SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Fitz Hill caught a glimpse of SEC media day on television last month and got another harsh reminder of how different things are where he coaches at San Jose State.
Alabama coach Mike Shula was talking about the difficulties of being limited to 76 scholarships because of probation. San Jose State, by choice, also has nine fewer scholarships this year than the NCAA maximum.
But it's eight more scholarships than last year and a sign of progress to Hill. By next year, the underfunded, little-supported Spartans will be able to offer the maximum 85 scholarships but Hill believes this year's boost will help his team contend in the WAC.
``I feel really good about our depth this year. With more depth, we'll have more experience at every position,'' Hill said. ``We're more athletic than we've ever been across the board. Depth wise in the past if we lost one or two guys we felt we might get exploited. Right now I feel very good about the direction we're headed.''
Despite Hill's optimism, he has had little success since leaving his job as an assistant at Arkansas in the football-crazed SEC to take over a program that gets little attention in Silicon Valley. San Jose State went 12-24 in his first three seasons and is picked to finish near the bottom of the WAC again this season.
The Spartans averaged only 15,080 fans per home game last year -- just 80 more than a new NCAA requirement -- and Grambling State was the only visitor to play before a crowd of more than 15,000. If the Spartans don't average at least 15,000 fans per game twice in a 10-year period starting this season, they could face sanctions up to being kicked out of Division I-A.
The lack of support and success is one reason the school's Academic Senate -- a group of faculty, students, staff and administrators that advises the president -- voted earlier this year to recommend dropping out of Division I-A with its costly requirements.
But the Spartans got a reprieve when new President Paul Yu stepped down for health reasons after less than a month. Yu had put together a task force that was considering dropping football or moving down a division. Now that decision will be left to a new president, who won't take office for a while still.
Hill warns against dropping football, arguing that it's a big part of the educational process at a university.
``When Doug Flutie threw the Hail Mary to beat Miami, donations and enrollment both went up at BC,'' he said. ``Football can have a big effect on a school. Take football away from the University of Miami and it's just a little private school in Coral Gables. You won't see people walking around all over the country with Miami shirts.''
Hill has stressed to the players not to worry about any off-the-field distractions, and the players remain confident despite being picked to finish last in the WAC preseason media poll.
``I see a big difference this year,'' tailback Lance Martin said. ``I see more togetherness. We've got a lot of fire. The guys are coming together as one.''
Martin is one of just two returning starters on offense. Dale Rogers and Adam Tafralis are fighting for the chance to replace departed quarterback Scott Rislov. Whoever wins that battle won't have much experience at receiver or the offensive line to help him.
The defense will operate under a new system this year after Hill hired former Tulsa head coach Keith Burns as his new coordinator. The Spartans allowed more than 30 points in seven of 11 games last season, including 77 to Boise State and 65 to Florida.
Safety Josh Powell returns after missing last season with an injury and will add needed depth at defensive back in the new 4-2-5 alignment.
Copyright 2007 - MOP Squad Sports
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