SAN JOSE, Calif. — Retro Night was a new event, but it drew a larger than usual crowd to CEFCU Stadium on Thursday night. Fans and media watched San Jose State host its first ever meeting against Northern Colorado.
SJSU got the party started as DeJon Packer ran for a 1-yard rushing touchdown and Matt Mercurio kicked in the extra point to put the Spartans up 7-0 at 10:09 of the first quarter.
Northern Colorado kicker Collin Root made a 52-yard field goal to cut SJSU’s lead 7-3 with 7:41 left in the first.
The Spartans scored their second touchdown of the night. Josh Love found Jermaine Braddock, who ran for a 7-yard passing touchdown, and Mercurio kicked in the extra point to make it a 14-3 game with 3:51 left in the first.
SJSU led 14-3 at the end of the first.
Northern Colorado gave SJSU fans a scare when Root kicked in a 36-yard field goal to cut the Spartans’ lead to 14-6 at 14:45 of the second quarter.
SJSU true freshman quarterback Nick Nash came into the game, ran for 59 yards on 3 rushes, but fumbled into the endzone for a touchdown. The Spartans had a “darn it” moment, but it was short-lived as they bounced back for a 21-6 lead with 7:33 left in the second. Nehemiah Shelton caught the interception, Love ran for a 3-yard rushing touchdown, and Mercurio kicked in the extra point.
SJSU led 21-6 at the halftime break.
A similar scare surfaced the Spartans in the second half. Jacob Knipp found Dontay Warren, who ran for a 7-yard passing touchdown, and Root kicked in the extra point for the Bears’ first touchdown of the game. Northern Colorado cut SJSU’s lead 21-13 with 7:56 left in the third quarter.
SJSU was back on top 28-13 just 1:51 later. Love found Derrick Deese, who ran for a 14-yard passing touchdown, and Mercurio kicked in the extra point.
An intentional ground in the endzone by SJSU led to a Northern Colorado safety, which added two points to cut SJSU’s lead to 28-15 with 3:05 left in the third.
SJSU led 28-15 at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter went off to a rough start. Root kicked a 36-yard field goal to make it a 10-point game, 28-18, at 13:30 of the fourth.
Tyler Nevens’ 8-yard rushing touchdown and Mercurio’s extra point made it 35-18 in favor of the Spartans with 5:21 left in the fourth. Nevens, coming off a major injury last season, redeemed himself in the home opener this season.
SJSU defeated Northern Colorado 35-18.
NOTES: The Spartans’ offense featured Tre Walker, Jackson Snyder, Troy Kowalski, Kyle Hoppe, Tyler Stevens, Quinn Oseland, Billy Humphreys, Josh Love, DeJon Packer, Sitaleki Nunn, and Bailey Gaither … The Spartans’ defense featured Nehemiah Shelton, Hadari Darden, Viliami Fehoko, Jamaar Hardy, Cade Hall, Tysyn Parker, Tre Webb, Jay Lenard, Ethan Aguayo, Jesse Osuna, and Tre White on defense … Josh Love was the Spartans’ nominee for the 2019 Campbell Trophy … Krazy George was in attendance … Former wide receiver and Super Bowl XLV champion as well as SJSU alum James Jones was in attendance.
UP NEXT: The Spartans host Tulsa Golden Hurricane on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 6:00 p.m. Game will be broadcast on ESPN3.
Many new faces on defense are expected to make contributions on Saturday when No. 25 Stanford hosts Northwestern at Stanford Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Even before spring practice, the unit began jelling in the film room and during voluntary workouts. New leaders emerged and reminded underclassmen about the program’s high standards.
“Absolutely,” said senior inside linebacker Andrew Pryts. “That’s been a theme of ours. The individuals in our locker room only care about team success. We’ve developed that mentality that we’re all in this together and we’re going to pursue the ball 11 guys at a time.”
Senior free safety Malik Antoine started 11 games in 2018 and is the veteran of the secondary. Voted one of five captains by his peers, Antoine likes the energy and attention to detail he has seen and expects Stanford to surprise people.
“We have a lot of guys emerging, like Kendall Williamson, Noah Williams, J.J. Parson and Stuart Head,” Antoine said. “We spent a lot of time together watching tape and on the field.”
Both contributed to added confidence and communication, which will be critical on Saturday when the No. 25 Cardinal hosts Northwestern in its season opener at 1 p.m. at Stanford Stadium.
“The first game of the year, you really don’t know what will happen,” said Antoine. “That communication serves as the calmness in the game.”
It hasn’t gone unnoticed by David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football.
“It is loud, it’s clear and it is crisp,” Shaw said. “They are on the same page every single play and I think our team feeds off that.”
Lance Anderson, the Willie Shaw Director of Defense and Associate Head Coach, has been impressed by the grit and unselfishness demonstrated by his entire group.
“There’s a lot of guys who don’t have egos and just want to go out and do their job,” Anderson said. “I think it’s a reflection of the leadership group, especially Casey Toohill and Malik.”
In addition to new starters, many younger players could see action in certain packages and situations. If they impress, it could result in expanded playing time.
“We’re going out to play well,” said Anderson. “I don’t think any of us will be satisfied with anything less. Our expectations haven’t changed.”
Pryts believes Stanford will be ready.
“A lot of less experienced guys have been stepping up and playing good ball throughout camp,” Pryts said. “We’re excited. There are a lot of guys who can’t wait to go out and play.”
