1979 San Jose State Spartans football team
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 |
1979 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 (Capacity: 18,155) |
1979 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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
Date | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 8 | Utah State | L 48–48 (forfeit loss) | 10,782[2] | ||
September 15 | at Stanford* | L 29–45 | 46,789 | ||
September 22 | at California* | ABC | L 10–13 | ||
September 29 | at Arizona* | L 18–38 | 48,061[3] | ||
October 6 | Cal State Fullerton |
| L 23–0 (forfeit loss) | 10,900[4][5] | |
October 13 | at Fresno State[note 2] | L 35–22 (forfeit loss) | 11,789[6] | ||
October 20 | at Oregon State* | L 24–14 (forfeit loss) | 11,000[7] | ||
October 27 | at Long Beach State[note 3] | W 53–42 | 6,428[8] | ||
November 10 | Pacific (CA) |
| W 32–31 | 11,700[9] | |
November 16 | Santa Clara* |
| W 23–14 | ||
November 24 | Central Michigan* |
| L 32–34 | ||
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Team players in the NFL
The following were selected in the 1980 NFL Draft.[12]
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.[13]
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
- The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from its founding in 1969 through 1987.
- The official name of Fresno State is California State University, Fresno. However, it is still commonly known as Fresno State. See: Fresno State
- The official name of Long Beach State has been California State University, Long Beach since 1972. However, it is still commonly known as Long Beach State. See: Long Beach State
References
- "San Jose State must forfeit seven games". Retrieved December 21, 2016.
- "Utah State Football Guide 2016" (PDF). Retrieved February 14, 2007.
- "Arizona Football 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). University of Arizona. 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
- 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.
- "Fresno State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 8, 2016.
- "Oregon State Football 2016" (PDF). Retrieved February 14, 2007.
- 49er; 1980 Football Media Guide (pamphlet). Long Beach, California: CSULB Athletic Department. 1980.
- "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 State 1979 Schedule". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- "San Jose State 2016 Football Media Guide". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
- "1980 NFL Draft". Retrieved December 7, 2016.
- "San Jose St. Players/Alumni". Retrieved December 16, 2016.