HONOLULU — San Jose State coach Brent Brennan burst through a side door of the Spartans’ football lecture hall, decked only in board shorts and sunglasses, sunscreen on his nose and a surfboard snug under an arm.
The room erupted as football players realized the significance: The Spartans are headed back to Hawaii.
SJSU, led by the former UH quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, will play Coastal Carolina of the Sun Belt Conference in the EasyPost Hawaii Bowl’s Dec. 23 matchup of 7-5 teams at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, it was announced Thursday.
Cordeiro, a Saint Louis School graduate and 2023 first-team Mountain West quarterback, said the team was wondering why it was summoned to meet on its off day. They didn’t have to wait long to find out.
“We were all jumping for joy. We all wanted this,” Cordeiro said on a subsequent video call with reporters. “To play in Hawaii and just have fun over there and do all the festivities and, of course, come out with the win. But to play in front of my family again and to play in front of Hawaii, where I was born and raised and where I first started my collegiate career, it’s everything I could ask for.”
Cordeiro is the Mountain West's career leader in touchdowns responsible for (112) and total yardage (13,537).
In addition to Cordeiro, SJSU has four local players on its roster: kicker Kyler Halvorsen (Kaiser), tight end Kamaehu Kopa-Kaawalauole (Campbell), defensive lineman Quincy Likio (Saint Louis) and offensive lineman Laakea Kapoi (Saint Louis).
Brennan, a former member of UH’s staff, is the cousin of the late Hawaii quarterback great Colt Brennan. He is the first coach to lead the Spartans to three bowl games.
“I’m so excited for our team to play in the EasyPost Hawaii Bowl,” Brennan said in a news release. “I’m so excited for Chevan. This is a really special opportunity for us and we’re going to play a big-time opponent. The coolest thing about this is that we get to bring Chevan Cordeiro home for his final college football game. I can’t think of a better ending for a tremendous player and a great human being.”
Cordeiro, with another efficient season as a dual-threat signal-caller, brought the Spartans to the cusp of participation in the Mountain West championship game with six straight wins to end the regular season. But a computer formula determined SJSU would be the odd team out among three schools with 6-2 conference records; UNLV and Boise State gained Saturday’s title platform.
Cordeiro said the Spartans were “irritated, mad,” about that outcome, though they didn’t let it show Thursday.
“Congratulations to both San Jose State University and Coastal Carolina University on successful seasons and welcome to the EasyPost Hawaii Bowl,” said Daryl Garvin, the bowl's executive director. “As first-time participants … we can’t wait to showcase our state and everything bowl week has to offer. We look forward to welcoming the players, coaches, and fans of both universities to experience the beauty of Hawaii.”
San Jose State is already familiar, having traveled to the Islands in Mountain West play to beat UH 35-0 on the Rainbow Warriors’ homecoming night Oct. 28. It was a special return for Cordeiro, especially — he set in motion a series of program-altering events with his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal after his 2021 season at UH.
“It was emotional, especially right after the game,” Cordeiro said. “We had to say our goodbyes and leave, and I didn’t want to leave. This time’s going to be different. I’ll have a lot of time to be able to spend time with my family.”
Under first-year coach Tim Beck, Coastal Carolina went 5-3 in the Sun Belt as one of 12 teams in the conference to qualify for a bowl game.
The Chanticleers are led by wide receiver Sam Pinckney, a sixth-year super senior who holds the Sun Belt record for career receiving yards (3,568) and the NCAA record for consecutive games with a reception (57).
It was reported Wednesday that CCU starting quarterback Grayson McCall entered the transfer portal and it was unclear Thursday whether he’d play in the Hawaii Bowl.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity for our seniors to play one more game and we couldn't be more excited to go to Hawaii and play in the EasyPost Hawaii Bowl against a really good San José State football team,” Beck said.
It will be the 20th Hawaii Bowl, not including the canceled editions in 2020 and 2021. Last year Middle Tennessee beat San Diego State 25-23.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.