Antoine is anxious to see how they respond.
“This could be a four-quarter game,” said Antoine. “I just want to see how we fight.”
RECOGNIZING LUCK: Shaw coached Andrew Luck for four years and watched him throw for 9,430 yards (No. 2 in program history), 82 touchdowns (No. 1) and compile a completion percentage of .670 (No. 1). They visited just before the Cardinal began fall camp and Luck sounded excited to start his eighth season with the Indianapolis Colts.
Like many others, Shaw was surprised when Luck announced his retirement from the NFL last week.
“This guy was going to play the game at the highest level for as long as he could,” Shaw said. “But he’s also going to be one of those guys that wants life after football as much as he wants life with football. He came to that point much earlier than many of us anticipated or wanted, but he came to that point where it was time for him to stop for his health, his family and his future, and I applaud him for it.”
Asked if any memories of Luck stood out during his time on The Farm, Shaw said, “We could spend the next two hours talking about those four years. There’s so many for me, and many are not on the football field. Unbelievably competitive and talented, but also a great leader and a great teammate.”
K.J. Costello grew up a USC fan until he watched Luck play. His star power helped persuade Costello to visit Stanford and eventually commit to the Cardinal.
“I was fortunate enough to have lunch with him about three months ago,” Costello said. “I was huge fan growing up and he’s one of the main reasons why I decided to leave Southern California and come up here. Look at what he did here; nobody is ever going to touch what he did. He won a lot of football games and set the standard.”
ADEBO ISLAND: Cornerback Paulson Adebo had a sensational sophomore season in 2018 as a first-year player. He led the country with 24 passes defended, 20 pass breakups and four interceptions.
Shaw thinks he’s raised his game.
“Regardless of the stats, I think he’s a better football player this year,” Shaw said. “Smart, more versatile, more experienced. He’s been through a lot and loves to be pushed. He’s set his own standards.”
Anderson echoed Shaw’s sentiments.
“For all the individual accolades he gets, he still works harder than anybody,” said Anderson.
BIG SURPRISE: On Monday morning, Shaw surprised former walk-on wide receiver Brycen Tremayne with a scholarship.
“It was overwhelming, for sure,” Tremayne said. “It was just a blessing to get that from Coach Shaw.”
Tremayne made sure to call his parents.
“My mom and dad and sister are my biggest supporters,” said Tremayne. “They’re overjoyed, too.”
Tremayne was caught off guard by the news.
“It was something I was always working for and it was a goal of mine,” said Tremayne. “I tried not to let it in my mind too much and just work as hard as I could.”
Treyman credited his teammates for their support and his improvement.
“They’ve always had my back,” Treyman said. “Coming in here as a walk-on was kind of overwhelming at first. Last year they took me in and they’re all my brothers now. I’m grateful for that.”
NORTHWESTERN NOTES: Last year, the Wildcats (9-5, 8-1) won the Big Ten West Division, and another solid season is expected.
“They’ve got a defensive line coming in that is big, long, physical and they play with relentless effort and great technique,” Shaw said. “They’re very versatile on the offensive side and use different tempos and different schemes. They’ve got two really good quarterbacks and who knows who’s going to start.”
Senior TJ Green appeared in nine games last season, while sophomore Hunter Johnson sat out after transferring from Clemson. In 2016, Johnson was named Mr. Football in Indiana.
Shaw expects both to play.
Isaiah Bowser rushed for 866 yards and six touchdowns last year as a true freshman. Shaw said he breaks tackles, is tough and faster than he looks.
“The biggest thing for us is to concentrate on our assignments, techniques and our effort,” Bowser said.
Photo credit: gostanford.com
UPCOMING SCHEDULE: The Cardinal has no breathers in 2019 and has the hardest non-conference slate in the land, playing Northwestern, at UCF and Notre Dame. That’s in addition to nine Pac-12 games.
“I think that’s a question for after the season,” said Shaw. “Right now, we’ve got one game to play. All the schedule stuff for me stopped last week.”
HOME CROWD: As has often been the case, Stanford will play home games before school starts on Sept. 23. That limits student attendance for the season opener, but Antoine hopes a noisy crowd will cheer on the Cardinal against Northwestern and Oregon on Sept. 21.
“We’ve kind of gotten used to that,” Antoine said. “We say we don’t need added motivation and let our play do the talking. At the same time, we love and appreciate our fans and hope they come out in force.”
Lots going on Saturday at Stanford Stadium!
🌲 Cardinal Kids Day 🌲 Educators Appreciation Day 🌲 Band Day
DEVIOUS DAYS: Saturday is Cardinal Kids Day (gostanford.com/CKDpromo), Educators Appreciation Day (gostanford.com/educators) and Band Day (call 800-STANFORD). Stadium gates open at 11:30 a.m.
Photo credit: gostanford.com
EXTRA ENTRIES: Running back Trevor Speights and strong safety Stuart Head won’t play Saturday, but Shaw expects everyone else to be available … Freshmen running backs Austin Jones and Nathaniel Peat made good impressions in fall camp and could see action … Freshman Walter Rouse also has a chance to play and is backing up both offensive tackle spots … Freshmen cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly and punter Ryan Sanborn will likely make their college debuts … Stanford will have 22 double numbers this season.
