San Jose State plays for shot at MWC title game
San Jose State is 50 for the first time since it went 130 in 1939. If the Spartans beat Nevada in Las Vegas on Friday night, they’ll make their firstever appearance in the Mountain West Conference championship game.
In nonpandemic times, the Spartans would get to enjoy their success with family, friends and fans much more easily than they can these days.
During Brent Brennan’s weekly Zoom news conference Monday, a reporter asked the San Jose State head coach if he has a bittersweet feeling about this shortened season or can he simply enjoy the moments for what they are.
“I think you have to enjoy the moments,” Brennan said. “There’s not a lot of joy going around right now. … It’s just been a really crazy eight months, right?
“And so, in kind of the eye of that hurricane, why would you not find something to feel
good about? I just don’t see any benefit for us … to worry about what could have been.”
Brennan was speaking from his hotel room in Las Vegas, where the Spartans have relocated for the week after they beat Hawaii 3524 in Honolulu on Saturday. Both the Hawaii game and the game against the Wolf Pack were scheduled for CEFCU Stadium, but Santa Clara County’s restrictions intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus forced the Spartans to move those games.
The Spartans are sharing practice facilities at Sam Boyd Stadium with the New Mexico football team, which moved to Vegas last month because of virus restrictions in New Mexico.
Meanwhile, San Jose State’s players are taking finals this week.
“Every day, we’re just grinding through it, working through the process, taking one step at a time,” Brennan said.
Friday night’s game features the MWC’s top two quarterbacks in terms of passer rating, San Jose State senior Nick Starkel ( 163.6) and Nevada sophomore Carson Strong ( 161.6).
Strong’s favorite target, junior Romeo Doubs, averages 20.1 yards per reception, leads the conference in receiving yards per game ( 126.4) and has nine touchdown catches.
Last year in Reno, Doubs had five receptions for 146 yards and a score as Nevada edged San Jose State 4138.
Brandon Talton kicked a 40yard field goal on the final play of the game to lift the Wolf Pack.
The Spartans surely would prefer that Friday night’s game take place in San Jose, but Brennan is fine with the neutralsite matchup.
“Shoot, everyone’s missing something,” he said. “Everyone’s got some sort of hardship they’re facing right now, so let’s focus on the positive and let’s focus on the opportunity at hand.”
Another avenue: The Spartans could lose Friday night and still reach the MWC championship game. If Nevada prevails and then Boise State loses at Wyoming on
Saturday, the Wolf Pack would be 71 in conference play, the Spartans 51 and the Broncos 41.
Based on the MWC’s threeteam tiebreaking procedures for this season, the title game would pit San Jose State against Boise State. Yes, you can imagine Nevada fans would not be thrilled.
Briefly: Nevada’s Strong, a Will C. WoodVacaville alum, was named the MWC Offensive Player of the Week after he completed 23 of 39 passes for 354 yards and five touchdowns in a 3726 win over Fresno State on Saturday. … San Jose State linebacker Kyle Harmon leads the conference in tackles per game ( 12.6). The junior from Antioch has racked up doubledigit tackles in each game this season. … Former 49ers offensive lineman Randy Cross will handle the color commentary on Friday’s CBS Sports Network telecast.