September 3, 2025 • 7 mins
Craig is joined by San Jose State's second-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo to get his thoughts on the Spartans' season opening loss last week and upcoming matchup with the Longhorns at DKR this Saturday.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Coach.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
One thing I've always heard other coaches say is the
biggest improvement comes from game one to game two. A.
Are you a subscriber to that philosophy? And B what
are the things that you did like out of game
one as well as the things that you do endeavor
to see improvement on for game number two.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Well, I definitely subscribe to that. I feel like, I mean,
you definitely do make a ton of improvement from game
one to game two. You know, obviously in college there's
no preseason like how you have an NFL. I think
number one, I mean, which has always been something the
teams that tried to coach is just make sure we
take care of the ball. And we lost that three
(00:42):
zero last last week, and it was surprising that we
were still in the game. I mean, normally, when you
lose a turnover battle three to zero, you mean get
blown out. So I didn't like that, but I like
the fact that our kids battled. I mean, we had
two shield goals at the end to have an opportunity
to win in uh sorry, kids, you know, I love
(01:03):
their grit and so we got we got to prove it,
you know, for us to have any kind of shot
I mean we turned the ball over three times this week,
it's going to be one hundred and zero.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Well, one thing that I did notice is that you've
had teams, not only the team last year at San
Jose State, but also in your time in Navy where
you were you had guys who got takeaways for you
and for you to be that close without a takeaway
as well as given the three I know that that
that probably registers with you and with the coaching staff
(01:33):
as well. Is there a key on being able to
garner turnovers to get takeaways from that opponent.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, last year we were pretty good at it. I
mean last year we were tired for the country and
going into the last game with you know, we were
second and interceptions, so we did a really good job
of getting them. Obviously we had too many last last year.
We had too many the first week. But you know,
we're doing our best to make sure that we take
care of the ball. And like I said, we've definitely
(02:03):
got take care of the ball this week to have
any similars of hope. But we're always working on getting turnovers.
I mean it's something that you always work on. Everybody
has it. When you go to everybody's practice around the country.
Everybody has tackling circuits and things that you try to
you know, practice in practice and hopefully they come to
fruish in the game.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
I would think that everybody across the country knows about
Jordan Pollard and he's a known commodity for you and
for him to get fifteen tackles in a season of
it looks like he picked up right where you left off.
How special a player is Jordan, Well, he's.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
A natural football players. I mean he's a football player.
He's got great instincts. He can run sideline the sideline,
he's physical, he's smart. He's been in this defense for
so long, so he knows all the intricacies. I mean,
he's well versed how the front works. He knows how
it ties in the front ties into the back end,
and all linebackers have to be able to do that.
You got to be able to tie in the front
(03:02):
seven to the back end. And he knows that seamlessly.
He knows where all the gaps are. You know who's
fitting them, you know who's got leverage on the ball,
who sitting edge. And I think it's because of his
knowledge of the defense. He's got some natural instincts and
you know, his athleticism, you know, make some of the
players who he is.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
How important is it to have a guy a veteran
like Walker you get to be able to perform for
you at the quarterback spot, having a guy who is
comfortable in that role and who really posted numbers for
you last year.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Yeah, I thought Walker came on strong last year. He
didn't start the season, you know, so I thought he
came on strong. You know, we're counting on his leadership,
you know, this year, and we're hoping you didn't. You know,
in his standards, he didn't have the greatest game in
Game one, you know, but I have every faith in
the kid that you know, I trust him. We put
(03:54):
a lot on the quarterback's plate, like every offense, I mean,
every quarterback, you know, there's a lot of their play
and sure Cosaki puts a lot on Archer's plate, and
so it's it's part of the position. And you know,
I trust the kid and him for him to play well.
I trusted him pretty well.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
I got to ask you about Danny Scudero because here's
a guy who was a newcomer and he has nine
catches for one hundred and eighty nine yards and a
touchdown for you, Uh, did you expect that kind of
production and impact from him stepping into this first game?
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Well, he's a he's a tough kid. I mean, he
works hard, you know what I mean, he's a he's
a local kid, you know, so we're really excited that
he's here. And uh, yeah, he's I mean he loves
who the kid is as a young man, and he's
this kid that works hard all the time.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Let me get your thoughts on the University of Texas.
