San Jose State Spartans football
The San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000. The current head coach is Mike MacIntyre, who began his first season as head coach in 2010.
History
The SJSU Spartan football team competes in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as part of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).
SJSU first fielded a football team in 1893[1] and has won 16 conference championships dating back to 1932.
The first regular football seasons began in 1898 and mostly consisted of games against local high schools and some colleges and junior colleges. During the 1930s and 1940s, the Spartan football program was considered a powerhouse, winning eight conference championships over an 18-year span. The 1932 and 1939 teams went 7-0-2 and 13-0 respectively, the only undefeated seasons in school history.[1]
Spartan Stadium was completed in 1933 with a capacity of 18,000. The Spartans won the first football game played in the stadium, 44-6, over San Francisco State on October 7, 1933. Two stadium expansions and renovations in the 1980s increased the seating capacity from 18,000 to 30,456.
The San Jose State Spartans football team served unexpectedly with the Honolulu Police Department during World War II. The team had just arrived in Honolulu to play a series of post-season games (including the Shrine Bowl) against the University of Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors and the Willamette University Bearcats, but the team was stranded on the islands for a number of weeks after the Pearl Harbor attack. The team members were then employed to improve island defenses against a possible Japanese amphibious assault and as guards for military bases on the island.[2]
The San Jose Mercury News reported in March 2004 that budget cuts led some faculty members at San Jose State to advocate removing the SJSU football program from Division IA athletics.[3]
In 2004, San Jose State defeated the Rice Owls 70-63 in a game that set the NCAA Division I record for total points scored and total touchdowns for a non-overtime game.[4]
SJSU has produced over 70 All-America team members, including five first-team selections.[2]
The Tomey era
2006
Coach Dick Tomey took over the program in 2005. After showing moderate improvement that year, the Spartans had a breakout season in 2006. In fact, it was the team's best season since joining the WAC ten years prior. Tomey guided the Spartans to a 9-4 record, a win over rival Fresno State, and a win in the 2006 New Mexico Bowl, thus ending the team's 16-year bowl drought. The 2006 Spartan squad produced two 2007 NFL draft picks in wide receivers James Jones and John Broussard.
2007
The 2007 San Jose State Spartans football team was not as successful as the previous year's team, with the Spartans going 5-7 and finishing 5th in the WAC. The post-season showed a positive result, however, with several players being named to all-star games including Dwight Lowery, Matt Castelo, and Adam Tafralis. The Spartans produced another draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, in defensive back Dwight Lowery. Lowery was named a 1st-team All-America winner in 2007.
2008
The 2008 San Jose State Spartans football team gave the school its best start since joining the WAC. The Spartans jumped to 3-0 and led the WAC for 3 weeks until losing to Boise State. The Spartans finished the season in 6th place in the WAC with a conference record of 4-4, and a 6-6 overall record. Three players were picked in the 2009 NFL Draft, those being defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert, defensive back Christopher Owens, and defensive back Coye Francies
2009
After playing an unusually tough non-conference schedule, the 2009 San Jose State Spartans finished 2-10 with wins over Cal Poly and New Mexico State. Head Coach Dick Tomey announced in November he would retire at the close of the season, thus ending his legendary coaching career. Tomey's record at SJSU was 25-35. On December 17, 2009, Mike MacIntyre was formally introduced as Tomey's replacement. MacIntyre was previously the defensive coordinator at Duke University.[5]
Rivalries
San Jose State shares rivalries with Stanford, Fresno State and Hawaii.
Fresno State
The Fresno State-San José State Rivalry is arguably SJSU's biggest football rivalry. As of 2011, Fresno State leads the series 39–34–3.
Stanford
The near-annual game played between San Jose State and Stanford is titled the Bill Walsh Legacy Game, named after SJSU alumnus Bill Walsh, a two-time Stanford head coach. The teams first played each other in San Jose in 1900. As of 2011, 61 out of the 65 games between SJSU and Stanford were played at Stanford.