QUOTE: “We’ve got a bunch of guys we’re going to roll out Saturday that haven’t played a lot of college football. We expect them to play hard and play fast, do their jobs, and do them well.” — David Shaw
San José State football seniors Brett Foley, Alex Galland, Chandler Hawkins, and Deano Motes, Quinn Oseland are among the 1,439 college football players from all NCAA and NAIA honored by the National Football Foundation as student-athletes with an undergraduate degree.
Foley, Hawkins and Motes earned their degrees from San Jose State. Foley and Motes are pursuing a MBA, while Hawkins is studying educational counseling.
Galland is a graduate transfer from Yale University who majored in mechanical engineering. Oseland is a graduate transfer from the University of Minnesota who majored in business and marketing education. Both are enrolled in San Jose State master’s of public administration program.
“The National Football Foundation takes great pride in its role as a leading voice in the promotion of the scholar-athlete,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning. “And highlighting the 1,439 student-athletes who have not only earned their undergraduate degrees but are now pursuing additional diplomas sends a powerful message about the doors that college football opens. This list allows us to showcase those individuals who have truly taken full advantage of the opportunities created by college football.”
“Today’s release allows us to recognize a truly exceptional group of college football players,” said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “And it expands our efforts to highlight the integral role that college football has played in the education of millions of student-athletes over the years. It is often said that college is not about the four years on campus but the next 40 years of your career. Clearly those on this list have made the most of their college experiences, and we are extremely pleased to shine a light on their accomplishments.”
SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State football is just around the corner. This means year three is likely going to be a crucial season for head coach Brent Brennan. If the third time isn’t the charm, the athletic directors, media and fans aren’t going to be as tolerant. It’s a decent season or bust.
SJSU has geared up for its football home opener vs. Northern Colorado, and yes, this includes the first press conference of the 2019 season. Check out my Q&A with Brennan in CECFU Stadium on Monday afternoon.
1. There’s a solid set of tight ends that will try to fill in the place left by Josh Oliver. Who do you think will stand out in the set? That’s going to be interesting to watch. I think all those guys have a real place to contribute. It’s exciting to see Brett Foley who’s a guy, a local kid who played down the street at Mitty (Archbishop Mitty High School) as a high school quarterback and a linebacker when I first got him. We moved him to tight end and he’s starting to make a move last fall playing a little bit of tight end into some nice stuff. He really had an outstanding camp. Billy Humphreys has played a lot of football here. He’s a big body. He can run, he can catch, he can block. So he’s got a contribution to make. I think Derrick Deese, Jr. will be fun because he’s a great route runner and pass catcher. He does a nice job at the line of scrimmage for someone who is a converted wide receiver. The young guy, Dominick Mazzotti, has done some really good stuff in camp. So that’s a position group that we feel strongly about. Coach (Matt) Adkins did a fantastic job coaching them and coach (Kevin) McGiven has demonstrated when we have a tight end that can be effective, we’ll find a way to give them the ball like we did a year ago. So now we got three and four — if you count the freshmen — and I think you’ll see a contribution from all of them game-by-game.
2. What was the reason behind your creative playcalling late last season and will you continue to turn heads with such playcalling this season? I think we’ll continue to be aggressive at what we do in terms of our playcalling. I think it’s really important that our players know we believe in them and believe they can execute at a high level and that we can call anything in the playbook and believe that we’ll get it done. I think that being in our second year of our scheme gives us a better chance to execute some of that stuff and I think Coach McGiven is doing a great job just kind of mixing up how we’re attacking people. Right now, we’re just going head-to-head with our defense, but I’m excited to see that play out on Thursday night.
3. What’s the status of the competition between Jay Lenard and Stan Livingstone Jr. for the free safety spot? I think Jay Lenard over time has established himself as one of our better players on defense so Jay is ready to play. He looks great, he had a great offseason and summer. I feel really good about our defense, especially those two safeties. Tre Webb is definitely one of our leaders. Both those guys are now starters for two years, played a lot of football, so I’m excited to see them play on Thursday night.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State’s busy summer lining up future non-conference football opponents continues with a pair of teams the Spartans will be playing for the second time each in university history.
San Jose State will make a trip to Columbus, Ohio, for a September 9, 2023 game against Ohio State. The Spartans played the Buckeyes, then-ranked #5 nationally, in Ohio Stadium, on Columbus Day (October 12, 2002) losing 50-7.
The San Jose State-Ohio State game will be the 11th in Spartan football history against a Big Ten Conference member. Besides losing at Ohio State, San Jose State has a 1-1 record with Illinois, a 1-3 mark against Minnesota, and a 0-2 goose egg against Wisconsin. Prior to the trip to Columbus, San Jose State has a September 19, 2020 game at Penn State.
According to San Jose State University Athletics Director Marie Tuite, this game with Ohio State fits our three-pronged non-conference football scheduling philosophy for a season.
One game per season against an Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Pacific-12 Conference or Southeastern Conference member.”
Two games with at least one of them at home against members belonging to either the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference or the Sun Belt.
One home game against a FCS school.
“This model gives our football program the opportunity to experience the game in some of the largest venues in the country and provides unique travel opportunities for our players, coaches and fans.”
When San Jose State played at Ohio State, the announced attendance of 104,892 remains the largest crowd to see a Spartan football game in person.
The second half of San Jose State’s announcement on future football opponents was more local in nature and matched Tuite’s scheduling philosophy.
