San Jose State’s big game canceled due to pandemic
San Jose State’s biggest game in decades did not happen. And it won’t happen.
Hours before kickoff Saturday, the Spartans’ wildly anticipated showdown against perennial power Boise State — a battle of unbeatens in the Mountain West — was canceled due to positive COVID-19 cases and contact tracing within the Boise State program.
The game was declared a no contest, and there are no plans to reschedule.
It was only the beginning of a very bad day for coach Brent Brennan and the Spartans, a day that threatens their unexpectedly successful season.
While the team was in the air, traveling home from Boise, Santa Clara County health officials, in response to a spike in coronavirus cases, announced a ban on contact sports in the county through Dec. 21.
That means the Spartans’ next two games, at home against Hawaii (2- 3) and at home against first-place Nevada (5- 0) in the season finale, must be played outside Santa Clara County, not at home. Additionally, the Spartans need to find somewhere to practice this week.
The game against Hawaii next Saturday, if it is played, will be San Jose State’s first in three weeks. Saturday’s cancelation by Boise State came on the heels of the Spartans’ Nov. 21 game at Fresno State being canceled because of contract tracing in the Fresno State program.
One was a disappointment. The second was crushing.
“We arrived in Boise on Friday and learned this news Saturday morning,” San Jose State Athletics Director Marie Tuite said in a statement. “Our players and coaches were looking forward to this game with great anticipation. It is a big disappointment to everyone that we are not able to play this game.”
In a statement, Boise State Interim Athletic Director Bob Carney explained the timing that added insult to injury for San Jose State.
“Because of a delay at the lab, our results from Thursday’s tests didn’t come back until late ( Friday), which meant our staff were contact tracing until late last night,” Carney said in the statement.
“Under the circumstances, and with limited numbers within specific position groups, our coaches, administration and medical personnel met this morning and determined that it was not in the best interest of our student-athletes’ safety and well-being to play. I am disappointed for the student- athletes, coaches and fans, both at Boise State and San Jose State, and am hopeful the Broncos will be able to return to the field this next week against UNLV.”
San Jose State has never beaten Boise State, in 14 tries, but this has been a season of firsts for the Spartans. They are 4- 0 for the first time since 1955 and their chance to go 5- 0 for the first time since 1939 -they finished 13- 0 -- was going to play out on the biggest stage SJSU has seen, possibly ever.
The showdown against Boise State was to be televised by FOX, the first “overthe-air” network game for SJSU since 2006 when it appeared in a regional telecast by ABC. This was to be a national telecast, a game beamed from coast to coast, believed to be yet another “first” achieved by the 2020 Spartans.
The winner would have gained the inside track to the Mountain West championship game, which pits the two teams with the best records in conference games. The game will be played at the home of the team with the best record. But that won’t be San Jose State, even if the Spartans never lose.
T he Mountain West championship game is scheduled for Dec. 19, two days before the ban on contact sports can be lifted.