By Niles Hall (@n23hall) – Content Editor | SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo looks on practice on March 14. (Photo by Max Garcia (@maxgarci09) – Spear Photographer)
The roots of San Jose State’s Week 5 matchup with the University of Hawaii extend beyond the football field. For several Spartans, the Mountain West rivalry is also a homecoming.
SJSU has six coaches who have played for and/or coached at Hawaii and six players who are from or played in Hawaii, creating deep ties between the two programs.
“All of us who are alumni of the University of Hawaii were excited for him (Hawaii head coach Timmy Chang) and his success, just not this Saturday,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo jokingly said. “I’ll always cheer for the Rainbow Warriors except this Saturday.”
The lineage between the two programs starts with head coach Dick Tomey, who helped rebuild both programs, leaving a lasting legacy on Hawaii football.
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Coach Tomey; he changed Hawaii football and put Hawaii football on the map for the D1 level,” Niumatalolo said. “Aloha Stadium has 50,000 seats, and when he got there, I don’t know if the stadium was always filled, but by the time he left, Aloha Stadium was always rocking. It was filled.”
Tomey coached the Spartans from 2005 through the 2009 season, taking over an SJSU team that had endured 11 losing seasons in 12 years before his arrival.
In his second season, he led SJSU to a 9-4 winning record.
“Obviously, coming here, he left some of that legacy with the people that I talked to,” Niumatalolo said. “He was well beloved on the islands for the short time he was here. San Jose people loved him … Coach Tomey was a transformational coach.”
The Spartans currently lead the all-time series 24-22-1, with the first matchup dating back to 1936. SJSU has won its last five games against Hawaii.
Niumatalolo is a key factor in the renewed Hawaiian bloodline in San Jose. He was the starting quarterback for the Rainbow Warriors from 1986-1989 and helped lead the team to its first postseason bowl appearance in the 1989 Aloha Bowl against Michigan State.
The connection extends through SJSU’s team and coaching staff, starting with Niumatalolo’s former Hawaii teammate, SJSU cornerback and defensive pass game coordinator Brian Norwood.
“You know, there’s so much UH alumni. Brian Norwood’s another guy my dad was able to coach along with Coach Kenny, and then our two staffs have all these guys that play together,” Hawaii head coach Timmy Chang said at Mountain West media day this past July.
Chang’s father, Levi Chang, played a significant role in inspiring youth as an educator and basketball and football coach at Radford High School. He also worked as a chain crew member and played clock official for University of Hawaii games.
“Levi Chang has had as big an impact on me as anyone in coaching. He was our junior varsity coach; we won our public school championship with him being our coach. Coach Norwood and I were on that team,” Niumatalolo said. “I just loved the way he coached. He was a passionate coach; he coached hard, but he was scary too, and I love that about him.”
SJSU offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann also played wide receiver for the Rainbow Warriors and was teammates with Chang from 2000-2001. Before his coaching career, Chang became known as one of the most celebrated quarterbacks in Hawaii history.
“Hawaii football means everything to me; without that, I don’t know what I would be doing right now,” Stutzmann said. “I love it (football); it’s a passion, it’s a lifestyle, and I love being around the players and Hawaii, whether it was my Papa Blue Raider coaches, my St. Louis coaches, or going into my college years. Everything I am and everything that I know about the game is attributed to that.”
The two former teammates continue to coach similar offensive schemes to the ones they played in. The Hawaiian lineage for the Stutzmanns doesn’t stop at Craig Stutzmann. His brother Billy Ray Stutzmann is SJSU’s wide receiver coach and also played receiver for Hawaii from 2010-2013.
The University of Hawaii also gave both Stutzmann brothers their first collegiate coaching opportunities as graduate assistants.
Along with the coaching staff, SJSU’s roster has deep Hawaiian roots, with six players who are Native Hawaiians or have played on the islands.
SJSU junior tight end Kamaehu Kopa-Kaawalauole is an example that Hawaiian football inspires youth.
“I remember when I was a little kid, I was always watching Hawaii football. It was always my dream to play in that stadium,” Kopa-Kaawalauole said. “It means a lot to me and sets the example of what Hawaii football can be.”
SJSU senior quarterback Luke Weaver was a backup during his one-year stint with the Rainbow Warriors but took advantage of his opportunities. Weaver came off the bench and threw a 22-yard game-winning touchdown in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl.
“I think Hawaii helped me a lot as a player, but even more as a person, being far away from home in a new environment, but also just the testing of college football being my first time in Division 1,” Weaver said. “I also learned a lot as a player from Coach Chang and even a lot from Micah just sitting behind him.”
The Spartans (2-2, 0-0 MW) enter the Dick Tomey Legacy game well-rested and motivated, coming off their bye week and their worst loss of the season, a 26-10 defeat to Fresno State.
Weaver’s performance in his return to Hawaii will be a key factor after his four-interception performance versus the Bulldogs.
The Rainbow Warriors allow 221 passing yards and 178 rushing yards per game, allowing SJSU to get back on track.
Senior running back Jabari Bates has averaged 103 rushing yards per game and will look to keep that momentum going.
The Rainbow Warriors (1-3, 0-2 MW) will go into Saturday’s game in need of a win in Mountain West Conference play.
The Spartans will take on the Rainbow Warriors at 9 p.m. Saturday at Clarence T.C. Ching Complex in a matchup that will be a homecoming for many.
“Just appreciating the legacy of Dick Tomey and what it means to play for that trophy, it’s humongous,” Hawaii sophomore quarterback Micah Alejado said at Mountain West media day. “Especially when you have Hawaii and San Jose State with that rivalry and all of those connections you have between the two programs.”