San Jose State will open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 at home against nearby Sacramento State, just over a two-hour bus ride to San Jose. The Spartans and Hornets met in the 2013 season opener for both teams. San Jose State emerged with a 24-0 shutout in CEFCU Stadium, the same site as the next meeting between these teams.
In the last 18 months, San Jose State has announced home-and-series with Toledo, UTEP, and Western Michigan and road games at Penn State in 2020 and at the University of Southern California in 2024.
New pregame and in-game experiences are in store for San Jose State football fans of all ages when they cheer on the Spartans in the Aug. 29 season opener all the through the regular season finale versus Fresno State on Nov. 30.
Many Spartan fans are aware of the biggest change to CEFCU Stadium, Home of the Spartans, which started in June 2019. A ceremonial groundbreaking for the Spartan Athletics Center (formerly Football Operations Center) will fit into the east side of the stadium as a completed project benefiting all San Jose State student-athletes and those affiliated with the football, women’s soccer and men’s soccer teams.
“Our goal is to create one of the best college football game-day experiences in the Mountain West,” said Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Relations Blake Sasaki.
“Our fans want more than action on the field and we are addressing that request primarily through the Spartan Village Fan Zone. We’ll have a Kids’ Area, a video game truck, inflatables, student and adult tailgating, an early pregame radio show, upgraded food and beverage and more.”
Here’s what’s new, improved and fun for fans at CEFCU Stadium this season:
Creative, environmentally friendly and traditional ways to reach CEFCU Stadium
-Standard parking spaces on the 7th and 10th street sides of CEFCU Stadium and at the Excite Ballpark lot on Alma Avenue
– Park on the main campus for $5.00 and ride a free shuttle round trip from the 7th Street garage to CEFCU Stadium – Use the Lyft Drop Zone, the Go Bike Station, or rent a scooter and park it in the new scooter parking area along 7th Street
– Ride VTA bus lines #25 or #73 to either 7th or 10th streets & Keyes and enjoy a short walk to CEFCU Stadium
Enter CEFCU Stadium from the new 7th & 10th Street game-day Stadium Way entrances or from the standard west and east gates of the stadium
Spartan Village Fan Zone — a new entertainment area for all ages north of CEFCU Stadium that opens three hours before kickoff and stays open throughout the game. The game ticket is the admission into the football game and the Spartan Village Fan Zone – Look for the Kids’ Zone with inflatables, corn hole, a video games truck and more
– See the 60-minute broadcast show with hosts Justin Allegri and Kevin Richardson
– Visit the Powerhouse Food Truck, the world’s largest food truck measuring more than 70 feet, generously donated by SpartanEats — the university’s new food services provider — ready to serve great food and show college football games on its big screen.
Fun, freebies, honors and more Thurs., Aug. 29 vs. Northern Colorado, 7:00 p.m. “Retro Night” & Throwback Thursday – “Retro t-shirt” giveaway
– Custom San Jose State fanny packs
Sat., Sept. 7 vs. Tulsa, 6:00 p.m. First Responder Night presented by PG&E – Free tickets to first responders, courtesy of PG&E
– High School Band Night
– Free San Jose State t-shirts to the first 1,000 students, courtesy of the Mountain West
Fri., Oct. 4 vs. New Mexico, 7:00 p.m. Brew & Vine Night
– Parent & Family Weekend
Sat., Oct. 19, vs. San Diego State, 4:00 p.m. Homecoming
– Ticket giveaway to the Oct. 19 Gryffin Concert at The Event Center
– Ring of Honor celebration
Sat., Nov. 2 vs. Boise State, 7:30 p.m. Dick Tomey Night
– Dick Tomey Rally Towel giveaway
– San Jose Unified School District Night
– Youth Football Night
Sat., Nov. 30 vs. Fresno State, TBA Valley Trophy Rivalry Game
– Senior Day
There will be new food choices for the hungry fans. The Smokin’ Pig makes its CEFCU Stadium debut this season serving tasty barbecued smoked meats, savory sides and delicious desserts.
“We believe we have something for every fan that comes to our football games this season. We plan to entertain our fans from the moment they arrive and then give them plenty to remember when our team takes the field this season,” Sasaki said.
At any San Jose State football practice from anywhere on the field, there’s the booming voice of the Spartans offensive line coach Joe Bernardi encouraging, leading, teaching and coaching his players. Perhaps, the bravado in voice springs from his dad, Gary Bernardi, the Spartans offensive line coach from 2010 to 2012, had a coarse richness to his voice from more than 30 years of college coaching.
If history repeats itself, or like father, like son, Joe Bernardi’s third year as the Spartans’ offensive line coach will be a good one. In 2012, San Jose State went 11-2, won the Military Bowl and finished nationally-ranked in the FBS with Gary Bernardi as the Spartans offensive line coach. The younger Bernardi won’t go that far right with a forecast right now.
Joe Bernardi has the biggest number of Spartans among the position groups in both size and number. There are the highly-experienced starters like senior Troy Kowalski, a three-year starter, and Jack Snyder, a two-year starter. And, he has a significant number of players who have red-shirted at some point in their college careers hoping this season is their time in the lineup in order to help the team shine.
“We have a lot of different levels of experience with our group. I really like the way the group has worked and its chemistry. We just have to keep plugging. The young guys have to get better. The ‘old’ guys have to keep pushing the young guys, but I like the way the group is coming together,” said Bernardi, who was a center at Fresno State.
