Nevada Football 2000: Johnson injured; pack hosts San Jose State for homecoming

RENO - Red-shirt freshman reserve receiver Jason Johnson injured his neck in practice Tuesday and will not play this Saturday when Nevada hosts San Jose State for Homecoming at Mackay Stadium in a 1:05 p.m. kickoff.

Johnson was injured during a drill Tuesday and was taken to Saint Mary's Hospital for x-rays. The x-rays came back negative and showed just a neck strain. He will be held out of practice this week as a precaution.

The Pack, looking to stop a three-game losing streak, is at home for the the first time in three weeks. Also slowed by injuries sustained at Fresno State were Jermaine Brown, a sophomore starting wide receiver, (right shoulder) and is listed as doubtful for Saturday's game, and Jorge Cordova, a redshirt freshman starting inside linebacker (head), who is questionnable for Saturday. Backup middle linebacker Jeff Peterson (left hamstring) and backup offensive tackle Brian Barnes (back) earlier had been ruled out for Saturday's game.

"We're going to work real hard in practice this week to see if we can get that to happen (pull out a win)," Nevada Head Coach Chris Tormey said. "San Jose State is a real good football team. We started to show some life in the last three quarters of the Fresno State game. We did some things well offensively and defensively; we need to build on that and come out and play tougher earlier in the game."

The Spartans feature one of the top running backs and return specialists in the country in Deonce Whitaker. "Deonce Whitaker is a great player. He's averaging 8.6 yards per carry and had over 200 yards against USC and again last week against UTEP and he went for over 150 against Nebraska so he's a legit guy. He's as good a skill player at that position as we'll see this year."

Nevada will induct five former greats into their athletic hall of fame at a dinner Friday night and then introduce them at halftime of Saturday's game. "You want to play well for your Homecoming Game. You have people who come back to town for the first time in a long time and we want to put on a good show for the fans this Saturday," Tormey said.

"San Jose State has played some good teams. They beat Stanford, were ahead 24-12 late in the third quarter against USC and lost that game. They are a very solid football team. We don't have a choice (bouncing back from a tough loss). We've done it before, we have another opportunity Saturday. We have six games left and its a new season and we want to start it the right way this Saturday."

A crowd of 17,000 is projected for Saturday's game, which begins at 1:05 p.m. Pacific. There is no television for this game. Tickets are available for the game by calling the Wolf Pack Ticket Office at 348-PACK or by stopping by Legacy Hall 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday or three hours prior to kickoff on game day.

Being inducted into the Nevada Athletic Hall of Fame beginning at 6 p.m. Friday at the Peppermill Hotel/Casino are Rob Richie (baseball), Kirk Triplett (golf), Henry Rolling (football), Robert Ritchie (track and field) and Karen Kostelyk Jefferds (swimming).