, and the GCC.

SJSU has 10 NCAA team championships and 52 NCAA individual titles. 62 Spartans competed in one or more Olympic Games. SJSU athletes have won seven gold, six silver, and seven bronze medals at the Olympics.

Annually, about one third of the student-athlete population earns either an institutional, conference or national recognition based on outstanding academic performance.

Dave Chaney to be enshrined in CEFCU Stadium Ring of Honor

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By: Ana Kieu

Dave Chaney, the first San Jose State Spartans football player to be a two-time All-America selection since the Spartans began playing the sport at the major college level in 1950, will be enshrined in the CEFCU Stadium Ring of Honor during the 2019 football season. SJSU AD Marie Tuite made the announcement.

Chaney was a linebacker on the 1969 to 1971 SJSU teams from his sophomore through senior seasons. The product of Greenfield, Calif., and King City (Calif.) High School played much bigger than his 5-foot-11, 210-pound listed size. In his three seasons, he established school career records for tackles, interception return yardage and interceptions returned for a touchdown. His 527 career tackles in just three seasons still remains a SJSU record 48 years later.

“There are 11 guys on the field at one time — 10 other guys out on the field with me. I don’t want to take all the credit,” said Chaney.

“There are not enough words in the dictionary. I’m in awe of the award. What can I say? I played with some great players and we had good teams. What do you say when someone drops a ‘bomb’ on you and catches you off guard.”

The 1970 second-team All-America selection cemented his spot as a first-team All-America in 1971 with his National Lineman of the Week performance in SJSU’s stunning 13-12 upset over #10-ranked and eventual Rose Bowl champion Stanford. Chaney was credited with 17 tackles (12 unassisted), 4.0 tackles for lost yardage, two fumble recoveries and a third-quarter pass interception on a day when Stanford had 95 offensive plays.

Chaney became the first modern era SJSU player to be selected as a first-team All-America. The two-time, first-team all-conference and All-West Coast honoree would become the first Spartan to accept an invitation and play in a Senior Bowl.

“There is no doubt Dave Chaney is one of the greatest football players in San Jose State history. His legend as a Spartan clearly has stood the test of time and lives on today. It is clearly time to have his name in our Ring of Honor for what he symbolizes as a San Jose State football player — an unparalleled playing career and a noteworthy professional career of accomplishments and service to his local community,” said Tuite.

Though he was a 1972 draft choice of the Kansas City Chiefs, Chaney elected to pursue a career as a high school special education teacher and was a successful tennis coach. His teams won 12 league championships and more than 400 dual matches in a 20-year coaching career.

This latest SJSU honor follows having his jersey #52 retired, being named to the SJS Sports Hall of Fame, and being named to the SJSU football All-Century team in 1995.

He’s also enshrined in the Salinas Valley Sports Hall of Fame and was named as the #5 greatest athlete in the Salinas area of the 20th century by the Salinas Californian.

Chaney is joining Bob Bronzan, Jack Elway, Claude Gilbert, John Ralston, Dick Vermeil, Bill Walsh and Pop Warner, best known for their coaching achievements; quarterbacks Steve DeBerg and Jeff Garcia; running back Gerald Willhite; and five-time Pro Bowl defensive back Louie Wright in the CEFCU Stadium Ring of Honor started in 1998 to celebrate the university’s history, tradition and excellence in sports.

Losses and transfers: What’s next for San Jose State men’s basketball?

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By: Ana Kieu

When San Jose State Athletics welcomed Jean Prioleau with open arms, things appeared to be calm and relaxed. After all, Prioleau had seven successful seasons as an assistant and associate head coach at the University of Colorado. The Buffaloes won 149 games, had five 20-win seasons, and appeared in the postseason each year. They played in the NCAA Tournament in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016, the NIT in 2011 and 2017, and the CBI in 2015. Sounds good, right? Wrong!

Sure, Prioleau signed a five-year contract, and said: “I’m looking forward to building a program the university and community will be proud of and to ensuring that we prepare our young men to succeed in the classroom and on the court,” but the latter turned out to be false. The Spartans went 4-26 in his first season from 2017-18 and 4-27 in his second season from 2018-19. That meant that Prioleau picked up just eight wins in two years, which has to be painful to put it lightly.

But the losses weren’t the only issues Prioleau faced in his coaching gig. Prioleau also lost eight of his players during his time at SJSU so far.

In 2019, Noah Baumann, Michael Steadman, and Brian Rodriguez-Flores announced their intents to transfer.

“I didn’t get enough opportunities,” Rodriguez-Flores told The Spear. “My teammates believed that too.”

“I love the fans,” Rodriguez-Flores added. “After all the losing we went through, the fans still showed support … These fans are really loyal.”

In 2018, Ryan Welage left for Xavier, while Jaycee Hillsman and Keith Fisher transferred to Illinois State.

In 2017, Brandon Clarke headed to Gonzaga; and let’s not forget Brandon Mitchell departed to join the SJSU football team as a wide receiver.

We can’t blame any of the now-former players for wanting to leave, but their decisions hurt the chances of the Spartans’ rebuilding process. They were set back when they were already behind. So, unless if they attract new star players to their program and/or Prioleau gets a pink slip, they need to do more than hoping and praying to get out of the basement in the Mountain West Conference.