Spartans’ task only gets tougher vs. Aztecs
San Jose State coach Brent Brennan, his struggling team in dire need of offense, still won’t say when injured starting quarterback Nick Starkel might return.
It’s his policy.
“We don’t talk about injuries here,” Brennan said. “And I’m hopeful that Starkel will be ready to go soon.”
Asked Monday if Starkel is probable, questionable, doubtful or out for Friday’s homecoming game at CEFCU Stadium against 24thranked San Diego State, Brennan smiled.
“No,” he said, “this isn’t the NFL, buddy.”
It once again looks as if the keys to the offense will belong to backup Nick Nash, a dual-threat QB who couldn’t find his rhythm during Saturday’s 34-14 loss at Colorado State.
Nash tossed touchdown passes at the end of each half, going 4 for 4 for 104 yards on those two drives. The rest of the game, which consisted of nine possessions, he went 6 of 17 for 48 yards with a pair of turnovers — an interception and a lost fumble.
San Jose State (3-3, 1-1 Mountain West) needs Nash to be more like the guy who in 2020 engineered a second-half comeback at San Diego State after replacing an injured Starkel in the first quarter.
“I think at the time we were all holding our breath a little bit just because Nick (Nash) hadn’t played much and he hadn’t played for a full game,” Brennan said.
Nash completed 16 of 25 passes for 169 yards and two TDs while also rushing for 53 yards and a gameclinching 14-yard scramble with 93 seconds in the 2817 triumph.
That performance came at the midway point of the regular season, as the Spartans swept their way through the Mountain West for an unbeaten conference title.
Halfway through the current campaign, SJSU finds itself alternating wins and losses.
“Right now we’re in a different place,” Brennan said. “Coming off a really tough loss at Colorado State, we’ve got to find that belief. And we’ve got to find that ability to finish games.”
San Diego State (5-0, 1-0) is the lone unbeaten team in the Mountain West. The résumé includes two wins over Pac-12 teams, Arizona and Utah.
The Aztecs dominate in the trenches, ranking No. 11 in rushing offense and second in the nation in rushing defense, allowing a meager 50.0 yards per game.
“They know who they are and they play to that identity well,” Brennan said. “They know how they’re built and they know who they want to be, so that’s how they play football. And so far, who can argue with the results?”
After Saturday’s loss, Brennan was asked who he angered to be dealt a schedule that included three games in four weeks in different time zones, followed by consecutive conference games on short rest.
“I don’t love the schedule, but I don’t get to make the schedule,” Brennan said. “I just gotta play it, so I’m not wasting any time complaining about the schedule because it doesn’t matter. We just have to line up and play. The next week we play on Thursday, so it doesn’t matter if we have to go to Tijuana or Mozambique or China. Like, ‘Let’s go.’
“It doesn’t matter where it is, when it is or who we’re playing. We have to get ready.”
Accounting for the Friday kickoff, players got Sunday off and returned to practice Monday morning.
On a normal week, Monday is the day off.
“You absolutely readjust,” Brennan said. “Monday is a Tuesday, Tuesday is a Wednesday, Wednesday is a Thursday, Thursday is a Friday, if you can follow that. Our guys adapted well today and right now it’s a good practice for us to be in because in a week we play on Thursday.”
And with Starkel likely to be a spectator for a third week in a row, the Spartans have access to an extra coach in preparation for San Diego State.
“I think that’s one of the things that Nick does best, is that he’s a leader,” Brennan said. “He understands the importance of the quarterback position; he understands how he fits within the structure and leadership of the team. So he’s really confident talking to obviously with Nick (Nash), but he’s talking to everybody out there during the game, during practice. He’s all over the place, talking with everybody, working with people, coaching people up, encouraging people, which is really good.
“There’s real value in his voice, and so I’m very appreciative of how he’s handled his situation.”