Posted by SJSdude on 9/7/2007, 6:40 am The first four games on the schedule were all on the road, which says plenty about where San Jose State is as a football program. Or where the Spartans were. After a 9-4 season in 2006, there were whispers -- some nationally -- that San Jose State might surprise during its nonconference slate this year, maybe going undefeated, certainly not losing more than one game. Losing by 42 points last week at Arizona State quieted all of that talk. "The price of poker went up on Saturday night in Tempe," said SJSU coach Dick Tomey, who was an assistant at Kansas from 1967-70. And there won't be any discounts this Saturday in Manhattan, either. Facing a Kansas State team likely still smarting from a near-upset of Auburn, the Wildcats would like nothing more than to take their frustrations out on the dinged-up Spartans, who surrendered 520 yards and 33 first downs and only mustered 115 yards and seven first downs of their own. Plus, it's the home opener. "We have to (get better), because Kansas State, in my mind, is a better team than Arizona State," Tomey said. While that's still subject to debate, the results in Tempe are conclusive: Losing running back Yonus Davis and defensive tackle Adonis Davis early against the Sun Devils hurt. Help, at least at running back, is on the way in the form of Jacob French and Dominique Hunsucker. Incidentally, just days ago, French was a wide receiver and Hunsucker was the starting safety. As for replacing Davis, whom Tomey labeled San Jose State's "best player," that's going to be a project. Tomey didn't provide many clues this week during his WAC teleconference call, other than allowing that the Spartans scrimmaged Sunday, one day after the 45-3 rout. That's unorthodox, but maybe that's just what San Jose State needs Saturday. "My biggest thing is we have to compete better," Tomey said. "We didn't play as hard as I would have liked. The last week, I didn't think our upperclassmen reflected their experience in the way they played. Our task is to take a good look at the tape, which we've done, and take major strides to be a better team. "If we can do that and give ourselves a chance to win by creating some mistakes and giving them some problems... but we'll have to make major improvements to do that." Jeffrey Martin covers Kansas State sports. Reach him at 316-269-6763 or jmartin@wichitaeagle.com.
Link: http://www.kansas.com/248/story/167964.html
198.246.227.2
San Jose has a long road to recovery
BY JEFFREY MARTIN
The Wichita Eagle
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