“I’ve seen a lot of guys step up. Seen some young guys develop quickly. Seen some old guys kind of separate themselves. I really, really like this group. I think they’ve worked very hard. We’re going to find the best five by next week,” he said about the group.
The Spartans offensive line coach believes communication and finding ways to work together are important. He also counts on the play of the tight end position as part of the symphony concert of offense whether it’s running or passing the football.
“We want to do a good job of running the football better, our chemistry and communication at the line of scrimmage working with the tight ends and communicating our calls across the line of scrimmage. Obviously, we have to do a great job hitting movement, doing a good job in our ‘double-teams’, and a good job in our pass protection work as well,” said Bernardi, who assigned most of his players to learn multiple positions with the objective of position flexibility and keeping the best five linemen playing at all times.
With only a few days remaining before the August 29 season opener, Bernardi continues to emphasize communication as the Spartans turn their attention to Northern Colorado.
“(We’ve) got to make sure we are communicating on our assignments and understanding the game plan, understanding what Northern Colorado is going to give us on normal down-and-distance situational football, start to familiarize ourselves with their film. Everybody’s got to do a great job of preparing and understanding what their role is going into the game.”
Whether it’s at a practice or at a game, the passion Joe Bernardi has for his players and stellar offensive line play comes through loud and clear from the Spartan sideline.
Tickets for the San Jose State season opener with Northern Colorado on August 29 and all home games are available at www.sjsuspartans.com/tickets.
As the the title implies, there has been quite a few things regarding the Stanford Cardinal football team. Let’s check out the latest press releases.
Preseason Ranking
Stanford was ranked No. 25 in the preseason Top 25 poll released by the Associated Press on Monday. It marks the ninth straight season in which the Cardinal has started ranked in the AP Top 25, the sixth-longest streak in the nation.
The Cardinal, led by Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football David Shaw, is the winningest Pac-12 program in the last decade. They’ve won 82 games in Shaw’s eight seasons at the helm, and 94 games since the start of the 2010 season. Their 102 wins in the last 10 seasons is the sixth-most in college football.
Stanford finished the 2018 campaign at 9-4 overall, winning each of its last four games. They’ve been to a school-record 10 straight bowl games, the longest active streak in the Pac-12.
Quarterback K.J. Costello returns after passing for 3,540 yards and 29 touchdowns a season ago. His passing yards were the second-most in school history, while his passing touchdowns were third-most, in a single season.
Cornerback Paulson Adebo highlights the defensive returners. The junior led the nation in passes defended last season, with 20 breakups and four interceptions.
Stanford begins arguably the nation’s toughest schedule when it plays host to Northwestern on Saturday, Aug. 31 inside Stanford Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT on FOX. The Cardinal also hosts No. 9 Notre Dame, No. 11 Oregon and No. 13 Washington this season, while traveling to No. 17 UCF and No. 23 Washington State.
Stanford Stadium Enhancements
Fans will notice a number of enhancements to the game day experience at Stanford Stadium throughout the upcoming season.
Stanford Stadium experienced a major audio upgrade this past off season, with the newly installed Meyer Sound system. The 174 state of the art speakers with over 2,300 individual speaker cones create an incredibly balanced, clear, and precise audio solution. The extraordinary pattern control avoids problems often encountered in large stadium sound systems and creates a level experience for all fans regardless of location in the stadium or volume of crowd noise.
Season Ticket Members now have exclusive access to three entry gates upon arrival at Stanford Stadium. In response to feedback received from our Season Ticket Members, the new access policy provides access to STM-Only Gates 6, 9 and 12, as well as the STM entry points at the shared entry Gate 4.
STM-Only Gate Entry credentials (one per seat on your account) will still need to be accompanied by a valid game ticket, as your credential does not serve as a valid ticket for entrance into the game. Guest Services staff will monitor entry to STM-Only lines at these gates and direct all fans without this credential, and a valid ticket, to another entry point.
Season ticket members can add on the Sky Deck Experience on a full season or single game basis and catch the game from one of the best views in the house. The Sky Deck, perched atop the press box on the west sideline, provides a bird’s-eye perspective of the action, satellite TVs for viewing, comfortable lounge furniture to relax during timeouts, and complimentary food and beverage service, including beer and wine for those 21+, starting when gates open through the start of the fourth quarter.
Limited group ticket opportunities on the Sky Deck are also available, complete with a semi-private cabana space for your group to enjoy. Contact the Stanford Athletics Ticket Office at (800)-STANFORD for additional details.
Mobile ticketing is in full swing this season, as students can enjoy a fully mobile ticketing experience from the time they claim tickets until they enter Stanford Stadium. Mobile tickets enabled with near field communication technology will allow students to tap and go at the student entrance, located at Gate 3.
The new Stanford Athletics mobile app, set to launch soon, will also allow fans to manage their tickets, access exclusive offers, follow their favorite sports and stay connected to The Farm from anywhere with live game streams, news, videos, schedules, student-athlete features and more! Visit www.gostanford.com/AppDL for more information!
The bag check location previously found at the track lot has been relocated to the north end of the stadium outside Gate #9 to better accommodate the flow of fan traffic into the venue.
Featuring new stand options, additional menu items, increased value combos and health-conscious selections, Stanford’s concessions have received quite the overhaul for this season.
