‘Neil Parry Day’ Game Planned for Saturday

Is it or isn’t it? His contract expires Dec. 17, so San Jose State Coach Dave Baldwin could be on the sideline for the last time at Saturday’s game against Fresno State.

And while Neil Parry will take part in the pregame coin toss, Baldwin is not reluctant to draw on the emotion surrounding Parry’s situation to create more interest in the game--and possibly help his own cause.

“This is Neil Parry Day,” said Baldwin, the former Cal State Northridge coach. “I guarantee you we’ll come out to play. This is Seniors Day. This is Neil Parry Day. It’s on the line for us. The winner goes to a bowl. Who knows about the loser?”

Who knows, indeed? There is a chance that the Spartans could go to a bowl game without a head coach under contract.

San Jose State (7-4, 5-2) is tied for third in the Western Athletic Conference with Fresno State (6-4, 5-2), which means that the winner probably will go to a bowl game. Four WAC teams are bowl-eligible, but only three are guaranteed a bowl game, so the Spartan-Bulldog loser could be left out.

If San Jose State wins, it will probably host the Silicon Valley Bowl Dec. 31 at Spartan Stadium . . . with or without Baldwin.

His contract has been a source of controversy this season, but Baldwin seems to be in a good situation for a new deal to replace his four-year contract because of victories this season over Stanford and TCU, which was ranked No. 9. Baldwin, 45, is 18-26 at San Jose State. He was 9-12 in 1995-96 at Northridge.

Defensive tackle John Hammer said Baldwin’s contract doesn’t figure to be a distraction. “The bottom line is we’ve got to go out and win our game,” Hammer said. “Coaches coach and players play, but if he comes back, the Spartans will be on the map for a few more years, I’m sure.”

Baldwin is represented by Bruce Tollner, the son of former USC coach Ted Tollner.

Parry has been named honorary captain for the game. He will not wear his No. 32 jersey, but a No. 25 jersey to salute Washington safety Curtis Williams, who was paralyzed during a play in the Huskies’ game against Stanford Oct. 28.

San Jose State established the Neil Parry Support Fund and has announced that $1 from each ticket and program sold Saturday will be donated to the fund.