Marshall Sperbeck's creation remains unfinished, his effort to rebuild Sacramento State's football program encountering successes and setbacks.

The third-year head coach stresses discipline, fundamentals and character as he tries to build a competitive team at a school that hasn't enjoyed a winning season since John Volek guided the Hornets to a 7-4 record in 2000.

The Hornets have struggled since that pinnacle, going 2-9 in 2001 and 5-7 in 2002 before Volek was dismissed. Sac State then posted 2-9, 3-8, 2-9 and 4-7 records under Steve Mooshagian.

Enter Sperbeck, who – after going 3-8 and 6-6 in his first two seasons – takes a 2-4 record into Saturday's 2:05 p.m. contest against second-ranked Montana at Hornet Stadium.

"We're just trying to build something that gets better every year that we can eventually feel good about," Sperbeck said. "I still believe we're making strides in that direction.

"Right now, we're struggling a little bit."

The Hornets found momentum with consecutive victories over Portland State (31-14) and Idaho State (38-17) before a lopsided loss at Weber State (49-10) dropped them to 2-2 in the Big Sky Conference.

But records can be deceiving. The 2008 schedule was soft, with games against Humboldt State and Southern Oregon helping the Hornets fashion a .500 season.

This season, Sac State lost 38-3 at UNLV, a Football Bowl Subdivision team, and fell to three ranked Football Championship Subdivision teams: 38-19 at then-No. 12 Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 56-30 to then-No. 19 Eastern Washington and last Saturday's loss at then-No. 15 Weber State.

"We're a better football team this year, even though our record may not reflect that," Sac State athletic director Terry Wanless said. "I'm not surprised by where we are. In fact, I'm very pleased by where we are."

Sac State officials made it clear they want Sperbeck for the long haul when they quietly signed him to a new five-year contract before this season.

Wanless said Sperbeck has done a good job in building a program, not a team. Some of that progress has come off the field.

The Hornets' Academic Progress Rate for football was 870 and 945 the past two seasons and is expected this season to exceed 925, the NCAA benchmark for success. The team's APR was 779, 900 and 878 in Mooshagian's last three seasons.

Sac State has shown improvement in home attendance, too, averaging 8,184 spectators in 2008 and 7,899 in 2007, up from the 5,821 average from Mooshagian's final season in 2006. The Hornets are averaging 10,029 through two home games this season.

"We believe in him," said Wanless, who coached football at Towson State. "We're willing to give him time to get this thing going.

"This is about building a program for the future, not for the moment."

There are signs of promise. Many of the Hornets' best players are underclassmen, including running back Terrance Dailey, offensive tackle Nate Doverspike, center John Taylor, safety Deionte Gordon, defensive end Zack Nash and cornerback Marquese Smith, all sophomores; and running back Sam McCowan and linebacker Avery White, both freshmen.

A check of the depth chart shows 34 of the top 44 players are scheduled to return next season. That doesn't include two injured players sitting out this season: second-team all-Big Sky Conference running back Bryan Hilliard, a junior, and sophomore wide receiver Chase Deadder.

"Some of our good players are younger," Sperbeck said. "They need time. Hopefully, we can develop them and down the road be a better team because of it."

The players are counting on it.

"We've got to be more consistent," Gordon said. "Everyone's got to buy into the program. Once we do that, I believe we'll be successful.

"Everybody on the same page, we're going to click, and we're going to turn this program around, easy."

Said McCowan: "We have a lot of potential to do greater things."

Sperbeck is trying to build primarily with Northern California talent; 73 of the 89 players listed on the roster are from within a roughly three-hour radius of Sacramento with 41 having played in the Sac-Joaquin Section.

Junior quarterback Jason Smith models the Hornets' consistency problem. He can be highly effective, as in a 13-for-24, 209-yard, three-touchdown, no-interception performance in a program-enhancing 29-19 victory at UC Davis last season. He can also be mistake-prone, as in a five-interception, one-fumble outing in a 17-3 loss to Montana two years ago.

"I just take it week by week," Smith said. "Some weeks are better than others. I've certainly come a long way from my freshman year."

Sperbeck hopes the day comes when he can say his program has come a long way.

"You just have to stay the course and stay positive and keep working and believing in what you're doing," he said. "There will be better days.

"It just takes one weekend, one good game, and things can turn."

Call The Bee's John Schumacher, (916) 326-5523.