Kaepernick could be on Madden cover

VOTE FOR KAP ON MADDEN COVER

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is in the running to grace the cover of the Madden NFL video game package. Fans can vote at www.espn.com/maddenvote for a former and current player, who will go head-to-head in an ultimate vote for the 25th anniversary edition of the popular game. Kaepernick is one of 16 current players who can be picked against 16 legends of the game, including 49ers' Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana.

The bracket seems to favor a 49ers QB package as both are No. 1 seeds. In the first round, Kaepernick is up against San Diego Chargers' tight end Antonio Gates while Montana is pitted against former Carolina Panthers' quarterback Jake Delhomme. The first round of voting is open until March 20. Finals voting is scheduled for April 17-24.

SAN JOSE STATE AXES NESSMAN

San Jose State fired basketball coach George Nessman on Wednesday morning, less than 12 hours after the Spartans' season ended with a 67-49 loss to Texas-San Antonio in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference tournament in Las Vegas. The Spartans won nine games each of the past two seasons and Nessman, 53, departs with an eight-year record of 86-161.

In 2010-11, with Modesto Christian product Adrian Oliver and Ripon High alum Justin Graham starting, Nessman guided SJSU to its first winning season since 1993-94 and a berth in the College Basketball Invitational.

But the Spartans were 1-13 in WAC play last season and lost their final 14 games this season after high-scoring guard James Kinney was dismissed from the team for academic reasons.

In 25 seasons as a high school, community college and major college head coach, including at Porterville College, Nessman has a 445-317 won-lost record.