• Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts, upgrade to remove ads and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your BigSkyFans.com experience today!

2013 Week 1: Sac State @ San Jose State

S

SJDONM

New member
Hello. I come in peace. I am a Spartan but because my daughter and sis-in-law are Sac State grads, my 2nd
most favorite team is the Sac St Hornets. I always pull for you to win every game. This year I would like to see the Hornets win them all except one. If the Spartans defeat you no one in the family will mention it. If the Hornets win, I will never hear the end of it. I want to see a good, well played game by both teams with no injuries to either one. If you would like to learn a little more about the Spartans go here: http://cfn.scout.com/2/1291518.html/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. Hope that works. If not you can go to cfn.scout.com/ and find the preview. I hope for a decent crowd but a Thursday night game may not bring out the fans. Good luck for the entire season.
 
Welcome DonM to our boards. It will be interesting game for sure, mostly because with all the talent you have returning, how will they respond to Coach Carragher and his staff. We will be amped for sure, I just don't hope that our guys are looking ahead to ASU the next week, but you guys are looking ahead to The Furd ;-)
 
Welcome DonM. SHA touched on a lot of what I think most Hornet fans are concerned with. How will a loaded SJSU team respond to the coaching change? This isn’t the moribund SJSU program of old so I think the Hornets are going to have a tough time at Spartan Stadium. We have plenty of question marks on the defense and special teams so it’s hard to predict how we will matchup with SJSU.

I am also disappointed that this is a Thursday night game. I think plenty of Hornet fans would have made the trek to SJ to see this one had it been a Saturday game. We do have a booster bus that will be taking fans to and from the game so there will be some fans going, just probably not the amount that would go to a weekend to tilt. Any idea if this game will be on TV?
 
I'm pissed the SJSU and ASU games are on Thursdays. I was planning on attending both... Anyways, at least the ASU game will be televised on the Pac-12 network...
 
Welcome fellow Spartan! Though I'm a Sac State grad, and the Hornets are first in my heart, this game is going to be hard to watch. I grew up in Spartan Stadium (started attending games at two months old), and have bled blue and gold for many years (still to this day). I plan on attending, but rooting against my beloved Spartans may prove to be too hard.

If Fales has half the year he had last year, we are in for a long game. I know the Spartans have been knocked for what some deemed a soft schedule, but make no mistake, this team is dangerous on all ends. In all honesty, If we are going to upset an FBS school this year, my money is on the Sun Devils. That will be a family game for me too, as I have a few cousins and an uncle who are ASU alumni, but I will relish a Hornet romping in the desert, and yet another Pac 12 victim! But I wont hold my breath. I'll be the downer as I unfortunately see our Pac-killing streak coming to an end.
 
Hello again. To answer some of your questions: I understand that Fales is working out in the weigh t room everyday to build more body mass and strengthen his throwing arm. David is a very dedicated guy and is an outstanding student with a strong work ethic. His teammates seem to really enjoy being around him and have picked up on his strong desire to always improve everyday. We expect him to much better this coming season with his long ball and he may run even run a little more. He is looking bigger and stronger.
A number of our veteran players have stated that while they loved coach Mac, they have so far learned much more under our new coach "C". We think that the current coaching staff may be the best we've had in many years. We just hope they stick around for a while. No Spartan believes that there will be a team let down. If anything the players are all very positive and attitudes are sky high for the coming season. We have some a team loaded with speed at most positions. Especially at the WR, DB, RB and both sides of the lines. I really don't see any down sides or questions about this team. The general feeling is that the Spartans will be improved over last years team. We know that the "O" will score on anyone and the "D" will be strength for us. Contrary to what you may be hearing, we have very good depth all around.
Please visit the Spartan message board with your outlooks for the coming season. And good luck to both the Hornets and the Spartans.
 
Week 1: Sac State @ San Jose State

The Hornets will open the season on the road against fellow CSU brethren from San Jose. The Spartans will be looking to follow up on their tremendous season last year as new head coach Ron Caragher will be at the helm trying to make that happen. This will be the first time that the Hornets and Spartans square off.

Offense
SJSU returns almost all of their key play makers from a season ago and I doubt there will be much, if any change in philosophy on this side of the ball. Top FBS QB David Fales returns and he will have both of his top WRs from a year ago with Noel Grigsby and Jabari Carr to target. The Spartan OL features four returning starters and will pave the way as the Spartans search for a new RB to lead the ground attack.
Returning leading players from 2012:
  • • QB: (#10) David Fales: 327 of 451 for 4193 yds, 33 TDs, 9 INTs
    • WR: (#23) Noel Grigsby: 82 recs for 1307 yds, 9 TDs
    • WR: (#1) Jabari Carr: 62 recs for 639 yds, 4 TDs
The Hornets will have to find a way to disrupt the passing game. I expect Parker to blitz early and often to try and ease the pressure on the secondary. The Hornets return a lot of experience in the secondary but will face a tough early test this week. This will be an early indication as to how the Hornet defense stacks up against a prolific offensive attack.

Defense
SJSU will be implementing a 3-4 this season and they could have some issues as they make the adjustment. The Spartans will return a lot of starters including LBs Keith Smith and Vince Buhagiar who lead the team in tackles. The Spartan secondary is led by CB Bene Benwikere who is a ball hawk and nabbed an astounding 7 picks a season ago. Up front SJSU returns two DL in Travis Raciti and Anthony Larceval who know how to get to opposing QBs. The SJSU defense will be tough once it settles.
Returning leading players from 2012:
  • • LB: (#31) Keith Smith: 97 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, 1 sacks, 1 INT
    • OLB: (#36) Vince Buhagiar: 89 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 3 sacks
    • CB: (#21) Bene Benwikere: 67 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 7 INTs
    • DT: (#3) Travis Raciti: 52 tackles, 13 TFLs, 8.5 sacks
    • DT: (#97) Anthony Larceval: 43 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks
The Hornet offense will need to sustain a consistent attack to keep the Spartan defense on its heels. Given the change in philosophy that SJSU is undergoing, I think the Hornets will be able to move the ball early. Safron will need to be flawless if the Hornet offense is to keep pace with SJSU. Safron will have plenty of players to get the ball to so he will need to make the right decisions and take what the Spartan defense gives him.

