At San Jose State, work in classroom leads to bowl game

SAN JOSE -- A losing record didn't stop San Jose State from advancing to the postseason with a winning formula.

The Spartans are one of three 5-7 teams appearing in bowl games this year because of work in the classroom as much as on the football field."I'm delighted the students earned it with their No. 2 pencils," interim president Susan Martin said this week. The invitation to play in the Cure Bowl next Saturday in Orlando represents a major transformation for a school once on the verge of disbanding a century-old football program because of academic ineptness. San Jose State will help open the postseason against George State because of Academic Progress Rate scores instead of yards gained and lost.