What is it that really strikes you when you look
at the Loghartons on on your digital on your video.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Well, I watched you know, I watched all the game
live last week, and I've been to the Horseshoe. I've
played there, so I know how loud it is there
and what kind of environments there. But they have the
one and two teams playing in that environment. It's a
tough environment. I thought they played well. I mean, I
(05:10):
was a slug fest that was like a old AFC
you know playoff game, you know what I mean, where
you know the Steelers and the Ravens are battling to
the end. You know what I mean and just so,
I mean those are two teams you know you watch them.
I mean, those are two playoff teams. You know, the
(05:30):
talent wise, they're obviously got elite coaches, but you know,
play here or there. You know, you know the Longhorns
could have won. And so what I saw is what
I expected to see. A talented team to swell coached,
that was a player too away from you know, coming
away with the victory at a at a tough place
(05:50):
to play. I mean, you're playing on the road, and
so first first game, I mean we struggled in our
first game. We were at home, and you know we
didn't play Ohio State. So yeah, everything I saw is
what I expect to see. And super talented group, well coached,
and yeah, it's gonna be a tough matchup for us.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
One other thing I wanted to ask you is playing
a game like this against an opponent like this and
playing on the road, obviously you want your guys to
come out of it healthy. What it is also the
benefit you see when you play an opponent like Texas
on the road, is that something that you see can
help you when you get in a Mountain West Conference
(06:31):
play on down the road.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Yeah, because you know, the kids get to see the standard,
you know what I mean, because every kid that plays
college football wants to play at the highest level, wants to,
you know, make it to the playoffs, wants to go
to the NFL. And then when you play at you know,
a team like Texas, then you see what it is.
You see what an elite program is, You see what
(06:55):
elite players are. And so you know, obviously, you know,
everybody that plays teams like that, you're you're excited to
play them because you recognize the teams like that are
the standard and you get to measure kind of where
you're at from that standpoint. And so I mean, you're
always excited, you know what I mean, because, like again,
just of who they are and what they represent, you know,
(07:16):
and college football and the standards that they're
Coach.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
One thing I've always heard other coaches say is the
biggest improvement comes from game one to game two. A.
Are you a subscriber to that philosophy? And B what
are the things that you did like out of game
one as well as the things that you do endeavor
to see improvement on for game number two.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Well, I definitely subscribe to that. I feel like, I mean,
you definitely do make a ton of improvement from game
one to game two. You know, obviously in college there's
no preseason like how you have an NFL. I think
number one, I mean, which has always been something the
teams that tried to coach is just make sure we
take care of the ball. And we lost that three
(00:42):
zero last last week, and it was surprising that we
were still in the game. I mean, normally, when you
lose a turnover battle three to zero, you mean get
blown out. So I didn't like that, but I like
the fact that our kids battled. I mean, we had
two shield goals at the end to have an opportunity
to win in uh sorry, kids, you know, I love
(01:03):
their grit and so we got we got to prove it,
you know, for us to have any kind of shot
I mean we turned the ball over three times this week,
it's going to be one hundred and zero.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
Well, one thing that I did notice is that you've
had teams, not only the team last year at San
Jose State, but also in your time in Navy where
you were you had guys who got takeaways for you
and for you to be that close without a takeaway
as well as given the three I know that that
that probably registers with you and with the coaching staff
(01:33):
as well. Is there a key on being able to
garner turnovers to get takeaways from that opponent.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Yeah, last year we were pretty good at it. I
mean last year we were tired for the country and
going into the last game with you know, we were
second and interceptions, so we did a really good job
of getting them. Obviously we had too many last last year.
We had too many the first week. But you know,
we're doing our best to make sure that we take
care of the ball. And like I said, we've definitely
(02:03):
got take care of the ball this week to have
any similars of hope. But we're always working on getting turnovers.
I mean it's something that you always work on. Everybody
has it. When you go to everybody's practice around the country.
