Hawaii Bowl an unexpected home game for SJSU’s Chevan Cordeiro

SAN JOSE — Chevan Cordeiro was as curious as the rest of his teammates when they were summoned for an “emergency team meeting” on a day off earlier this month.

The Spartans were still angry and disappointed they had been left out of the Mountain West championship game, the odd-team out of a three-way tie for first place. They also were catching up on rest and schoolwork during the rare break.

Then head coach Brent Brennan, shirtless and carrying a surfboard, burst into the team auditorium to announce the Spartans had been invited to the Aloha Bowl.

It was a particularly satisfying reveal for Cordeiro, the Spartans’ senior quarterback, who jumped from his seat as if it was Christmas morning.

SJSU’s Dec. 23 bowl game against Coastal Carolina will put the bow on Cordeiro’s illustrious college football career.

The Honolulu native, who played four seasons for the University of Hawaii before transferring to SJSU in 2022, will play his final game in a place he called home and where his love for football began.

“It means a lot,” Cordeiro said. “To go back home and play in front of my family for the last time in my collegiate career means everything.”

Cordeiro played in what he thought was his final game in the Aloha State – and his only appearance as a visiting player – in October when SJSU routed Hawaii 35-0. Cordeiro played arguably his best game of the season, completing 16 of 26 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns.

For Cordeiro, the euphoria of playing in front of his 50-plus family members who attended the game was short-lived. As soon as the clock at T.C. Ching Athletics Complex hit zero, Cordeiro had just over an hour to say goodbye to his family, fulfill media obligations, change clothes and head on a plane back to San Jose.

“The last time I was in Hawaii, I was very emotional,” Cordeiro said. “After the game, I had to say my goodbyes and leave. But I didn’t want to leave.”

But this time around, Cordeiro won’t have to rush his time back in his home state.

The Spartans leave San Jose on Monday and then have five days to experience all the bowl pre-game festivities before Saturday’s game. Cordeiro said he plans to catch up with family in the days leading up to the bowl game.

Many of the Rainbow Warriors will be in the stands to cheer on their former team captain — something Cordeiro said is one of the biggest things he will cherish come game day.

“My boys from Hawaii are going to come and hopefully there’s going to be a lot of people in the stadium,” Cordeiro said.

But perhaps no one is happier for Cordeiro than his teammates in San Jose.

As Brennan announced that the team was heading to the Aloha Bowl, many players who were sitting in the back of the auditorium rushed down to embrace Cordeiro. One of those teammates was wide receiver Nick Nash.

Just a season ago, Nash was competing with Cordeiro to be SJSU’s starting quarterback before transitioning to wide receiver late in 2022. Nash has blossomed into Cordeiro’s favorite target this seasons as he caught a team-high 47 passes for 704 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

“I’m super excited for him honestly,” Nash said.

“Being able to finish in front of his family, you should have seen the turnout when we played in October. Number two jerseys were everywhere, it was ridiculous. I think it’s going to be a pretty cool experience and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

Brennan and the coaching staff were equally excited when they found out their bowl game fate. Brennan along with quarterbacks coach Lyle Moevao were instrumental in getting Cordeiro to commit to SJSU after he entered the transfer portal in 2022.

“To me, this is one of the best stories going into the bowl season,” Brennan said. “He’s gonna get to play his final college game at home, in front of all his people and I think that is really special.”

Moevao added, “I think it’s any college football player’s dream of being able to play your last career game in front of your home crowd, especially with (Cordeiro) being from the 808. There’s a lot of good players that have come out of the islands, and so for him to go back, we’re happy for him and we’re excited.”