Is the Swamp Thing an animal?

I've been tossing this question around for a few minutes tonight, wondering whether the Swamp Thing is an animal? If not, then what is he/it? And if so, then I'm shocked the animal rights activists aren't all over this story...

Apparently, San Jose State's Spartan Stadium -- so lovingly called swamp by the friendly Red Wavers -- is getting field turf. Our assumption here at The Bulldog Bounce is this will yank Swamp Thing's habitat right out from under him/it, displacing him/it from his/its home. Click here for photos of this bittersweet news.

All joking aside, the new turf looks, well, a little too new for the rest of Spartan Stadium and its faded bleachers and chair-backs. But it's likely a positive long-term step for San Jose State's bottom line, the way it would be for Fresno State's. Still, count me as one 'Dog fan who hopes to see real grass in Bulldog Stadium for years to come -- there's just something special about the real thing. Outdoor sports were meant to be played on natural surfaces.

Grading the 'Dogs (7-4, 4-3) at San Jose St. (6-6, 4-4)

Quarterbacks: F
Brandstater's worst showing in since the '06 season finale at San Jose State (if not worst ever) amounts to 5 of 18 for 71 yards, an pick and a fumbled snap. Made bad decisions and consistently missed open receivers.

Running Backs: B
Would be a D if not for an eye-popping fourth quarter capped by a 22-yard Harding dip and dodge TD run and Rashad's breakout game of 41 yards (8.2 per carry). Harding led with 99 yards and Miller added 62.

Receivers: D+
Five guys had one catch each -- two receivers, a tight end, an H-back and a running back. Ajirotutu went without a reception for the first time all year and Moore was a non-factor in his first game back from injury. Bear Pascoe was robbed of a beautiful diving catch by a poor call by an official. Blame can't lay solely with Brandstater, but he missed several big plays while failing to make his reads.

Offensive Line: A-
Fourth quarter was so physically overpowering that any shortcomings from the first half take the back seat. Robbins proved why he should have been starting over Cunningham and Pacheco all year long when Popovich went down with injury. And Lepori and Bernardi possess unparalleled Bulldog Spirit. Solid game by Avon as well.

Defensive Line: A-
Banks had perhaps his finest game stuffing the middle and being imposing while doing it. Ike continues his late-season blossom, and Carter has taken over as by far the team's most dangerous D-linemen and should permanently move from linebacker. Team held Spartans to minus-5 yards rushing -- the second straight game holding a team to negative yards.

Linebackers: B+
Poor first quarter tackling, but credit the defense for staying strong despite being on the field the whole half as the offense struggled. Herron showed improvement in sticking to his assignment as he forced San Jose State QB Sean Flynn to fumble on an option pitch. Knox continues to impress.

Defensive Backs: B
San Jose State went deep many times and didn't complete anything besides the first quarter halfback pass for a TD. That said, Owens has been getting beat constantly, and Dunn did against the Spartans. Makes one wonder why the team's best cover corner, Jefferson, has been MIA at corner for weeks? Great, aggressive effort by Davis didn't go unnoticed.

Special Teams: B+
A strong effort besides West's botch fielding the opening kickoff, but he made up for it returning a punt for the 'Dogs first TD in the third quarter. Malone might end up one of best in school history averaging 43 yards per punt, including booming a 74-yarder out of the end zone in a critical field possession battle. Goessling nailed his only field goal attempt, and Spartans missed 2 of 3 field goals.

San Jose State fans crack me up

In all the nation, those have to be the only fans who can still find ways to talk trash when they've lost to a team 12 times in a row. That's what they did before last season's Fresno State game, and then when they finally beat the 'Dogs, it got even worse.

Walking out of Spartan Stadium, five things were on my mind:
1. San Jose State fans love Fresno's Shaw and Blackstone avenues. That's where several of them kept yelling for us to go back to.

2. The series is still so lopsided that they're trash talk ends as soon as you tell them it'll be another decade and a half before they beat the 'Dogs again.

3. What in tarnation!? I just realized -- for the first time ever at Spartan Stadium -- the tailgate area isn't a swampland. I didn't ruin another pair of shoes walking to my truck and I didn't see one single person's tires get stuck in the mud.

4. Is San Jose State struggling so much for fans that they held a special season finale promotion of Gangsta Appreciation Night? Or was it buy one ticket, get four gang bangers in for free? Seriously, I thought I was at a Raiders game with all the thugs bumping their gangsta rap and getting drunk in the parking lot (even before the game). I've seen WWE pay-per-view events with less fighting words tossed around.

5. I can't wait 'til they come to Bulldog Stadium in '07!