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
ConferencePacific Coast Athletic Association
Record3–8, 3 wins forfeited, 1 tie forfeited (2–3 PCAA, 2 wins forfeited)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDennis Erickson (1st season)
Home stadiumSpartan Stadium
(capacity: 18,155)
1979 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
Utah State $ 5 –0 –08 –3 –0
Long Beach State 3 –2 –07 –4 –0
Fresno State 3 –2 –05 –6 –0
Cal State Fullerton 2 –3 –04 –7 –0
San Jose State 2 –3 –03 –8 –0
Pacific (CA) 0 –5 –03 –7 –0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • Records adjusted for San Jose State forfeits

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
DateOpponentSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
September 8Utah State
L 48–48 (forfeit)10,782[2]
September 15at Stanford*
L 29–4546,789
September 22at California*
ABCL 10–13
September 29at Arizona*
L 18–3848,061[3]
October 6Cal State Fullertondagger
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
L 23–0 (forfeit)10,900[4][5]
October 13at Fresno State
L 35–22 (forfeit)11,789[6]
October 20at Oregon State*
L 24–14 (forfeit)11,000[7]
October 27at Long Beach State
W 53–426,428[8]
November 10Pacific (CA)
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
W 32–3111,700[9]
November 16Santa Clara*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
W 23–14
November 24Central Michigan*
  • Spartan Stadium
  • San Jose, CA
L 32–3410,424[10]
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming

[11][12]

Team players in the NFL

The following were selected in the 1980 NFL Draft.[13]

PlayerPositionRoundOverallNFL team
Jewerl ThomasRunning back358Los Angeles Rams
Ed LutherQuarterback4101San Diego Chargers

The following finished their San Jose State career in 1979, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[14]

PlayerPositionFirst NFL team
Derrick MartinDefensive back1987 San Francisco 49ers
Eric HurtDefensive back1980 Dallas Cowboys
Jim WalshRunning back1980 Seattle Seahawks

Notes
  1. The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from its founding in 1969 through 1987.

References
  1. "San Jose State must forfeit seven games". Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  2. "Utah State Football Guide 2016" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  3. "Arizona Football 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). University of Arizona. 2016. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  4. John Weyler (October 7, 1979). "Titans Lose". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. p. III-10. Retrieved February 10, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.open access
  5. 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.open access
  6. "Fresno State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 8, 2016.
  7. "Oregon State Football 2016" (PDF). Retrieved February 14, 2007.
  8. 49er; 1980 Football Media Guide (pamphlet). Long Beach, California: CSULB Athletic Department. 1980.
  9. "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.open access
  10. "CMU puts finishing touch on undefeated season, 34-32". Detroit Free Press. November 25, 1979. p. 7F – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "San Jose State 1979 Schedule". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  12. "San Jose State 2016 Football Media Guide". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  13. "1980 NFL Draft". Archived from the original on December 22, 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  14. "San Jose St. Players/Alumni". Retrieved December 16, 2016.


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