Five questions with San Jose State beat writer Jimmy Durkin
AUBURN -- Each week we'll chat with a beat writer who covers Auburn's opponent to help get a better understanding leading up to the next game.
This week we hear from Jimmy Durkin of the San Jose Mercury News to get some insight into the San Jose State Spartans. You can follow Jimmy on Twitter @Jimmy_Durkin.
1) How much is known about Blake Jurich's ability and what has he said about the biggest start of his career?
Not a ton yet. His history is as a running quarterback and he was utilized fairly well early in 2012 in that role. He had a particularly good game against Stanford when they lost only 20-17 and he complemented David Fales' passing pretty well. His completion percentage from the opener, 22 of 25, came as a big surprise because he's been about a 50 percent passer during scrimmages. But they worked out a good game plan to create opportunities for high percentage passes.
He's said the usual stuff about Auburn that you'd expect, especially for a fifth-year senior. "They're big and fast, but we're just going to go at it like any other team. Nothing changes." He admitted to having a few nerves early in his starting debut, and I'd imagine that will happen again. He entered a game as a redshirt freshman in the second half of a close one against UCLA in 2011, so he has a little big-stadium experience, but nothing quite like what he'll see Saturday.
2) Tyler Winston had an enormous opener, what can Auburn fans expect from him and the rest of the Spartans receivers?
Expect the ball to go to Winston early and often with a lot of horizontal passes to the flats. He's caught 10 passes in three straight games going back to last year and they like to get the ball in his hands quickly and let him try to find space after the catch. If the Spartans do get into the red zone, he'll likely be the target. Other than him, Hansell Wilson and slot receiver Tyler Ervin are speed guys they may try to go deep with and senior Jabari Carr should make his season debut after missing the opener with a groin injury.
3) How much does Jarrod Lawson being out hurt SJSU this week?
It hurts, but probably not that much in this particular game. Lawson is a very tough runner, but at 5-foot-8, 193 pounds, that may not have worked as well against a team such as Auburn. The player who will get the most reps in his absence, Brandon Monroe, is probably built to match up a little better physically. He's 6-1 and 221 pounds. They may even give true freshman Limihai Hifo some work these weeks and he's another big back at 5-11, 225. The silver lining is knowing that Lawson will be healthy after this game and ready to go for Minnesota in two weeks.
4) As one of the biggest underdogs of the weekend, what was the mood like around the program this week?
They're mainly just excited to experience the game. They have to stop short of calling it a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience, because they'll be back next year. But they're looking forward to playing in an intense environment -- there will be more fans in the stadium Saturday than will come to all of their five home games combined this year, most likely -- and to see how they stack up against some of the best players.
5) What will the $1.5 million payoff SJSU will receive for this game mean to that program?
It should go a long way toward helping San Jose State meet the rising costs that will come to schools once cost of attendance goes through. In a conference that doesn't have a major TV contract (SJSU will get about $1.3 million this year from the Mountain West's TV deal), games like this help a ton, especially since they'll collect another $1.6 million for next year's game.
These used to be fairly regular for the Spartans. In 2010, they opened with three straight at Alabama, at Wisconsin and at Utah. They've gotten themselves in better financial position to not have to do as many of these and there aren't any other so-called paycheck games on the future slate right now, so the money from this one should probably be counted on to boost the bank account for the next few years.