GAME #1
Southern Utah at San Jose State
Date: Saturday, August 28
Kickoff: 8:00 p.m. MT
Television: CBS Sports Network
Radio: KSUB 590 AM
Live Stats: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=353439
Game Notes: Southern Utah (PDF) | San Jose State (PDF)
CEDAR CITY, Utah – Finishing. When Southern Utah finally takes the field Saturday night at San Jose State, finishing and closing out games is what will be on the minds of all the Thunderbird coaches and players.
Though painful to recall, the T-Birds know what it is like to have victory within reach, only to see it slip away in the final moments. It was somewhat of an unfortunate theme last season, played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a shortened six-game schedule, SUU dropped five contests, all by one possession. Each setback was by eight points or less. What is perhaps even more frustrating for the Thunderbirds is the fact that they were in a position to claim victory in almost every contest. That is why defensive coordinator Robert Bala is emphasizing finishing to his players on the defensive side of the ball.
"A big emphasis for us is finishing. Finishing plays, finishing drives and finishing games. With the confidence these guys have built from year one to year two, and all the teaching points they have been getting through camp, it now comes down to being able to do it in a high-pressure situation. I think with our foundation, we're on the right path to being able to finish because they're learning how to execute their assignments. I have definitely seen that out here at camp. Our guys are finishing because they are reacting instead of thinking, which allows them to play faster."
Bala and the defense are not the only ones focused on closing out games this season, though. Offensive coordinator Matt Wade has taken a similar approach with his offensive unit through camp.
"Last season we struggled as a team finishing games. As an offense, in every single one of those close losses if we had gotten one more first down or finished through the red zone, we would have never been in that situation for the most part. We want to play all four quarters, finish drives, and play with championship effort. When people turn on the film and watch us play, that is what I want them to see from our offense."
The first opportunity for Southern Utah to prove it has the ability to finish games comes in the form of a week zero, Saturday night challenge at San Jose State of the Mountain West Conference in the FBS. Though facing the Spartans is a daunting task, SUU is no stranger when it comes to taking on opponents at college football's highest level.
Before the ongoing pandemic canceled the 2020 season and forced FCS schools into a condensed, conference-only schedule last year, one would have to go all the way back to 2007 to find the last time the Thunderbirds went an entire season without facing an FBS opponent. Since that time, Southern Utah has made a regular habit of taking on college football's top dogs. The T-Birds have even been known to be a thorn in the side of FBS schools from time to time.
In 2013, Southern Utah made the trip to Mobile, Alabama where they squared off against South Alabama's Jaguars in the season opener. In a tightly-contested battle that came down to the final play of the game, the Thunderbirds nailed a 28-yard field goal to claim a 22-21 victory. Just two years earlier, the Thunderbirds made the short trip down I-15 to take on UNLV and dismantled the Rebels in convincing fashion by a score of 41-16.
The last time SUU and San Jose State met on the gridiron, it was nearly another FBS upset for the Thunderbirds. In 2010 on SJSU's home turf, Southern Utah held an 11-10 advantage with under two minutes to play in the fourth quarter. The Spartans were able to piece together a 48-yard drive and score the game-winning touchdown to secure a 16-11 win.
This time around when the Thunderbirds and Spartans do battle, SUU will look to flip the script on San Jose State and put into practice what it has been preaching all through fall camp. Finish.
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