Do you know the way to San Jose? Well, as a Cisco Systems certified network engineer…well I have the training to be one, but instead I make fun of Jay Cutler and Patrick Kane for a living. And post pictures of Erin Andrews and Jenn Brown, and talk about those pictures too. Anyways, the road of life is strange and impossible to figure out, but here we are talking about San Jose and the San Jose State Spartans football program.
SPARTANS, WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSION!!!!
As a Michigan State grad school alum (Spartans), Illinois grad (fellow sufferer of a Ron Turner Reign of Terror) and huge tech nerd I have a soft spot for the San Jose State Spartans who are coming off an 11 win season, their most successful since 1940. Can they duplicate that success this year? Uhm, no. However, they’ll certainly be fun to watch.
San Jose State reasons to get EXCITED! ALL CAPS!: I have QB David Fales in my 2014 NFL Mock Draft. He could one of the greatest signal callers in school history, and should put up video game numbers this year. His running mate, WR Noel Grigsby, is the best wideout in school history, bar none. The passing game itself is especially strong all around, and as they play in a very weak conference, they’ll feast on it. Schedule is overall easy, even though it’s tougher than last year. SJSU returns 7 starters to a offense that was 29th nationally in scoring, 6th in passing. Defense was especially stout against the run, and great overall. San Jose State won 11 games and finished the season ranked #16 in the final poll. A lot of talent from that team returns. SPARTANS, TONIGHT WE DINE IN HELL!
San Jose State reasons to get worried :( They just moved up to a tougher conference, so they’ll inevitably take a step back this year. SJSU is also going through regime change. Mike MacIntyre left for Colorado and the new coach Ron Caragher was a back-up to Troy Aikman at UCLA. What does that mean? It’s always tough to predict the uncertainty relating to a new man in charge. The defense will endure a lot of turnover at key positions, and maybe fall down a peg.
The OL will probably not be as good either; as they lose a couple main of their main stalwarts.
San Jose State Key games: With Stanford, it’s a tougher than usual conference slate. The Minnesota and Utah State games are in September, and that will mean a lot for setting the 2013 tempo. San Jose won’t go anywhere near 11-2, 5-1 again.
San Jose State bottom line: 7-5ish with an appearance in a fourth or fifth tier bowl. Luckily, you’ll have plenty of exciting San Jose Sharks hockey to watch by then.
Key & Peele East/West College Bowl Roster:
For the 2013 College Football rankings 1-77
#76 Kansas Jayhawks
#70 Minnesota Golden Gophers
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net. (“Quasi-endorsed” by Philadelphia Eagles Coach Chip Kelly) He’s also an author who also contributes regularly to MSN, Fox Sports , Chicago Now, Walter Football.com and Yardbarker
Banks has appeared on the History Channel, as well as Clear Channel, ESPN and CBS radio all over the world. The NFL and NBA expert does a weekly spot for 95.7 The Fan. President Barack Obama follows him on Twitter (@PaulMBanks), like him on Facebook