Here are some exciting new flavors that can be found around Stanford Stadium:
Los Carnalitos (Section 102) — Featuring authentic Mexican tacos, nachos, horchata and aguas frescas
Cardinal Sweets (Section 118) — Satisfy your sweet tooth with beignets plus ice cream sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, and churros made with Ghirardelli® chocolates and syrups
The New Twist (Section 113) — Order up a delicious carved roast beef sandwich, pretzels and pretzel bites with cheese pub sauce, and cold brew coffee
Your favorite food stations now have new menu items:
The Catch (Section 112) – Crab sandwich, clam chowder and chowder fries
Top Chips (Section 133) – Street corn
The Stadium Grille (Sections 102 & 125) – Cajun fries
Kikka Sushi (Section 113) – Salmon poke bowl
California Pizza Kitchen (Section 128) – Loaded baked potato soup and key lime pie
We’re offering savings on an expanded list of combos for $10 or less:
All-American Sandwiches (Section 134) – ½ Grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for $10
Stadium Express (235) – Colossal Dog and fountain beverage for $10
Dog House (Sections 112, 114, 132 & 134) – Choice of Polish or Colossal Dog and fountain beverage for $10
Stadium Grille (Sections 102 & 125) – Hamburger and fountain beverage for $10
Cardinal Sweets (Section 118) – Cookie and hot chocolate made with Ghirardelli chocolate for $8
Fan Food (Section 118) – Popcorn and fountain beverage for $9
Fans looking for kosher, healthier and allergy-friendly options will find a new selection of meals and desserts at Farm-to-Table (Section 108):
Pho (vegetarian or chicken), served with rice noodles, bean sprouts, cilantro and Thai basil
Kosher hot dogs on a gluten-free bun or on a stick
Açai bowl with fresh fruit and granola
Mediterranean box with tabbouleh, baba ganoush, pepper hummus and carrots
Healthy wraps and salads
A rotating selection of gluten-free treats including brownies and chewy marshmallow bars
You can find a stadium concessions map and more menu detail at concessions.stanford.edu. You can also pick up a printed copy at any concessions location on game days.
Cardinal Kids Day, presented by Stanford Children’s Health
Bay Area families are invited to The Farm to enjoy one of the best football teams in the area. With the purchase of an adult ticket, kids in 8th grade and below can receive a free ticket, as part of the Bill Walsh Legacy game. There will be several pregame activities, including the Kids Zone (with a petting zoo!) as part of Fan Fest, which is free to the public.
Hall of Fame More information on inductees coming soon.
Sexual and Relationship Violence Awareness Game Stanford football is bringing awareness of sexual and domestic violence to the Stanford community. Stay tuned for more information, so you can join them in taking the pledge to stop this behavior.
Breast Cancer Awareness Game, presented by Stanford Medicine
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Stanford football student-athletes and coaches will be sporting pink to bring awareness to this disease and breast cancer survivors will be honored throughout the game.
Sustainability Game Join the Cardinal in the Game Day Zero Waste Challenge as we battle other Pac-12 schools to become the greenest recycling team! Check out some of these Cardinal Green facts.
BeWell Eligible Faculty and Staff have the opportunity to claim up to four (4) free tickets by participating in the BeWell program. Members are eligible for free tickets once they have completed their SHALA and registered an account with Stanford Athletics.
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Cheer Day
Stanford Athletics welcomes Varsity Spirit for our 2nd Annual Cheer Day at Stanford Stadium! Cheer participants will arrive pregame for an onsite practice and will have the opportunity to perform on the field with their fellow teammates during game time!
Fan Appreciation Game Stanford appreciates the support of their fans all season long, and will be thanking them with prize giveaways throughout the game.
The offense found the end zone three times, the defense picked off two passes and the kicking game continued to shine in the second and final San Jose State Spartans football fall scrimmage at CEFCU Stadium on Saturday night.
The Spartans packed a lot of action in front of their beloved fans participating in the team’s annual FanFest. Following the scrimmage, a barbecue dinner and the movie “Spider-Man; Into the Spider Verse” wrapped up the activities on the practice field.
“It was an awesome day. We had a great turnout of fans, family and supporters. It was awesome,” said head coach Brent Brennan, who spent time thanking the fans that sat in the bleachers or in their lawn chairs or stood on the sidelines.
“It was a great kickoff to the season. It was great to look over to the sideline and see it full.”
In regards to the play on the field, Brennan gave props to the defense for its play for more than half the scrimmage before the offense began moving the ball in the 77-play scrimmage.
“The goal (of the scrimmage) was to play some of the younger guys a little more and give them ‘live’ football. A lot of them are pretty ‘green’ and need some opportunities to play and prove what they can do to be ‘blue line.'”
Brennan also commented on the importance of keeping the penalty count down. The offense was penalized three times, one wiping out a nice gain. To Brennan, penalties affect more than down and distance. How a drive progresses or regresses on either side of the ball can be affected by a penalty call.
“We have to play right up that edge and play with our hair on fire, but when the whistle blows, it (the play) has got to be over. That’s part of our discipline and that has to show up every week,” Brennan said.
Running back Romero Teu and quarterback Chance La Chapelle scored on runs of 7 and 2 yards, respectively. In between the two running scores, a pair of freshmen, quarterback Alec Trujillo and wide receiver Andre Crump, Jr., hooked up on a 5-yard touchdown pass.