Everybody has tackling circuits and things that you try to
you know, practice in practice and hopefully they come to
fruish in the game.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
I would think that everybody across the country knows about
Jordan Pollard and he's a known commodity for you and
for him to get fifteen tackles in a season of
it looks like he picked up right where you left off.
How special a player is Jordan, Well, he's.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
A natural football players. I mean he's a football player.
He's got great instincts. He can run sideline the sideline,
he's physical, he's smart. He's been in this defense for
so long, so he knows all the intricacies. I mean,
he's well versed how the front works. He knows how
it ties in the front ties into the back end,
and all linebackers have to be able to do that.
You got to be able to tie in the front
(03:02):
seven to the back end. And he knows that seamlessly.
He knows where all the gaps are. You know who's
fitting them, you know who's got leverage on the ball,
who sitting edge. And I think it's because of his
knowledge of the defense. He's got some natural instincts and
you know, his athleticism, you know, make some of the
players who he is.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
How important is it to have a guy a veteran
like Walker you get to be able to perform for
you at the quarterback spot, having a guy who is
comfortable in that role and who really posted numbers for
you last year.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
Yeah, I thought Walker came on strong last year. He
didn't start the season, you know, so I thought he
came on strong. You know, we're counting on his leadership,
you know, this year, and we're hoping you didn't. You know,
in his standards, he didn't have the greatest game in
Game one, you know, but I have every faith in
the kid that you know, I trust him. We put
(03:54):
a lot on the quarterback's plate, like every offense, I mean,
every quarterback, you know, there's a lot of their play
and sure Cosaki puts a lot on Archer's plate, and
so it's it's part of the position. And you know,
I trust the kid and him for him to play well.
I trusted him pretty well.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
I got to ask you about Danny Scudero because here's
a guy who was a newcomer and he has nine
catches for one hundred and eighty nine yards and a
touchdown for you, Uh, did you expect that kind of
production and impact from him stepping into this first game?
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Well, he's a he's a tough kid. I mean, he
works hard, you know what I mean, he's a he's
a local kid, you know, so we're really excited that
he's here. And uh, yeah, he's I mean he loves
who the kid is as a young man, and he's
this kid that works hard all the time.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Let me get your thoughts on the University of Texas.
What is it that really strikes you when you look
at the Loghartons on on your digital on your video.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Well, I watched you know, I watched all the game
live last week, and I've been to the Horseshoe. I've
played there, so I know how loud it is there
and what kind of environments there. But they have the
one and two teams playing in that environment. It's a
tough environment. I thought they played well. I mean, I
(05:10):
was a slug fest that was like a old AFC
you know playoff game, you know what I mean, where
you know the Steelers and the Ravens are battling to
the end. You know what I mean and just so,
I mean those are two teams you know you watch them.
I mean, those are two playoff teams. You know, the
(05:30):
talent wise, they're obviously got elite coaches, but you know,
play here or there. You know, you know the Longhorns
could have won. And so what I saw is what
I expected to see. A talented team to swell coached,
that was a player too away from you know, coming
away with the victory at a at a tough place
(05:50):
to play. I mean, you're playing on the road, and
so first first game, I mean we struggled in our
first game. We were at home, and you know we
didn't play Ohio State. So yeah, everything I saw is
what I expect to see. And super talented group, well coached,
and yeah, it's gonna be a tough matchup for us.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
One other thing I wanted to ask you is playing
a game like this against an opponent like this and
playing on the road, obviously you want your guys to
come out of it healthy. What it is also the
benefit you see when you play an opponent like Texas
on the road, is that something that you see can
help you when you get in a Mountain West Conference
(06:31):
play on down the road.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Yeah, because you know, the kids get to see the standard,
you know what I mean, because every kid that plays
college football wants to play at the highest level, wants to,
you know, make it to the playoffs, wants to go
to the NFL. And then when you play at you know,
a team like Texas, then you see what it is.
You see what an elite program is, You see what
(06:55):
elite players are. And so you know, obviously, you know,
everybody that plays teams like that, you're you're excited to
play them because you recognize the teams like that are
the standard and you get to measure kind of where
you're at from that standpoint. And so I mean, you're
always excited, you know what I mean, because, like again,
just of who they are and what they represent, you know,
(07:16):
and college football and the standards that they're
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