SAN JOSE STATE FOOTBALL
Spartans Look to WAC Games

For the last three seasons, San Jose State has entered the second half of the season contending either for the Western Athletic Conference championship or a postseason bowl invitation. The Spartans hope 2009 is no different.

Dick Tomey's squad took on one of the nation's most ambitious nonconference schedules to start the season. San Jose State was the first school to open its schedule with a pair of Bowl Championship Series winners from last season. The Spartans ventured to USC, the 2009 Rose Bowl winner, then hosted Sugar Bowl champion Utah the following Saturday in Spartan Stadium. As Tomey said during the preseason, facing top-20-ranked teams like the Trojans and Utes and following up with rival Stanford and a very rugged Cal Poly squad will expose one's strengths and weaknesses heading into conference competition.

With 52 returning letterwinners and 28 seniors, the Spartans have a veteran club that should be able to withstand the rigors of WAC play. San Jose State had the luxury of playing all its games in California the first half of the season. In the final six games, the team's travel itinerary will reflect life in the Western Athletic Conference: out-of-time-zone travel. There are stops at nationally ranked conference champion Boise State, a much-improved Utah State and — the team's longest trip of 2009 — to Louisiana Tech to close out the regular season.

As San Jose State looks to WAC play, the Spartans know they have playmakers in wide receivers Kevin Jurovich and Marquis Avery. Jurovich, a senior, is an established pass catcher with a keen eye for the ball and shifty moves in the open field. Avery is a lanky, powerful receiver whose athleticism is a definite asset against the cagiest of defensive backs.

Throughout the years, Coach Tomey has relied on a plethora of running backs for an effective ground game. He feels the Spartans have capable backs, with no two really alike this season. Seniors Patrick Perry and Chris Reese enjoy running inside before looking to make the big move once in the secondary. Sophomore Brandon Rutley is a versatile back with breakaway abilities. Newcomer Lamon Muldrow wants to wear down the opposition with repeated carries behind a maturing offensive line.

By the time conference play begins with the October 10 Homecoming game against Idaho, Tomey hopes to have a No. 1 quarterback. Kyle Reed, a senior who starred at Oakland's McClymonds High, and junior Jordan La Secla battled for the top spot all spring and into preseason camp, and shared the job at the start of the season. Tomey is confident either one can get the Spartans on the scoreboard with frequency.

Ball control and time of possession by the offense will be welcomed by a defense that has lots of experience up front and eager newcomers in the secondary. Defensive ends Carl Ihenacho and Justin Cole, two second-team all-conference players a year ago, are expected to lead the charge. Seniors Adonis Davis, a tackle, and linebacker Travis Jones figure prominently in the defense's success, too.

The new secondary is anchored by the return of first-team All-WAC defender Duke Ihenacho to safety and the versatile Devin Newsome, who started every game last season and can play corner or safety.

Coach Tomey said during the preseason that the 2009 Spartans can be his best San Jose State team if it takes the early lessons and builds on them. Come December, he'll know whether he was right.