As of 2011, Stanford leads the series 50–14–1. SJSU's most notable success against Stanford occurred when the Spartans won three consecutive games over the Cardinal from 1981 to 1983, and again from 1998 to 2000. The 1979–1982 series pitted Stanford quarterback John Elway against his father, Jack Elway, who served as the SJSU head football coach from 1979 to 1983.
Hawaii
As of 2011, the series is even at 17–17–1. A 1941 game against Hawaii led the SJSU team to be stranded on the islands and used as military guards.
NFL
As of 2010, 110 SJSU Spartans have gone on to play in the NFL,[6] and seven former Spartans are actively playing in the NFL.[2] The 110 players include six NFL Pro Bowl selections, six first-round draft picks, two MVP award winners, and one NFL Rookie of the Year.[6]
SJSU, Dayton and Arkansas are the only schools to produce two alumni who coached Super Bowl-winning teams.[2]
Conference championships
From 1969 to 1995, SJSU earned more Big West Conference football championship titles than any other team in the history of the Big West conference.[2] 1995 was SJSU's final season in the Big West, as the Spartans moved to the WAC in 1996.
- 1932 - Northern California Athletic Conference Co-Champions
- 1934 - Northern California Athletic Conference Co-Champions
- 1939 - California Collegiate Athletic Association Champions
- 1940 - California Collegiate Athletic Association Champions
- 1941 - California Collegiate Athletic Association Co-Champions
- 1946 - California Collegiate Athletic Association Champions
- 1948 - California Collegiate Athletic Association Champions
- 1949 - California Collegiate Athletic Association Champions
- 1975 - Big West Conference Champions
- 1976 - Big West Conference Champions
- 1978 - Big West Conference Co-Champions
- 1981 - Big West Conference Champions
- 1986 - Big West Conference Champions
- 1987 - Big West Conference Champions
- 1990 - Big West Conference Champions
- 1991 - Big West Conference Co-Champions
No Team: 1894, 1896–1897, 1901–1920, 1943–1945
Chronology of head coaches
- 1893–1898 James E. Addicott
- 1899 Jess Woods (.643)
- 1900 James E. Addicott (.536) (31⁄2 seasons)
- 1900 Fielding H. Yost (1.000) (coached one game)
- 1921–1922 David Wooster (.250)
- 1923 H.C. McDonald (.000)
- 1924–1928 E.R. Knollin (.378)
- 1929–1931 Walter Crawford (.348)
- 1932–1939 Dudley DeGroot (.736)
- 1940–1941 Ben Winkleman (.761)
- 1942–1946 Glenn Hartranft (.778)
- 1946–1949 Bill Hubbard (.761)
- 1950–1956 Robert T. Bronzan (.515)
- 1957–1964 Bob Titchenal (.424)
- 1965–1968 Harry Anderson (.333)
- 1969–1970 Joe McMullen (.231)
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Bowl games
The SJSU football team has made eight bowl appearances. Its most recent bowl appearance occurred in 2006 when the Spartans defeated the University of New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl.[2]
Notable players and alumni
- Courtney Anderson — former NFL tight end, Atlanta Falcons and Oakland Raiders
- Stacey Bailey — former NFL wide receiver, Atlanta Falcons
- Kim Bokamper — former NFL linebacker, Miami Dolphins
- John Broussard — NFL wide receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars
- Gill Byrd — former NFL defensive back, San Diego Chargers; two NFL Pro Bowl appearances
- Jim Cadile — former NFL guard, Chicago Bears
- Matt Castelo — former NFL linebacker, Seattle Seahawks; former CFL linebacker, Hamilton Tiger-cats[10]
- Steve Clarkson — nationally renowned quarterbacks coach; founder of Steve Clarkson Dreammaker quarterback camp[11]
- Sherman Cocroft — former NFL defensive back, Kansas City Chiefs
- Clarence Cunningham — former AFL wide receiver, defensive back, running back, and kick returner; former AF2 starter, Stockton Lightning; IFL free safety, Catania Elephants[12]
- Neal Dahlen — former SJSU quarterback, NFL manager and scout; holds the record for the most earned Super Bowl rings at seven.[13]
- Rashied Davis — NFL wide receiver, Chicago Bears[14]
- Yonus Davis — CFL running back, BC Lions
- Steve DeBerg — former NFL quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
