The 1979 San Jose State Spartans football team represented San Jose State University during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association.[note 1] The team was led by first year head coach Jack Elway. They played home games at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California.
1979 San Jose State Spartans football | |
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Conference | Pacific Coast Athletic Association |
Record | 3–8, 3 wins forfeited, 1 tie forfeited (2–3 PCAA, 2 wins forfeited) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Dennis Erickson (1st season) |
Home stadium | Spartan Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | T | W | L | T | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Utah State $ | 5 | – | 0 | – | 0 | 8 | – | 3 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Long Beach State | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 7 | – | 4 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fresno State | 3 | – | 2 | – | 0 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cal State Fullerton | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 4 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
San Jose State | 2 | – | 3 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 8 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pacific (CA) | 0 | – | 5 | – | 0 | 3 | – | 7 | – | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Spartans finished the 1979 season as co-champions of the PCAA, with a record of six wins, four losses and one tie (6–4–1, 4–0–1 PCAA). However, in December 1979 the PCAA ruled that the Spartans had used an ineligible player in seven of their games. As a result, the team's co-championship of the conference was vacated, and the record was adjusted to 3–8 (2–3 PCAA).[1]
Schedule
editDate | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
September 8 | Utah State | L 48–48 (forfeit) | 10,782 | [2][3] | ||
September 15 | at Stanford* | L 29–45 | 46,789 | [4] | ||
September 22 | at California* | ABC | L 10–13 | 35,000 | [5] | |
September 29 | at Arizona* | L 18–38 | 48,061 | [6] | ||
October 6 | Cal State Fullerton |
| L 23–0 (forfeit) | 10,900 | [7][8] | |
October 13 | at Fresno State | L 35–22 (forfeit) | 11,789 | [9] | ||
October 20 | at Oregon State* | L 24–14 (forfeit) | 11,000 | [10] | ||
October 27 | at Long Beach State | W 53–42 | 6,428 | [11] | ||
November 10 | Pacific (CA) |
| W 32–31 | 11,700 | [12] | |
November 16 | Santa Clara* |
| W 23–14 | [13] | ||
November 24 | Central Michigan* |
| L 32–34 | 10,424 | [14] | |
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Team players in the NFL
editThe following were selected in the 1980 NFL draft.[17]
Player | Position | Round | Overall | NFL team |
Jewerl Thomas | Running back | 3 | 58 | Los Angeles Rams |
Ed Luther | Quarterback | 4 | 101 | San Diego Chargers |
The following finished their San Jose State career in 1979, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[18]
Player | Position | First NFL team |
Derrick Martin | Defensive back | 1987 San Francisco 49ers |
Eric Hurt | Defensive back | 1980 Dallas Cowboys |
Jim Walsh | Running back | 1980 Seattle Seahawks |
Notes
edit- ^ The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from its founding in 1969 through 1987.
References
edit- ^ "San Jose State must forfeit seven games". Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- ^ "Utah State ties San Jose at 48-all". The Daily Herald. September 9, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Utah State Football Guide 2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
- ^ "Stanford outlasts San Jose". The San Francisco Examiner. September 16, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Golden Bears relieved to escape with victory". The Sunday Oregonian. September 23, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "UA defense grounds Spartan aerial show". The Arizona Daily Star. September 30, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ John Weyler (October 7, 1979). "Titans Lose". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. III-10. Retrieved February 10, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ John Weyler (October 7, 1979). "Fullerton Bounced Out of First". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. III-1. Retrieved February 10, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "San Jose outlasts Fresno in thriller". Santa Cruz Sentinel. October 14, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Four-year drought ends, SJS tops a Pac-10 foe". Santa Cruz Sentinel. October 21, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "San Jose State survives in 'wide-open' grid game". Santa Cruz Sentinel. October 28, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Luther Rallies San Jose State". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. November 11, 1979. p. III-16. Retrieved February 14, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "San Jose wins South Bay clash". The Napa Valley Register. November 17, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "CMU puts finishing touch on undefeated season, 34–32". Detroit Free Press. November 25, 1979. p. 7F – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "San Jose State 1979 Schedule". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- ^ "San Jose State 2016 Football Media Guide". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- ^ "1980 NFL Draft". Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
- ^ "San Jose St. Players/Alumni". Retrieved December 16, 2016.