The three scores followed 39-yard field goals without a miss, one each by community college transfer Chris Wood and redshirt freshman Matt Mercurio. A week earlier, Wood went 2-for-2, including one from 49 yards out, and Mercurio was 1-for-1 converting a 27-yard try.
“Fall camp is going pretty good. I’m a lot more consistent on my field goals. In spring ball, I was getting more line drives from my field goals,” said Wood who is battling Mercurio for the kick-scoring job and credits Coach Brennan for creating a greater sense of focus when he is on the field to kick.
“I’m encouraged by that group. Coach ‘G’ (Fred Guidici) does a great job with our special teams guys. There are some new guys in the mix. Obviously, Alex (Galland) is a great addition as a grad transfer. It’s been good to see the other guys get in there and mix it up. Chris has been striking the ball well and so has ‘Merc’ (Matt Mercurio),” Brennan said.
The defense had its moments in the 77-play scrimmage. Cornerback Nehemiah Shelton came up with a notable interception in the first half of the scrimmage. Defensive lineman Duane Tuitasi added to the defense’s takeaway count snaring a tipped pass at the line of scrimmage for a second interception. The defense came up with four quarterback sacks–one more than in the first scrimmage–and had six more plays with a tackle for loss.
“We had a lot of ‘blueline’ today. Everybody had a lot of energy,” said linebacker Ethan Aguayo, who shared with the assembled media contingent the importance of playing every play whether one is first or third string.
The Spartans ended the scrimmage singing the Spartan Fight Song to their fans. It’s been something they’ve done after each win and plan to do it often this season.
The Spartans return to practice on Sunday, August 18, at 11:50 a.m. They’ll begin turning their attention to the August 29 season opener against Northern Colorado, with their August 20 practice. With the start of the fall semester on August 21, practice time normally will be from 9:40 a.m. to noon.
NOTES: Among the former San Jose State football players in attendance were linebackers Mike Scialabba, Epie Sona and Alex Manigo; offensive linemen Nicholas Kaspar and Evan Sarver; defensive end Mohammad Marah; punter Michael Carrizosa; wide receiver Tim Crawley; and kicker Bryce Crawford, who finished representing the Spartans earlier in the day at the four-day Campbell Trophy Summit hosted by the National Football Foundation in Palo Alto, Calif.
Scoring
Chris Wood, 39-yard field goal
Matt Mercurio, 39-yard field goal
Romero Teu, 7,-yard run
Andre Crump, Jr., 5-yard pass from Alec Trujillo
Chance La Chapelle, 2-yard run
There’s just over two weeks before Stanford’s season opener against Northwestern on August 31 at 1 p.m. in Stanford Stadium.
While many jobs are up for grabs, things are becoming clearer for David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, and his coaching staff after last Sunday’s open scrimmage.
“All in all, good on both sides,” said Shaw. “It’s physical and it’s competitive.”
Here’s a position-by-position update from Tavita Pritchard (Andrew Luck Director of Offense), Kevin M. Hogan (Quarterbacks Coach), Lance Anderson (Associate Head Coach) and Willie Shaw (Director of Defense).
Offensive Line
“We’re still not sure who the first five will be,” Pritchard said. “Overall, the group has been pretty darn good. Guys have a better understanding of the system and the things we’re trying to get done.”
Standouts have been tackles Walker Little, Foster Sarell and center Drew Dalman.
“We expect a big year out of Walker,” said Pritchard. “We need him to play like an elite tackle. Depending how things shake out, we hope to be able to keep Foster at right tackle. He’s comfortable out there and has made some big strides. Freshman Walter Rouse is also playing well at tackle.
Dalman takes over for Jesse Burkett at center.
“We’re excited about the leadership role that he’s taken on,” said Pritchard. “We need that center to be the heartbeat of the unit. The guys take their cue from him and he’s done a phenomenal job of stepping into that role.”
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Although 10 players have been practicing, the guard spots are up in the air while returnees Devery Hamilton and Henry Hattis and freshmen Bragg Branson battle through injuries. Dylan Powell is also in the mix.
“You may see a few different combinations that first game,” Pritchard said.
Wide Receivers
As expected, Connor Wedington and Michael Wilson have excelled.
“It’s good to have a guy like Connor to direct the troops,” said Pritchard. “Michael played a ton of snaps on special teams and offense last year…as many total plays as we’ve had a true freshman play. He works hard and has refined his skills as a receiver.”
Wilson was busy on Sunday and snagged a touchdown pass from Jack West.
Osiris St. Brown has been limited in camp, but Pritchard has big plans for him this season. The same with Simi Fehoko, one of the fastest players on the team.
“Osiris is a game changer,” he said. “We’ll use him to attack defenses and he knows our system. Simi is working hard to become a complete player and his ceiling is extremely high.”
Elijah Higgins, a 6-3 freshman, impressed in the scrimmage.
Tight Ends
Junior Colby Parkinson (6’7″, 251 lbs) is bigger, reduced his body fat, and is having a strong camp. Scooter Harrington and Tucker Fisk will also play key roles.
“Harrington is versatile inside and out and someone we trust,” Pritchard said. “Fisk has grown a ton since the beginning of last season and has a chance to be an exceptional blocking tight end with the ability to catch the ball and run. I wouldn’t want to tackle him.”
