SJSU seeks first win against Hawaii since 2000 season
Matthew Kimel
Issue date: 9/25/08 Section: Sports
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The Spartans (2-2) and the Warriors (1-2) have met 31 times, with the series tied at 15-15-1.
Hawaii will be putting numerous streaks on the line in this week's game.
The team has won 15 consecutive Western Athletic Conference regular season games, nine straight games at home and has not lost back-to-back games since 2005.
The Warriors have, however, lost 18 of 29 WAC openers since 1979. Last year, Hawaii, led by Colt Brennan and coach June Jones' passing assault, beat SJSU at Spartan Stadium in a rainy, overtime game.
Even though Brennan and Jones are no longer around, SJSU head coach Dick Tomey said Hawaii's team is just as strong as it was the last seven times SJSU has faced them.
"I don't think you should be deceived by their losses or the width of their margin," said Tomey, who has never beaten the Warriors as coach of the Spartans. Hawaii's losses came in its opener at No. 5 Florida, by 46 points, and at Oregon State, by 38 points. Hawaii's sole win was its lone home game versus Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) Weber State on Sept. 6. Last week,
Hawaii had a bye.
"They have everything going for them," Tomey said. "The thing we have going for us is our players and our belief that we can be a good team. And our determination to try to make that happen."
The Spartans have lost five games in a row on the road, most recently last week
at Stanford. Tomey said a trip to Hawaii is extremely difficult for a team to make. It's actually harder, though, on the team in its game
a week after the trip, he added.
Last week, Spartan quarterback Kyle Reed, who leads all quarterbacks in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) for highest completion percentage, was sacked eight times by the Cardinal defense.
Tomey said SJSU's pass protection broke down. "We were really disappointed we let the game go at the end," he said.
Tomey said there was a big experience gap between the Spartans and the Cardinal.
"We've got all true sophomores," Tomey said when asked if any adjustments will be made to the offensive line this week against Hawaii. "We don't really have many options."
Tomey said that Stanford's defensive line is the same one that played, and beat, Southern California last year.
"Stanford's defensive front is five-year seniors," he said.
Looking back at the non-conference games, Tomey said he is disappointed that the Spartans aren't 4-0, because they had a chance to be.
"We didn't finish the game," senior tight end Brian Elledge said about the Spartans losses at Nebraska and Stanford. "We've just got to finish."
Asked what the Spartans' chances are of making a bowl game this year, with several other competitive teams in the WAC, Tomey said, "We are really just trying to win this week. I think you can't look at the big picture; you have to take a narrow view and win this week. If you can do that, you worry
about next week."
Tomey added, "Our first goal is to win the conference
championship."
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