- David Diaz-Infante — former NFL and CFL offensive guard, San Diego Chargers, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, and Sacramento Gold Miners
- Terry Donahue — UCLA head football coach; College Football Hall of Fame inductee (attended SJSU for one year)[15]
- Carl Ekern — former NFL linebacker, Los Angeles Rams; one NFL Pro Bowl appearance
- Mervyn Fernandez —former NFL wide receiver, Los Angeles Raiders
- Coye Francies — NFL defensive back, Cleveland Browns
- Jeff Garcia — NFL quarterback, San Francisco 49ers et al.; four NFL Pro Bowl appearances
- Trestin George — AFL and CFL wide receiver, San Jose Sabercats and BC Lions
- Jarron Gilbert - NFL defensive tackle, Chicago Bears
- Charlie Harraway — former NFL running back, Washington Redskins and Cleveland Browns
- Paul Held — former NFL quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers
- Willie Heston — former SJSU halfback; College Football Hall of Fame inductee (attended SJSU from 1898 to 1900; graduated from University of Michigan)[16]
- James Hodgins — former NFL fullback, Saint Louis Rams et al.
- Johnny Johnson — former NFL running back, New York Jets; one NFL Pro Bowl appearance; consensus choice for Rookie of the Year (1990)
- Cody Jones — NFL defensive tackle, Los Angeles Rams; one NFL Pro Bowl appearance
- James Jones — NFL wide receiver, Green Bay Packers
- Kevin Jurovich — NFL wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles; San Francisco 49ers
- Rick Kane — former NFL running back, Detroit Lions
- Bob Ladouceur — among winningest high school football coaches in U.S. history; coached De La Salle High Spartans to 151 consecutive wins from 1992 to 2003[17]
- Bill Leavy — NFL referee; officiated Super Bowl XL
- Dwight Lowery — NFL defensive back, New York Jets and two-time All-American at SJSU
- Joe Nedney — NFL kicker, San Francisco 49ers[14]
- William Yaw Obeng — Arena Football League lineman, San Jose Sabercats
- Chris Owens — NFL defensive back, Atlanta Falcons[18]
- Neil Parry — football; Most Courageous Athlete Award (Philadelphia Sports Writers Association; 2003)[19]
- Tom Petithomme — former Arena Football League player, San Jose Sabercats[20]
- Art Powell — NFL wide receiver, Oakland Raiders; Raiders' 7th all-time leading receiver
- Waylon Prather — former NFL punter, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals[21]
- David Richmond — former NFL wide receiver, Cincinnati Bengals[22]
- Scott Rislov — Arena Football League quarterback, San Jose Sabercats
- Al Saunders — former NFL head coach for the San Diego Chargers[23]
- Rufus Skillern — CFL and NFL wide receiver, BC Lions and Baltimore Ravens
- Gerald Small — former NFL defensive back, Miami Dolphins
- Carl Sullivan — former NFL defensive end, Green Bay Packers
- Adam Tafralis — CFL quarterback, Hamilton Tiger-Cats[24]
- Tyson Thompson —NFL kick returner, Dallas Cowboys
- Bob Titchenal — former NFL linebacker, Washington Redskins and Los Angeles Dons; one Pro Bowl appearance; former head football coach, University of New Mexico and SJSU
- Dick Vermeil — NFL head coach; winning coach, Super Bowl XXXIV[25][26]
- Bill Walsh — NFL head coach; winning coach, Super Bowl XVI, Super Bowl XIX, and Super Bowl XXIII; Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee[25][27]
- Gerald Willhite — former NFL running back, Denver Broncos
- Billy Wilson — former NFL receiver, San Francisco 49ers; six NFL Pro Bowl appearances
- Louis Wright — former NFL defensive back, Denver Broncos; 1st round NFL draft pick; five NFL Pro Bowl appearances
- Roy Zimmerman — former NFL quarterback, Washington Redskins; one Pro Bowl appearance
References
- ^ a b Laurence Miedema (April 29, 2007). "All about perseverance". San Jose Mercury News. http://www.mercurynews.com/sjsu150/ci_5779138. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
- ^ a b c d e f "SJSU Spartans Media Guide". sjsuspartans.com. 2009. https://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/63181.pdf?SPSID=29298&SPID=2290&DB_OEM_ID=5600. Retrieved May 4, 2010.
