By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Spear Reporter // Photo via Christian Vieyra
Hello and welcome to Matt’s Monday Mailbag™ your go-to destination for all pressing SJSU football matters.
Enough chit-chatting. Let’s get into it.
SJSU Spartans Football Talk: @SpartansFBTalk: “Why doesn’t SJSU play at Nevada this season? The one year the Wolfpack start 0-5 we don’t play them. LOL The last time the Spartans won in Reno was 1847, I think.”
Your energy is better spent being frustrated that SJSU faced No. 15 Oregon State because the game was originally scheduled in 2013 as the back end of a home-and-home series. At the time, few expected the Beavers to become a legit PAC-12 Championship contender. A decade later, that’s certainly not the case.
Also, I don’t think SJSU’s last win in Reno came at the same time members of the Donner Party developed a palate for one another. Still too soon?
Jack Bowers: @jack_t_bowers: “Our schedule has been really hard to start, but they’ve looked worse & worse every game and even worse every half of every game. Looks like the Brennan regime has no answers, & our program is slipping back into irrelevance. Is there any reason for optimism?”
You essentially answered your own question.
Why have optimism? Because other than Fresno State, SJSU’s already faced its best opponents. Lest we forget who SJSU has lost to: the potential PAC-12 Championship matchup (No. 9 USC and No. 15 Oregon State), MAC title contender (Toledo) and Mountain West title contender (Air Force).
Giving up 400 rushing yards to Air Force was an embarrassment. But that was also coming off short rest, brutal travel circumstances which led to an inability to fully prepare for Air Force’s complex and vaunted triple-option attack. Mind you, Air Force rushes for an average of 340 yards per game. Guess who’s second? Liberty, who’s rushing for 270 yards per game.
Find hope in the fact the buzzsaw is mostly over.
Matt Hamilton: @MattHamilton19: “Wow. Air Force also blew out San Diego on Saturday. We’ve played some tough teams. In what phase of the game are we better than Boise? Pass game?”
Does Air Force hanging 49 points on SDSU last Saturday change the fact SJSU allowed 45 to the Cadets? No. Does it alleviate my initial disappointment? Yes.
As for Boise State, SJSU isn’t better than it in any phase. The Broncos have a better overall defense, rushing attack and I’d still give the Broncos the upper hand in the passing game – despite them being in the midst of a quarterback controversy (more on that below).
I’m still waiting for SJSU quarterback Chevan Cordeiro’s first true breakout game. Perhaps this is the week he finds that No. 2 wide receiver he’s been desperately seeking.
Jeffrey Carter: @JCarterSJSU83: “Do you see any changes heading into the game against Boise State? They are beatable and the Spartans need a win otherwise bowl eligibility might be gone.”
I touched on this last week, but the only practical change is making wide receiver Matthew Coleman a full-time punt returner. He went for a 75-yard house call a couple of weeks back against Cal Poly, but hasn’t attempted a return since. Other than that, how much can the Spartans really do?
SJSU offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven and defensive coordinator Derrick Odum can’t install a brand-new scheme halfway through the season. This isn’t the big leagues where SJSU can make a mid-season acquisition for a wide receiver or defensive lineman. At this point, SJSU’s best shot at a mid-season turnaround is simply finding a way to close games.
Matt Hamilton: @MattHamilton19: “Wow. Air Force also blew out San Diego on Saturday. We’ve played some tough teams. In what phase of the game are we better than Boise? Pass game?”
Seeing Air Force hang 49 points on SDSU last Saturday alleviated my disappointment in SJSU allowing 45 to the Cadets.
As for Boise State, SJSU isn’t better than it in any phase. The Broncos have a better overall defense, rushing attack and I’d still give them the upper hand in the passing game – despite being in the midst of a quarterback controversy (more on that below). I’m still waiting for quarterback Chevan Cordeiro’s first true breakout game. Perhaps this is the week he finds that No. 2 wide receiver he’s been desperately seeking.
The Truth: @ElonforU “Do you think [Jay] Butterfield should get a chance to play?”
Not unless Cordeiro is hurt or the game’s already been decided like when he came in against Oregon State and Cal Poly.
Sean O’Carroll: @Clonmelsfinest “How do the Spartans rank in the Mountain West on football budget and NIL money?”
Amongst the bottom in both, which is why it’s so important to turn the season around. Losing only further extenuates the lack of funding and resources.
Jack Bowers: @jack_t_bowers: “It’s a non-football question, but I’ve been wondering this… our new SAC building is great and all, but it leaves the whole side of the stadium look void of fans & this side is shown on TV. Any idea whether they plan to allow fans on the grass, or if they’ll add stands there?
Not this year, the reason is because the grass is too fragile for people to be on this year. The goal is for the grass to be ready by next year. As for adding seats on that side, SJSU isn’t looking to add anything because well, where would you put the stands? Information comes via an SJSU Athletics spokesperson.
Fake Matt Mumme: @FakeCoachMumme: “Biggest surprise team in MWC this year?
My positive surprise: Fresno State.
The Bulldogs are 5-0, granted it’s come against a relatively light schedule. Still, sophomore quarterback Mikey Keene has shown legit potential. In his first career start for the Bulldogs, he led a game-winning drive at Purdue and has played solid since filling in for Jake Haener, last year’s Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year. Moreover, the defense has allowed 19 points the last three weeks. As surprises go, I’d equate the Bulldogs to finding an extra dollar in your jeans while folding laundry.
My negative surprise: Boise State
On the theme of laundry, it’s like the frustration of accidentally leaving a pen in your jeans, throwing them in the laundry only to later find ink blots everywhere.
Originally picked to win the Mountain West, Boise State is below .500 and smack-dab in the middle of a quarterback controversy. Broncos original starting quarterback, Taylen Green who’s the reigning Mountain West Freshman of the Year, was replaced by Maddux Madsen during their loss to Memphis.
Should SJSU football beat Boise State, the Broncos would be propelled into a state of utter disarray.