San Jose State offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann – back when he was a high school coach – watched USC defensive coordinator Gary Patterson every weekend when he was head coach at TCU.
“I’d see that guy on the sideline worked up in a sweat and signaling and getting the defensive guys ready,” Stutzmann said. “And the product that he puts out there defensively is second to none. He’s a legend in my mind and, really, in the profession.”
On Saturday, Stutzmann will be coaching against the man he once studied on television in what will be a game of extreme opposites.
A fully loaded USC football team will take the field for what is essentially a warmup for the rest of the season. San Jose State, a Mountain West Conference team, will be playing in what is easily the toughest game on its schedule.
“It’s a tall task, and our kids recognize that. We recognize that as coaches,” Spartans coach Ken Niumatalolo told reporters. “We’re not going to go in fearful. We just go shoot our shot.”
Both teams may share some first-game jitters for the game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which is one of eight Week 0 games in the FBS.
The Trojans have five true freshmen listed as starters, and even more inexperienced players are likely to be launched into college football this weekend.
“The first time you run out there, you’re gonna have a lot of emotions,” USC defensive lineman Alex VanSumeren said. “But ball is still ball. It’s 53 and a third, it’s 120 yards of field. It doesn’t change. It doesn’t matter who’s watching. It’s the same exact thing as practice. That’s what I’m gonna tell these guys.”
Los Angeles is under an extreme heat warning that will see temperatures nearing 100 degrees with severe humidity, adding to what will already be an intense environment for the Spartans.
Niumatalolo has said that he plans to rotate players – especially at skill positions – frequently to help them deal with the heat. USC has the depth to do that at most of its positions, as well.
Although San Jose State is a step down in competition from what the Trojans will see this season in the Big Ten, Niumatalolo himself is no stranger to big-time college teams.
He’s the United States Naval Academy’s all-time winningest football coach with 109 victories and reached 10 bowl games over 15 seasons. He led the Midshipmen to upset wins over ranked Notre Dame, Houston and UCF teams in his tenure.
When San Jose State has the ball
Luke Weaver won a three-way quarterback competition to be named the starter for this season. He’s a Hawai’i transfer who mostly was a backup quarterback last season but still went 63 for 105 for 628 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions in five games.
“He’s Cool Hand Luke,” Stutzmann said. “He doesn’t get too high, he doesn’t get too low. He makes really good decisions with the football. When you’re against the Trojans and you’re in the Coliseum, you gotta make good decisions.”
San Jose State’s two strongest running backs are St. John Bosco product Jabari Bates and West Virginia transfer Tyler Jacklish.
They’ll have to get through a Trojans defensive line that has an average weight of 275 pounds between starting defensive ends Luke Waffle and Kameryn Crawford and defensive tackles VanSumeren and Jide Abasiri.
This game will also mark the debut of Patterson’s first defense at USC and answer many questions about how it may perform this season.
When USC has the ball
Quarterback Jayden Maiava may have an all-new receiving corps if Tanook Hines, who is a game-time decision, is unable to play Saturday. Sophomore Corey Simms and true freshmen Trent Mosley and Kayden Dixon-Wyatt will be the first to take the field if Hines is ruled out.
The official depth chart stated that either Waymond Jordan or King Miller will start at running back, indicating that the two will be used interchangeably based on the defensive scheme that’s presented.
Redshirt freshman Riley Wormley, in addition to true freshmen Shahn Alston and Deshonne Redeaux, are also listed on the depth chart and realistically can all get touches if USC starts well against San Jose State.
The Spartans’ defense lost four veteran linebackers to graduation last season but returns Ethan Powell, who was the only defensive player to start in six or more games last season. USC tight end Carson Tabaracci’s brother, Blake, also plays linebacker for San Jose State.
No. 14 USC (0-0) vs. San Jose State (0-0)
When: Noon Saturday
Where: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
TV/Radio: NBC (Ch. 4)/710 AM