HONOLULU – Another round of the Dick Tomey Legacy Game is here, but the connection between San Jose State and Hawaii runs deeper than the namesake of the matchup who coached both programs.
San Jose State head coach Ken Niumatalolo spent part of his playing career at Hawaii, where he played quarterback under Tomey before later serving as a graduate assistant. Niumatalolo, who was born and raised in Hawaii, also brought several connections from the islands to his coaching staff.
Offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann played at Hawaii from 1998-2001, and his brother, receivers coach Billy Ray Stutzmann, also played for the Rainbow Warriors.
San Jose State Spartans head coach Ken Niumatalolo looks on during the San Jose State Spartans spring football showcase at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
“He changed Hawaii football,” Niumatalolo said. “Kind of put Hawaii football on a map, so to speak, from the D1 level.”
The connection extends to the quarterback position.
Spartans quarterback Luke Weaver played five games for Hawaii last season, including the Hawaii Bowl, where he came off the bench and threw the 22-yard game-winning touchdown pass to help the Rainbow Warriors beat Cal.
He’s back, this time leading San Jose State (2-2, 0-0 Mountain West) into its conference opener. The Spartans are looking to regroup after a 26-10 loss to Fresno State in the Battle for the Valley. San Jose State has won the past five meetings between the longtime rivals, including the past three in Honolulu.
The game kicks off at 9 p.m. Pacific time at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex.
The Spartans have yet to score in the first quarter this season, making a fast start an emphasis as against the Warriors (1-3, 0-2 MW).
Weaver, a senior who began his collegiate career at Modesto Junior College, said his time in Hawaii helped him grow as both a player and a person. It was his first experience playing Division I football and he learned a lot from coach Timmy Chang and quarterback Micah Alejado, whom he backed up.
When asked what he misses the most about Hawaii, Weaver said, “honestly, the people. A lot of great people out there, and just being around them.”
Weaver is ooking to bounce back after throwing four interceptions in the loss to Fresno State. SJSU also will try to re-establish its rushing attack after failing to reach 100 yards for the first time this season.
Stutzmann said SJSU needs to continue finding ways to get Jabari Bates more involved after several of the senior’s big plays– including a 66-yard touchdown run – were negated by penalties against Fresno State.
San Jose State Spartans’ Jabari Bates (6) runs with the ball against Fresno State Bulldogs’ Camrin Cole (13) and Fresno State Bulldogs’ Gerayas Grimes (27) in the second quarter at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
“We’ve got to make sure that we continue to find ways to get into football,” Stutzmann said. “… Not to forget how effective we are wearing the football and how Jabari has been able to break games open for us.”
The Spartans also will need to slow a Hawaii offense led by Alejado, who has passed for 1,020 yards through four games. SJSU defensive linemen Jeremiah Tuiileila and Justin Stearns could play a key role in pressuring him.
SJSU tight end Kamaehu Kopa-Kaawalauole will also return home. The Honolulu native grew up watching Hawai‘i football and said playing at the stadium was a childhood dream.
Kopa-Kaawalauole also shares a connection with Niumatalolo.
“With Coach Ken, it’s a little more personal,” Kopa-Kaawalauole said.
The Spartans have won their last five meetings against the Rainbow Warriors. Now, both teams enter Saturday coming off losses, with SJSU looking to turn the familiarity between the programs into a strong start to conference play.
“You just want to keep football football and focus on doing us and doing our little things right and handling business like that,” Weaver said.