1979 San Jose State Spartans football team

Last updated

1979 San Jose State Spartans football
Conference Pacific Coast Athletic Association
Record3–8, 3 wins forfeited, 1 tie forfeited (2–3 PCAA, 2 wins forfeited)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson (1st season)
Home stadium Spartan Stadium
Seasons
  1978
1980  
1979 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L TW L T
Utah State $ 5 0 08 3 0
Long Beach State 3 2 07 4 0
Fresno State 3 2 05 6 0
Cal State Fullerton 2 3 04 7 0
San Jose State 2 3 03 8 0
Pacific (CA) 0 5 03 7 0
  • $ Conference champion
  • Records adjusted for San Jose State forfeits

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.

Contents

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

DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 8 Utah State L 48–48 (forfeit)10,782 [2] [3]
September 15at Stanford *L 29–4546,789 [4]
September 22at California * ABC L 10–1335,000 [5]
September 29at Arizona *L 18–3848,061 [6]
October 6 Cal State Fullerton Dagger-14-plain.png
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
L 23–0 (forfeit)10,900 [7] [8]
October 13at Fresno State L 35–22 (forfeit)11,789 [9]
October 20at Oregon State *L 24–14 (forfeit)11,000 [10]
October 27at Long Beach State W 53–426,428 [11]
November 10 Pacific (CA)
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
W 32–3111,700 [12]
November 16 Santa Clara *
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
W 23–14 [13]
November 24 Central Michigan *
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
L 32–3410,424 [14]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming

[15] [16]

Team players in the NFL

The following were selected in the 1980 NFL draft. [17]

PlayerPositionRoundOverallNFL team
Jewerl Thomas Running back358 Los Angeles Rams
Ed Luther Quarterback4101 San Diego Chargers

The following finished their San Jose State career in 1979, were not drafted, but played in the NFL. [18]

PlayerPositionFirst NFL team
Derrick MartinDefensive back 1987 San Francisco 49ers
Eric HurtDefensive back 1980 Dallas Cowboys
Jim WalshRunning back 1980 Seattle Seahawks

Notes

  1. The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from its founding in 1969 through 1987.

References

  1. "San Jose State must forfeit seven games" . Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  2. "Utah State ties San Jose at 48-all". The Daily Herald. September 9, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  3. "Utah State Football Guide 2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  4. "Stanford outlasts San Jose". The San Francisco Examiner. September 16, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Golden Bears relieved to escape with victory". The Sunday Oregonian. September 23, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  6. "UA defense grounds Spartan aerial show". The Arizona Daily Star. September 30, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  7. John Weyler (October 7, 1979). "Titans Lose". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. III-10. Retrieved February 10, 2017 via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  8. 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. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  9. "San Jose outlasts Fresno in thriller". Santa Cruz Sentinel. October 14, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Four-year drought ends, SJS tops a Pac-10 foe". Santa Cruz Sentinel. October 21, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  11. "San Jose State survives in 'wide-open' grid game". Santa Cruz Sentinel. October 28, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  12. "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. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  13. "San Jose wins South Bay clash". The Napa Valley Register. November 17, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
  14. "CMU puts finishing touch on undefeated season, 34–32". Detroit Free Press. November 25, 1979. p. 7F via Newspapers.com.
  15. "San Jose State 1979 Schedule" . Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  16. "San Jose State 2016 Football Media Guide" . Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  17. "1980 NFL Draft". Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  18. "San Jose St. Players/Alumni" . Retrieved December 16, 2016.