1986 San Jose State Spartans football team

The 1986 San Jose State Spartans football team represented San Jose State University during the 1986 NCAA Division I-A football season as a member of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association.[note 1] The team was led by head coach Claude Gilbert, in his third year as head coach at San Jose State. They played home games at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California. The Spartans finished the 1986 season as champions of the PCAA, with a record of ten wins and two losses (10–2, 7–0 PCAA).

1986 San Jose State Spartans football
California Bowl champion PCAA champion
California Bowl, W 37–7 vs. Miami (OH)
Conference	Pacific Coast Athletic Association
1986 record	10–2 (7–0 PCAA)
Head coach	Claude Gilbert (3rd season)
Home stadium	Spartan Stadium (Capacity: 31,218)

1986 Pacific Coast Athletic Association football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
San Jose State $	7	–	0	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
Fresno State	6	–	1	–	0			9	–	2	–	0
Long Beach State	4	–	3	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
UNLV	3	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Utah State	3	–	4	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Pacific (CA)	2	–	5	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Cal State Fullerton	2	–	5	–	0			3	–	9	–	0
New Mexico State	1	–	6	–	0			1	–	10	–	0
$ – Conference champion

As a result of the PCAA Championship, the Spartans qualified for a postseason bowl game against the Mid-American Conference (MAC) champion Miami Redskins. The 1986 California Bowl was played in Fresno, California on December 13, with San Jose State victorious, 37–7.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 6	Oregon*	Spartan Stadium San Jose, California		L 14–21	23,150
September 13	at Washington State*	Martin Stadium Pullman, Washington		W 20–13	15,000[1]
September 20	at Stanford*	Stanford Stadium Stanford, California (rivalry)		L 10–28
September 27	at California*	California Memorial Stadium Berkeley, California		W 35–14
October 4	No. 19 Fresno State[note 2]	Spartan Stadium San Jose, California (rivalry)		W 45–41	28,158[2]
October 11	Utah State	Spartan Stadium San Jose, California		W 38–28	11,028[3][4]
October 18	at UNLV	Sam Boyd Silver Bowl Whitney, Nevada		W 23–20	17,522[5]
October 25	at Pacific (CA)	Pacific Memorial Stadium[note 3] Stockton, California		W 44–15	22,355[6]
November 1	at New Mexico State	Aggie Memorial Stadium Las Cruces, New Mexico		W 45–7
November 8	at Cal State Fullerton	Santa Ana Stadium Santa Ana, California		W 48–24	3,754[7]
November 15	Long Beach State[note 4]	Spartan Stadium San Jose, California		W 38–14	27,786[8][9]
December 13	vs. Miami (OH)*	Bulldog Stadium Fresno, California (California Bowl)	ESPN	W 37–7
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from no poll released prior to the game

[10][11]

Team players in the NFL

No San Jose State Spartans were selected in the 1987 NFL Draft.[12]

The following finished their college career in 1986, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[13]

Player	Position	First NFL team
David Diaz-Infante	Guard - Center	1987 San Diego Chargers
Kenny Nash	Wide receiver	1987 Kansas City Chiefs
Kevin Clark	Defensive back	1987 Denver Broncos
Sam Kennedy	Linebacker	1988 San Francisco 49ers

Notes

1. The Big West Conference was known as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association from its founding in 1969 through 1987.
2. The official name of Fresno State has been California State University, Fresno since 1972. However, it is still commonly known as Fresno State.
3. Amos Alonzo Stagg Memorial Stadium was known as Pacific Memorial Stadium from its opening in 1950 through 1987.
4. The official name of Long Beach State has been California State University, Long Beach since 1972. However, it is still commonly known as Long Beach State.

References

1. "2016 Washington State Media Guide" (PDF). WSUCougars.com. Washington State Cougars Athletics. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
2. "Fresno State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved December 8, 2016.
3. "Utah State Football Guide 2016" (PDF). Retrieved February 14, 2007.
4. "Southland". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 12, 1986. p. III-19. Retrieved April 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "2016 UNLV Rebel Football Light the Fuse". Retrieved February 14, 2007.
6. "PCAA Summaries". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. October 26, 1986. p. III-20. Retrieved April 2, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Jim McCurdie (November 9, 1986). "Titans Bring Problems Home and Lose, 48-24". The Los Angeles Times (Orange County ed.). Los Angeles, California. p. III-13. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
8. California State University Long Beach; 1987 Football Media Guide (pamphlet). Long Beach, California: CSULB Athletic Department. 1987.
9. Jim McCurdie (November 9, 1986). "Fullerton Ends Frustrating Season on Bright Note, Beats Pacific, 39-38". The Los Angeles Times (Orange County ed.). Los Angeles, California. p. III-6. Retrieved February 12, 2017 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "San Jose State 1986 Schedule". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
11. "San Jose State 2016 Football Media Guide". Retrieved December 16, 2016.
12. "1987 NFL Draft". Retrieved December 7, 2016.
13. "San Jose St. Players/Alumni". Retrieved December 16, 2016.