San Jose faces Boise State this week
San Jose – Dick Tomey is a voting member in the Top 25 coaches’ poll.
As such, the San Jose State football coach is able to vote for his team if he wishes. Tomey hasn’t done so yet. So what if the Spartans beat Boise State this weekend?
“That’s a different story,” Tomey said. “Speak to me then.”
Tomey has a lot of respect for the Broncos, 9-0 and ranked 14th in the BCS and AP polls.
“(First-year) Coach (Chris) Peterson took over the job and is doing even better (that last year),” Tomey said. “Their defense is playing better and offensively they’re just a machine.”
Boise State still has Jared Zabransky at quarterback and Ian Johnson is one the most explosive backs in the league. But are the Broncos underrated at No. 14?
“When you’re in our conference, you have to earn your stripes more than a team in the Big Ten or Pac-10,” Tomey said. “They (rankings) are justified. We don’t play as tough a schedule as SEC teams.
“But, in light of what has happened, Boise State’s wins over Oregon State and Hawaii are taking on more significance.”
When asked where he voted the Broncos in the most recent poll, Tomey answered, “Ninth.”
Still, Tomey feels SJSU can compete with Boise State. The Spartans (6-2) are bowl eligible after their win at New Mexico State.
“We’re off to a good start,” Tomey said. “We’re not finished yet.”
Nevertheless, he knows the challenges his defense faces. In the midst of a dizzying three-week stretch, the Spartans survived the onslaught by prolific New Mexico State quarterback Chase Holbrook. With Zabransky and then Colt Brennan in the next two weeks, this will tell just how good the SJSU defense is.
“Check with us in a few weeks,” Tomey said. “We’re playing against some outfits that put up some numbers. That’s fun because we can play, too.”
“It’s real exciting,” tight end Jeff Clark said of facing Boise State. “To be the best you have to beat one of the best. It’s real exciting to play a team of their caliber. They’re a good team. We want to show we’re a good team.”
One streak ended last Saturday at Las Cruces, N.M., when the Spartans halted a 15-game losing streak by defeating the Aggies. Now SJSU is hoping to continue one – its seven-game home winning streak.
“The flight home was the first time since my freshman year that we actually had fun,” linebacker Demetrius Jones said. “We were joking, laughing. The atmosphere was good.
“It was a relief to get that monkey off our backs. Everyone was telling us we hadn’t won a road game in so long. It was really important to not only get a road win but it makes us feel we can be more competitive.
“They (Broncos) play the game like it’s supposed to be played. They play hard and tackle well. We still have things to prove. We want to start this Saturday.”
