Matt’s Monday Mailbag: An Early Look Into San Jose State Football’s 2024 Slate

Matt’s Monday Mailbag: An Early Look into San Jose State Football’s 2024 Slate.

Matt’s Monday Mailbag: An early look into San Jose State football’s 2024 slate


SJSU reporter Matt Weiner weighs in on questions from Spartan Nation.


Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

A way too early look ahead

Nicolas Sarabia (@sjrugby): “Given our current roster and next years schedule, what’s the early predictions for next seasons record?”

I have SJSU going 4-8 in year one of the Niumatalolo era. There are just too many guys to replace — nine potentially on offense, including quarterback — and the Mountain West slate could be dangerous. That said, I do think the Spartans will upset a woeful Stanford at home and use that win as proof they could return to bowl games heading into the 2025 campaign. 

Keep in mind, my prediction comes to you a couple of months before the 2024 Spring Game. 

Here goes:

Sacramento State – W

Kennesaw State – W

Washington State – L

Stanford – W

Air Force – L

Colorado State – L

Fresno State – L

Boise State – L

Nevada – W

UNLV – L

Wyoming – L

Oregon State – L

Nov 19, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Navy Midshipmen head coach Ken Niumatalolo looks on during the second quarter against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Hamilton (@MattHamilton19): “What does our QB room look like presently? Is Butter excited about the new OC?”

SJSU’s quarterback room features its new commit Dorian Hale, Jay Butterfield, Tyler Voss, Walker Eget, Anthony Garcia and Alonzo Contreras.

Craig Stutzmann, the Spartans’ newly minted offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, told me Butterfield is excited to learn his “Spread-N-Shred” offense at Niumatalolo’s introductory press conference. But that was before Hale, a bounce back from Sacramento State, committed to SJSU. So I wouldn’t be surprised if Butterfield’s initial excitement has decreased. Or, maybe, the added competition lit a fire under him.

Jenni Steele (@JenniSteele): “What can you tell us about the new OL coach?”

Nothing at the moment because no official announcement has been made. But once it is, I’ll do an in-depth look on that and all future staff hirings.

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Matt’s Monday Mailbag: An Early Look into San Jose State’s 2024 Slate

Matt’s Monday Mailbag: An Early Look into San Jose State’s 2024 Schedule

Matt’s Monday Mailbag: An Early Look into San Jose State’s 2024 Slate


SJSU reporter Matt Weiner weighs in on questions from fans.


Follow @Mattweiner20 & @MWCwire

Matt Hamilton (@MattHamilton19): “What does our QB room look like presently? Is Butter excited about the new OC?”
SJSU’s quarterback room features its new commit Dorian Hale, Jay Butterfield, Trevor Voss, Walker Eget, Anthony Garcia and Alonzo Contreras.
The Spartans’ newly minted offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Craig Stutzmann told me Butterfield is excited to learn his “Spread-N-Shred” offense at Ken Niumatalolo’s introductory press conference. But that was before Hale, a bounce back from Sacramento State, committed to SJSU. So I wouldn’t be surprised if Butterfield’s initial excitement has decreased. Or, maybe, the added competition lit a fire under him.
Nov 19, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Navy Midshipmen head coach Ken Niumatalolo looks on during the second quarter against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

Nicolas Sarabia (@sjrugby): “Given our current roster and next years schedule, what’s the early predictions for next seasons record?”

I have SJSU going 4-8 in year one of the Niumatalolo era. There are just too many guys to replace — nine potentially on offense, including quarterback — and the Mountain West slate could be dangerous. That said, I do think the Spartans will upset a woeful Stanford at home and use that win as proof they could return to bowl games heading into the 2025 campaign. 
Keep in mind, my prediction comes to you months before the 2024 Spring Game. 
Here goes:
Sacramento State – W
Kennesaw State Owls – W
Washington State Cougars – L
Stanford – W
Air Force – L
Colorado State – L
Fresno State – L
Boise State – L
Nevada – W
UNLV – L
Wyoming – L
Oregon State – L
Jenni Steele (@JenniSteele): “What can you tell us about the new OL coach?”
Nothing at the moment because no official announcement has been made. But once it is, I’ll do an in-depth look on that and all future staff hirings.
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De La Salle football wins 28th sectional title in a row; to play in state championship game

De La Salle football extended its CIF North Coast Section championship streak to 28 seasons as Dorian Hale, Lu-Magia Hearns and Co. beat Pittsburg.

The main game of intrigue for De La Salle (Concord, California) was the first of the season.

The Spartans faced then-No. 1 St. Thomas Aqiunas (Fort Lauderdale, Florida). They put on a respectable performance, albeit in a loss.

Then, it was back to California, where De La Salle did what they have been doing for a decade longer than its players have been alive: beating NorCal teams. The Spartans won the CIF North Coast Section champion on Friday over Pittsburg (California), their 28th sectional title in a row.

The team’s winning streak against NorCal teams has been alive since 1991.

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Running back Shamar Garrett got on the board early with two touchdowns to push the Spartans to a 14-0 lead. Quarterback Dorian Hale continued his excellent play and scored a pair of touchdowns of his own. Running back James Coby continued to make big plays in timely moments and the defense once again dominated as a forced fumble led to Garrett’s touchdown and Lu-Magia Hearns had a 63-yard pick-six — which had been immediately preceded by a 61-yard touchdown reception by Hearns.

De La Salle beat Pittsburg 49-7. It scored 49 points or more in all three playoff games.

In fact, the last time the Spartans scored less than 49 points was on Sept. 20 against Buchanan (Clovis, California), in a 35-0 shutout.

These California teams can try, but De La Salle has been and still is much better than any opponent it faces in the area. The Spartans are a top-10 team in the country, entering Week 14 at No. 8 in the Super 25.

Hale has been consistent all season. Garrett and Coby have formed a formidable running back duo capable of explosive plays at any moment and any yardage — one a fourth-and-five Friday, for instance, Coby had an eight-yard gain.

The defense is among the best in the country, allowing more than 20 points only to its best two opponents, St. Thomas Aquinas and Folsom (California).

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Once again, we can expect the true test to come in the CIF State Open Division Championship, which will be in two weeks against the winner of the game Saturday between No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, California) and No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, California).

The last time De La Salle won was 2015, which was also the last time neither of those two Los Angeles-area teams were in it.

Now on a three-year losing streak in this upcoming championship game, De La Salle will look to end its only negative streak.

All season, the expectation has been that it will come down to two of these three teams.

The Spartans, outscoring its playoff opponents 167-34, made sure they will be represented in the championship game. After beating up on lesser competition and a lone blemish to a team they weren’t favored to beat in Week 1, they’ll look for one final victory in 2019.