- ^ Bartindale, Becky (March 29, 2004). "SJSU football targeted". San Jose Mercury News. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004. http://web.archive.org/web/20041205125009/http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/education/8302737.htm.
- ^ "Teams set D-I regulation scoring record". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 2, 2004. http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=242760023. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
- ^ http://www.sjsuspartans.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5600&ATCLID=204859170
- ^ a b "College Football Encyclopedias". Pro-Football-REFERENCE.com. 2010. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/colleges/. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
- ^ "NFL Players". NFL Enterprises, Inc.. 2010. http://www.nfl.com/players/mattcastelo/profile?id=CAS672792. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
- ^ "Renowned Quarterback Coach Steve Clarkson Joins DeBartolo Sports and Entertainment to Head the New DeBartolo Sports University". Business Wire. 2007. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Renowned+Quarterback+Coach+Steve+Clarkson+Joins+DeBartolo+Sports+and...-a0172288801. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
- ^ "fanbase.com". Fan-base. 2009. http://www.fanbase.com/Clarence-Cunningham. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ "ProFootballWeekly.com". Pro Football Weekly. 2011. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=pfw-20110126_lord_of_the_rings. Retrieved February 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "Pro Football Reference". pro-football-reference. 2009. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/colleges/sanjosest/. Retrieved February 8, 2010.
- ^ "Terry Donahue". NNDB. 2010. http://www.nndb.com/people/545/000170035/. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
- ^ "National Football Foundation's College Football Hall of Fame". collegefootball.org. 2010. http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=26. Retrieved April 21, 2010.
- ^ Nevius, C.W. (August 26, 2002). "Bob Ladouceur / Sweat and spirituality -- a winning combo / De La Salle football coach's philosophy drives school's 125-game streak". San Francisco Chronicle. http://articles.sfgate.com/2002-08-26/news/17556948_1_bob-ladouceur-la-salle-football-program. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
- ^ "Pro Football Reference". Pro Football Reference. 2010. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/colleges/sanjosest/. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ The winners of the Most Courageous Award for 1997, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007 are listed in the cited article with the incorrect year, i.e., the year that follows the award year. (The awards dinner and presentation occur in January or February of the year following the award year.) More ‘Most Courageous’ memories from PSWA dinners. PSWA Dinner website. January 17, 2009. Retrieved 2011-01-04.
- ^ "Arena Fan". arenafan.com. 2010. http://www.arenafan.com/teams/San_Jose_SaberCats-25/history/1995/. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ "NFL Players". NFL Enterprises, Inc.. 2010. http://www.nfl.com/players/profile?id=PRA631374. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
- ^ "NFL Players". NFL Enterprises, Inc. 2010. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/david-richmond?id=81867. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
- ^ "Al Saunders". Serving History. 2010. http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Al_Saunders. Retrieved August 12, 2010.
- ^ "CFL Players". Canadian Football League. 2010. http://www.cfl.ca/roster/show/id/2007. Retrieved February 18, 2010.
- ^ a b "Distinguished Alumni". SJSU. 2009. http://www.sjsu.edu/about_sjsu/history/alumni/. Retrieved Feb 8, 2010.
- ^ "Dick Vermeil, Head Coach", Kansas City Chiefs
- ^ Bill Walsh Of The 49ers Is Named SJSU's 2001 Tower Award Winner, 2001, CSU Newsline
External links
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San Jose State Spartans football
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