By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Spear Reporter | Photo via Christian Vieyra of The Spear
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.
The Truth: @ElonforU: “Will the up coming Nov-11th game against Fresno be our first sell out? Who will win?”
No, it will not be SJSU’s first sell out. That honor was achieved in the home-opener against Oregon State. And it’s quite presumptuous to think SJSU will sell out the upcoming Fresno State game. After all, the OSU sellout was the Spartans’ first in two decades. Plus, SJSU hasn’t come close to selling out CEFCU since the OSU game and Beaver fans traveled far better than FSU’s will.
Those who do come out will watch SJSU lose to Fresno State (7-1, 3-1 MW).
Sure, the Spartans (4-5, 3-2 MW) have been a different beast during their three-game win streak. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs have a run defense capable of cooling down SJSU running backs Kairee Robinson and Quali Conley. What’s more, FSU’s shown a penchant for closing games. Last Saturday, FSU quarterback Mikey Keene threw three touchdowns in the third quarter as the Bulldogs overcame a 17-7 half time deficit to beat UNLV 31-24.
Here’s a prior mailbag if you’ve forgotten about SJSU’s second half struggles this season.
Fake Matt Mumme: @FakeCoachMumme: “How many MW teams are gonna make a bowl this year? And will SJSU be among them?”
There will be six Mountain West teams going bowling this Holiday season. And yes, SJSU will be one of them. But unlike guaranteed bowl-attendees in FSU, Air Force (8-0, 5-0 MW) and UNLV (6-2, 3-1 MW), SJSU needs to win two of its next three games to clinch. And definitely unlike those three teams, SJSU started 1-5.
As I said before, SJSU will fall to the Bulldogs, but it’ll beat SDSU (Nov. 18, home) and UNLV (Nov. 25, road) to close the year. SDSU is a lowly 3-5 and put up a goose egg against the even lowlier Nevada. UNLV, meanwhile, is an offensive juggernaut until it plays legitimate competition. Hence scoring just seven second half points en route to putting up a 24-spot against Fresno State.
And it’d be a Hall of Fame choke job if Wyoming doesn’t clinch. The Cowboys (5-3) needs to win just one of their next four games while only one of those four (UNLV) is above .500.
Boise State (4-4) should sneak into a bowl game as it needs just two wins against either Fresno State, New Mexico, Utah State or Air Force. If they can’t it won’t be a complete choke job, but one akin to water going down the wrong pipe.
Ricky Delgado: @RickyDe70535587 “I gotta be honest Matt, I do not like these Fresno guys for as long as I can remember. My favorite SJSU game ever was when I was 8 and we beat them in 2013. This is the biggest game of the year for multiple reasons (Valley Trophy, MWC Champion aspirations, Bowl Eligibility.)(1/2)
Ricky Delgado @RickyDe70535587: “Of course the players will be more then motivated to play for the reasons mentioned above, but do you think the players and coaching staff have that same sense of rivalry towards Fresno that a lot of the fans Do? We haven’t beat them since 2019 and it sucks.
Coaching staff wise, I’d say no one outside of SJSU football head coach Brent Brennan. That’s only because Brennan attended Battle for the Valley’s as a kid. Few things are as strong as a kid’s hate for a rival sports team.
Growing up a Lakers fan, I still despise the Celtics’ Kevin Garnett. I was actively rooting against him in “Uncut Gems.”
As players go, I’d be surprised if anyone actively despises Fresno State the way a fan does. Similar to coaches, it’s a rivalry they’re adopted into. But players could have their own individual reasons for despising the Bulldogs. For example, Conley never got an offer from FSU despite performing well in its backyard at Fresno’s Central High School.
Ricky Delgado: @RickyDe70535587: “Hey Matt, what’s up with Halvorsen? He transferred over to take over kick off and field goal duties but he hasn’t been doing kickoffs and is statistically worse then Schive was last year. Do you know anything about a possible injury or something?”
Ricky brought up a very underrated storyline.
Kyler Halvorsen transferred to SJSU from Hawaii last year to replace Taren Schive, who went 12-for-18 (66.7%) on field goals. The move hasn’t paid off. Halvorsen is 6-for-10 (60%) and missed a chip shot last weekend against UH.
This hasn’t been a talking point because Halvorsen hasn’t missed any in crunch time. But what happens when the game is on the line? Imagine if the Spartans can’t go from 1-5 to bowl eligible because of a missed kick?
Charles Myer: @CharlesMyer_UT: “Are you aware of any interest in our players from the NFL? USFL/XFL? Have scouts been in attendance to watch or maybe even spoke with some of our guys?”
I’ve seen scouts from the 49ers, Texans, Browns and Panthers. Not sure about specific conversations. But it’s unlikely anyone will get drafted to the NFL. Haven’t seen anyone from the USFL or XFL either.
Johnny b good: @Johnnybgoodd_1: “Much better play from the OL I’d give them a 7 out of 10. They got to give Cordero at least 3-4 seconds to throw deep. Like the crossing routes to the TE keeps the LB honest on the run. Defense is solid. Just need to stop the QB on the scramble run. Rogers is great at FB.”
Love the smorgasbord of analysis.
Similar to last week’s submission from @Johnnybgoodd_1, I want to focus on the defense.
Last Saturday, the Spartans shut out the Rainbow Warriors at home (UH’s first time since the Clinton Administration) and allowed less than 200 yards. Sure, UH is no Air Force and definitely no USC, but they’re still led by the Mountain West’s leading passer, Brayden Schager.
Which is why I’m excited for the Fresno State clash. Will SJSU’s defense dismantle the Bulldogs offense? Or will Keene give a subtle Caleb Williams rendition?
SJSU Spartans Football Talk: @SpartansFBTalk “Is Justin Lockhart a junior eligibility wise?”
Yep. This’ll be his redshirt medical season. Curious to see how he and Nick Nash will mesh next season.