By Derrick Ow — Reporter
“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue
and the dreams that you dare to dream, really do come true.”
Judy Garland sang that verse in The Wizard of Oz but maybe that song was reserved for San Jose State football.
Not that long ago, SJSU was considered a laughing stock in college football. Now it is the king of the Mountain West after an unprecedented season.
The Spartans were short handed in their loss to Ball State in the Arizona Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
But the 2020 version of the Spartans were on pace to finish undefeated for the first time since 1939.
Yes, that same year The Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind was released.
Lou Gehrig gave his tearful goodbye at Yankee Stadium after being diagnosed with ALS.
The 1939 Spartans went 13-0 which included a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Championship.
Their schedule did not include Boise State or Hawaii. At the time they were playing in Division II.
Opponents included University of Pacfic, UC Santa Barbara and University of San Francisco. All three schools no longer have football programs.
The 1939 squad was led by Dudley DeGroot who entered his eighth and final season as the head coach.
His staff included one of the forefathers of college football in Pop Warner. Warner would bring in his famed single and double wing offense to the Silicon Valley.
This Spartans’ defense only allowed 29 total points during the 1939 season.They had eight shutouts during that season including a 42-0 win over San Diego State.
The 2020 Spartans allowed 19 points per game on average. It is difficult to compare 1939 vs 2020 considering how different offenses were played in the 1930s.
The 1939 team ran the table to win their first of three straight CCAA titles.
Roy Zimmerman and Bob Tichenal were the only two 1939 Spartans to have NFL careers. Both won an NFL Championship in 1942 with the then Washington Redskins.
The majority of that team went and served in the military during the height of World War II.
It is still unknown how many Spartans from this year’s squad will be taking their talents to Sundays.
Wide receiver Tre Walker entered the transfer portal and Bailey Gaither could have an opportunity to make an NFL roster.
Defensive end Cade Hall has not decided on coming back for another year or not. The Mountain West defensive player of the year will definitely have a shot at being drafted.
Linebacker Kyle Harmon, tight end Derrick Deese Jr, and quarterback Nick Starkel will be coming back to try and win back to back conference titles.
While the 2020 Spartans did not finish the season undefeated they brought us joy and excitement.
In a year filled with darkness and sorrow they were the light for all of us.
Both teams deserve to be called the greatest football team in San Jose State history.
Follow Derrick on Twitter @derrickq42
