Appearing in the 2006 New Mexico Bowl is one of the greatest highlights in the last 10 years of San Jose State football. The fact that is seen as a sign of success explains how low the bar of SJSU football has been set.

When Dick Tomey took the coaching job at San Jose State in 2005, he inherited a program in desperate need of help. For the most part, his tenure has been marked with moderate, San Jose-style success. The nine-win season of 2006 was a high point. Many see Tomey building a slow, steady winner that can compete in the WAC for years to come.

The only problem is the definition of “compete.” The Spartans show more fight than the Utah States and Idahos of the conference, but they are rarely seen as serious contenders for a conference championship. Success by association is rather easy with the dregs of the WAC, but SJSU has a ways to go before they are consistent championship material…

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