Spartan Daily

Senior quarterback Matt Faulkner ends his collegiate career in full circle

Vernon McKnight

SJSU senior quarterback Matt Faulkner rears back to throw in 32-29 loss against the Idaho Vandals on Nov. 5 at Spartan Stadium

Following the SJSU football team’s first victory in Fresno since 1987, head coach Mike MacIntyre said he sent a text message to senior quarterback Matt Faulkner that read, “Hey Matt, they couldn’t have written a better storybook ending than that.”

Faulkner replied, “Coach, you’re exactly right.”

Faulkner had won the final game of his career on the same field his career began — Bulldog Stadium — and against the school he earned a scholarship to out of high school.

MacIntyre added that the team waited in the locker room for Faulkner to finish with post-game interviews following the victory, and when Faulkner returned the team hoisted him on their shoulders and presented him with the game ball.

Faulkner took a final knee after a 13-play, 6:11 long drive to seal the victory and said only one emotion could describe what was flowing through his body and mind when his knee touched the turf — “pure joy.”

“To play my last college game where I played my first and to end it that way for this program, especially because how much this program needed it, it was a big deal,” he said.

Faulkner, a native of Highland Village, Texas, said despite leaving home for Fresno out of high school he knew he always belonged at SJSU.

“I would not have wanted to play anywhere else,” he said. “I know this is where God wanted me to play college football — I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”

Faulkner played in 10 games as a reserve quarterback last season, his junior year, and earned the starting job this fall.

His first start came in the opening week against Stanford. However, he lost some playing time over the next two games due to a concussion.

Despite not playing a full season, Faulkner left his mark on the SJSU football program by recording 3,149 passing yards, which places Faulkner third in school history in single-season passing yards.

Faulkner also led an SJSU offense that quintupled the team’s win total from a year ago.

Faulkner said being part of the SJSU football records books is nice, but gives all the credit to his teammates, coaches and, as a follower of the Christian faith, to God.

“God had the season go for a reason the way it did. I couldn’t be more thankful,” he said. “Also, I could not do it without any of the players on the team. It’s not just one person, it’s the whole.”

MacIntyre said the rest of the team has an immense amount of respect for Faulkner, making the feelings between Faulkner and the team mutual.

“The kids just think the world of him,” MacIntyre said.

He added that Faulkner’s selfless attitude and hard work ethic make him successful on the field.

“Selflessness is a big deal in team sports,” he said. “The more people combined to their role and accept their role, the better the football team. Matt exemplifies that as a team football player.”

Faulkner said it took time to develop trust with players until they saw him as a leader, and added that believing in one another will substantially improve any team.

“A true team and true unit that believes in each other is going to rise to the top, and we did that on a number of occasions this year,” he said.

Robbie Reed, a senior center and Faulkner’s battery mate on every snap, said  the quarterback’s leadership and ability filled a void in the SJSU offense since Adam Tafralis, the school’s all-time leading passer, left the program in 2007.

“He had two years to do what most quarterbacks do in five years to get that leadership role,” he said. “ He made us all believe. He definitely had a major role in us becoming a better offense than we have since I’ve been here.”

Faulkner said he owes most of the success in his football career to his father, Tom Faulkner.

“He’s the reason I am here today,” he said.

Faulkner said his dad reached out to many colleges, and because he only played in five games his senior year of high school due to a concussion, the task of receiving a Division 1 scholarship was very daunting.

“I had maybe 30 plays from high school, but he got me the scholarship to Fresno State,” he said. “I ended up where I ended because of the way he asserted himself and gave the opportunity and put me out there to succeed.”

Tom Faulkner said it was his son’s unwavering desire for success and to play Division 1 college football that led him to where he is today.

“He fought through competition almost every year,” he said about the many quarterback battles Faulkner took part in throughout his career.

Tom Faulkner said seeing his son finish out his career in Division 1 football, a level of competition he wanted to play in his whole life, was extraordinary.

“I had so much joy that he accomplished something only about 120 kids in America get to do a year,” he said.

MacIntyre and Reed agreed that they will forever remember Faulkner’s most impressive performance as the 38-31 win at Colorado State on Oct. 1.

The Spartans clinched the win on a game-winning 38-yard touchdown pass from Faulkner to freshman wide receiver Jabari Carr with 54 seconds remaining in the game.

“That play at Colorado State will always stick in my mind,” MacIntyre said. “We’re on the sidelines and we call the play. Before he walks out, he turns to me and says ‘If Jabari is open, I can go for it all.’ He saw him and threw it perfectly. That’s how calm he is.”

Reed said when Faulkner is in the huddle the entire team instantly feels more comfortable.

“He took us down the field and scored — doesn’t get too much better than that,” he said. “(Faulkner) always gave us confidence that our offense was unstoppable and that there was never any doubt we couldn’t score. He instilled that on us because of how he performed.”

Faulkner said it has been a pleasure to play for the SJSU football program and is at ease with the way the 2011 season turned out, even with games the Spartans could have won.

“Some people outside the program might say ‘You weren’t even at .500,’ but the people on the inside know what really went on this season and how much it was needed for this program,” he said.

He added winning in Fresno for the first time in 24 years is almost as good as playing in a bowl game, especially because of the progress the team made this season.

“Everyone grew and it would have been nice to go to a bowl game, but not going to a bowl game, we ended to season the best we could as a team,” he said.

Faulkner said he could not be more thankful to God for blessing him with the opportunity and developing the relationships he established at SJSU.

“(Reed) will be one of my best friends for life,” he said. “It’s been a pleasure and true joy playing with my teammates. I had a blast on the field and going through the ups and downs. We have put the program back on track.”