Special Teams
SJSU returns both of their kickers and will have the edge here. Their top kick returners graduated and they will be looking for someone to step up. Aside from that I am not sure what to expect from their special teams units.
Returning leading players from 2012:
  • • K: (#12) Austin Lopez: 17/17 FGs (long of 45 yds), 54/57 PATs
    • P: (#10) Harrison Waid: 52 punts for 2198 yds (42.3 ypp), 16 I20
The Hornets are breaking in a new special teams coach so it’s anyone’s guess as to what to expect. So long as the Hornet special teams take care of business and avoids making catastrophic blunders I will consider it a success.

Intangibles
The Spartans didn’t turn the ball over much last season and that will most likely continue into this season with the key returners. The Hornets had plenty of struggles in the turnover department last season which will need to be cleaned up if the Hornets are to make some noise this season. Also on the horizon for the Spartans is their last OOC rivalry game with Stanford for the foreseeable future. SJSU could overlook the Hornets and find themselves in some trouble if they are not focused.

I usually pick against the Hornets in the FBS money games, and that won’t change here. SJSU has plenty of talent returning and should win this if they don’t overlook this determined Hornet team. I would love to be wrong with this pick and hopefully there will be a chance that I can sneak away and make the trek to Spartan Stadium to catch the game.

Go Hornets!

Game Info
 
SJSU press release

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/sjsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/release/release_20130824aaa.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
d4217a10-a462-483c-b508-fff754032452.jpg


Hornetsports Release: http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/fball/2013-14/releases/20130825vr1dvl
 
I hope the team is traveling today to have a walkthrough and get their legs underneath rhem and not tomorrow just before the game.

Any insights on this?
 
SJSU Press Conference

http://www.sjsuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082613aac.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 
Kadeezy said:
SJSU Press Conference

http://www.sjsuspartans.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/082613aac.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Click to expand...
I’ve always wondered why Sperbeck can’t do this. Sure there are the interviews on Facebook with Jason Ross, but it would be nice to see something that looks more like an actual presser and not just a couple dudes engaging in water cooler talk.

I didn’t know we have a WR coach. Anyone know if that is true? SJSU coach said a former SJSU graduate assistant took the WR coaching job here.
 
Kadeezy said:
I hope the team is traveling today to have a walkthrough and get their legs underneath rhem and not tomorrow just before the game.

Any insights on this?
Click to expand...
My guess is they bus over in the early AM, gotta maximize the payout ya know.
 
SDHornet said:
Kadeezy said:
I hope the team is traveling today to have a walkthrough and get their legs underneath rhem and not tomorrow just before the game.

Any insights on this?
Click to expand...
My guess is they bus over in the early AM, gotta maximize the payout ya know.
Click to expand...

Yeah... that always irks me thought, but they probably save a ton of money that way. BTW, they were talking about our Hornets on KNBR yesterday. Tom Tolbert was giving props to us for the Colorado and Oregon State wins!
 
Kadeezy said:
SDHornet said:
Kadeezy said:
I hope the team is traveling today to have a walkthrough and get their legs underneath rhem and not tomorrow just before the game.

Any insights on this?
Click to expand...
My guess is they bus over in the early AM, gotta maximize the payout ya know.
Click to expand...

Yeah... that always irks me thought, but they probably save a ton of money that way. BTW, they were talking about our Hornets on KNBR yesterday. Tom Tolbert was giving props to us for the Colorado and Oregon State wins!
Click to expand...

No "S", Tolbert was finally talking about something I could listen to and I missed it. Horn it!

Coach Caragher seems like a classy guy, just like our coach. Go Hornets!
 
Prediction: I think the Hornets hang with them for a half and the Spartans have to dig into their playbook deeper than they would like and are able to pull away in the second half.

Hornets 20
Spartans 34

Spread is 18 so SJSU doesn't cover.
 
SDHornet said:
Prediction: I think the Hornets hang with them for a half and the Spartans have to dig into their playbook deeper than they would like and are able to pull away in the second half.

Hornets 20
Spartans 34

Spread is 18 so SJSU doesn't cover.
Click to expand...


I am feeling the same way about this one...hoping we get a few breaks and can capitalize on them. Not sure how much change SJSU made to their system after the coaching change, but if they did a revamp then it will play to our favor, if they left it alone then not so much.
 
OldGreen67 said:
SDHornet said:
Prediction: I think the Hornets hang with them for a half and the Spartans have to dig into their playbook deeper than they would like and are able to pull away in the second half.

Hornets 20
Spartans 34

Spread is 18 so SJSU doesn't cover.
Click to expand...


I am feeling the same way about this one...hoping we get a few breaks and can capitalize on them. Not sure how much change SJSU made to their system after the coaching change, but if they did a revamp then it will play to our favor, if they left it alone then not so much.
Click to expand...
Defense is switching from a 4-3 to a 3-4, and the SJSU board is reporting that their 2nd leading tackler last season (Buhagair) is injured and lost for the year. I think we can have some advantage with Graham and Coleman coming out of the backfield as well as some matchup problems with Hikutini at TE. I'll be very disappointed if our offense sputters tonight.

Sac Bee Game Preview: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/08/29/5690239/sac-state-to-open-season-against.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top