There isn’t much storybook left to the San Jose State football program, The team that came out of nowhere last season to win the Mountain West championship has a losing record, has seen its president and athletic director leave amid scandal. and is playing without its star quarterback for the foreseeable future.
At least there is James Jones. Now THAT is storybook stuff.
Jones, 37, a San Jose native who spent parts of his youth homeless, was inducted into the Ring of Honor on Friday night, joining a group of 15 former Spartans that include Bill Walsh, Pop Warner, Dick Vermeil, Jack Elway, Jeff Garcia and Steve DeBerg.
It wasn’t merely Jones’ four-year career as an SJSU wide receiver (2003-06), or his eight years in the NFL, mostly with the Green Bay Packers, that put James in the company of immortals. It also is the work he does in the community, particularly with kids.
“No one is more deserving than you,” Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said in a video tribute during the ceremony after the first quarter of Friday night’s Homecoming game on Spartan Field. “No one talks as much about their alma mater as you do. I’m so thankful to have played with you for so many years and to call you a close friend.”
Two of his former receiving corps teammates, still with the Packers, also offered video tributes.
“I’m so happy for you and so proud of you,” said Randall Cobb. “You are always going to be a Hall of Famer in my book, not only as a player, but as a person, the man that you are..”
“You are a legend,” Davante Adams said.
On the field, the Spartans fell just short of sending the guest of honor home with more bragging rights. SJSU (3-4) took 24th-ranked San Diego State to two overtimes before succumbing 19-13 in front of a crowd of 17,177.
Neither team scored a touchdown in regulation, but SDSU (6-0) found the endzone twice in overtime on passes from Lucas Johnson to Jesse Mathews (of 14 and 24 yards).
SJSU answered the first one, tying the game at 13 on Tyler Nevens’ 1-yard run. But the Spartans’ second possession ended with Nick Nash, playing in place of injured QB Nick Starkel for the third consecutive game, throwing an interception to set up SDSU’s winning touchdown..
“That one hurts,” San Jose State coach Brent Brennan said. “It’s especially hard because of how well we played. There’s so many good things in that game. If you look at our defensive effort; incredible, just incredible. They kept answering the call.”
San Diego State entered the game as the nation’s 10th-best running team, averaging 244.4 yards per game. It managed just 70 yards, in 36 carries, against San Jose State.
Still the Aztecs left town 6-0 for the second time in 46 years, and the Spartans went home winless against ranked teams since the 62-52 win over Derek Carr and Fresno State in 2013. SJSU has lost eight straight against ranked teams and 29 of the last 30.
Penalties were a factor in defeat once again. The Spartans were flagged 12 times for 101 yards.
They have a short week to prepare for their next game — Thursday night, against a UNLV team that is 0-5.
Another SJSU alum, professional cheerleader “Krazy George” Henderson was in attendance and initiated The Wave during one of the breaks. Friday marked the 40th anniversary of when Henderson introduced The Wave to the world during an Oakland A’s playoff game Oct. 15, 1981.
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