They were a doormat. The chafe of the conference and perfect fodder for typical critics (and some perhaps still rationalizing so).
Soon after a crescendo defeat of the Nevada Wolf Pack last Friday, San Jose State achieved formal recognition from the Amway Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Top 25, where both ranked the Spartans 25th in the nation.
2012 was the last time the Spartans were on anyone’s radar ranking 21st with an 11-2 record under then-head coach Mike McIntyre.
It’s all been far and few in between.
What expects to be different under the Brent Brennan era is longevity, especially after earning a three-year contract extension after the 2019 season.