Running Backs
Pritchard said Dorian Maddox had a great offseason and has developed into an every-down back. “He does everything well,” he said.
Pritchard likes the versatility of fifth-year senior Cameron Scarlett and the explosiveness of Trevor Speights. Freshmen Austin Jones and Nathaniel Peat have also received opportunities and impressed with speed and quickness. Peat caught a well-thrown swing pass from Davis Mills and motored for a long score.
“Those two young running backs showed us exactly what we thought when we recruited them,” Shaw said.
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Quarterbacks
K.J. Costello looks to pick up where he left off last year, establishing himself as one of the best in the country. He has been sharing time with Mills, sidelined most of the past two years due to injury.
“It’s been good to give Davis some reps with 22 guys out there,” said Pritchard. “He’s coming along with the mastery of our system and progressions.”
Since spring practice, the theme for the quarterbacks has been to execute with precision.
“I want to see mind-numbing efficiency,” he said. “Don’t get bored making the right decision. We want to be machine-like on every play. The explosive plays are going to come.”
With that mind, the Cardinal playbook has been modified.
“It’s all relative,” said Pritchard. “I think we probably still run a more complex system than most teams with what our guys are able to handle.
“In years past, we’ve carried a lot of volume. A big offseason project for our staff was to ask ourselves what we hang our hats on, what’s our foundation and core plays, and make sure we get really, really good at those.”
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Defense
Anderson saw many good things last Sunday and hopes to keep building.
“The guys played hard and there was a lot of energy,” he said. “Guys played with passion, which we love seeing out there. There were a lot of positive plays and things we can learn from.”
Anderson lauded the efforts of Jacob Mangum-Farrar and Curtis Robinson.
“Jacob made a number of plays and has been doing that since spring ball,” Anderson said. “Curtis looked good making the transition to inside linebacker.”
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Line
Anderson has experienced players who are excited to step up.
“We really need to improve and respond,” he said. “We’re really not that young anymore. This is the fourth year in the program for Jovan Swann, Michael Williams and Thomas Schaffer. Swann is having a nice camp and Thomas Booker played a lot last year and is bigger and stronger.”
Anderson said Schaffer’s play has been a pleasant surprise and also singled out Ryan Johnson and Dylan Boles.
Outside Linebackers
Casey Toohill, Jordan Fox and Gabe Reid have separated from the group so far. But they’re being pushed by Thunder Keck, Andres Fox and freshman Tobe Umerah.
“Andres is a good pass rusher and he’s long and athletic,” said Anderson. “Same with Tobe.”
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Inside Linebackers
This group started training camp with the least experience of any position, but continues to progress. Returnees Andrew Pryts and Ryan Beecher saw limited game action last year, but sophomores Magnum-Farrar and Ricky Miezan shined in spring ball and are expected to carry the load.
“Jacob has all the tools you look for and becomes a better football player each day,” Anderson said. “Ricky has been hurt but we hope to get him back next week.”
Safeties
Kendall Williamson and Stuart Head helped themselves in the scrimmage at free safety and strong safety, respectively. Both showed good speed and came up quickly against the run.
With several players nursing injuries, Noah Williams and J.J. Parson are making the most of their opportunities.
“They came here as walk-ons and earned scholarships,” said Anderson. “They do things right and whatever you ask.”
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Cornerbacks
Returning All-America Paulson Adebo is having a strong camp and Obi Eboh is the other front-runner while Treyjohn Butler and Ethan Bonner get healthy. Freshmen Kyu Blu Kelly, Zahran Manley and Salim Turner-Muhammad will all vie for playing time.
Anderson wants his defense to be more physical and it has demonstrated that in 10 practices. He also wants to minimize big plays.
“A lot of our issues were poor tackling,” Anderson said. “We’ve tried to address that since the spring.”
Shaw has instituted more one-on-one tackling periods, with tight ends going against outside linebackers, running backs going against inside linebackers and wide receivers going against defensive backs.
“I think it’s really helping,” said Anderson.
Guest Speaker
The Cardinal dedicated more than an hour on Tuesday to listen to a great message from Shan Foster, former Vanderbilt basketball player who played in the NBA and was the 2008 SEC Player of the Year. Foster’s message centered around relationship violence and redefining manhood. Foster spoke to the Cardinal — both football and men’s basketball programs — about holding their teammates and brothers accountable in the process. He ended by talking to the teams about using their influence – at home, around campus and in the locker room — to change how women are viewed, treated and respected in society in an effort to end relationship violence.
Open House
The public is invited to attend Sunday’s practice from 3-5:20 p.m. at Elliott Field. Afterward, freshmen and sophomore players will conduct a clinic for kids 18-and-under from 5:40-6:15 p.m. From 6:15-7:00 p.m., juniors and seniors will sign autographs.
Fan Fest
Many pregame activities are scheduled prior to kickoff for the Northwestern game. Located near the hammer throw area at Cobb Field, activities will include a petting zoo, rock wall climbing, face painting, a bounce house and chalk talk. Food trucks will be available and Fan Fest runs from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Photo credit: gostanford.com
Notes
The first AP poll is scheduled to be released on Monday…In a Sports Illustrated poll of the Greatest College Mascots of All-Time, the Stanford Tree was ranked No. 5…Freshman Joshua Pakola has been moved from outside linebacker to defensive end.
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