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.
Make the most of Reunion and your trip back to The Farm with a Stanford football game. Opportunities for your entire class to get together come along only once every five years. Sit with your classmates by using the unique promo code distributed by the Alumni Association.
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.
Former San Jose State kicker Bryce Crawford is among 214 previous nominees for the William V. Campbell Trophy planning to attend the third annual Campbell Trophy Summit sponsoered by Intuit, Inc., at Stanford University, August 14-17.
Former college football stars will have an opportunity to learn from and meet major entrepreneurs and Silicon Valley Chief Executive Officers and participate in a career expo. The goal of the summit is pass along insights for leadership and personal growth to the next generation.
“It’s a real big honor. There is a prestigious group of people I will get to meet and network with. It’s something that will be very valuable for me in the future,” said Crawford, who was San Jose State’s 2018 nominee for the Campbell Trophy, considered as the “Academic Heisman” award in college football. The former Spartan kicker hopes to participate in this event annually.
“Bill was absolutely passionate about football, and he believed deeply in what you learned from playing the game,” said National Football Foundation President & CEO Steve Hatchell. “He never, never took his foot off the accelerator in talking about the benefits of the game. So, we are really thankful that Intuit has stepped forward to fund the summit for a third year as a tribute to Bill’s legacy of mentoring. We received amazing feedback from the participants who attended the first two Summits, and more than 50 percent are coming back. The Summit has quickly become its own community, and it’s a great showcase for the impact college football has in creating educational opportunities for those who play our sport.”
The late Bill Campbell played and coached football at Columbia University before becoming chairman of Intuit and board member of Apple, Inc., and Google. He’s credited with mentoring Steve Jobs of Apple, Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook, Sergey Brin of Google, and many more Silicon Valley icons.
Companies participating in the career expo include Altamont Capital, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Deloitte, Enjoy, EY, Google, Intuit, JMI Sports, McChrystal Group, SoFi, Sonim Technologies, WeDriveU and the XFL as well as professionals from the medical and real state fields and several entrepreneurs from a diverse range of emerging companies.
New San Jose State assistant football coach Scott White remembers his playing days at the University of Washington, A four-year starter at linebacker for the Huskies, he was a second-team All-Pac-10 Conference selection in his senior year.
White excelled by keeping the game as simple as possible. And, he has taken that credo and carried it over into his coaching career at stops that include Central Washington University, Palomar College and UCLA. Along the way, he paved the way for a number of linebackers at each school to excel and then move on to a professional career.
“That’s a big part of my job. I have a motto, ‘The brilliance is in the simplicity. How simple can I make that?’ without them having to figure it out on their own,” White said about his coaching philosophy.
“Let me do all the thinking. You guys can go out and play on your own. That’s how I approach it. Put them in a position, simplify things so they can go out and play football the best.”
“This group has been great to work with, great to be around, to develop. They’re working their butts off, getting better every day and learning how to play,” White said about the start of his first season as a Spartans’ position coach.
In 2018, White was a team analyst with no coaching responsibilities.
For senior Ethan Aguayo, the team’s leading tackler from last season, he appreciates White’s approach to the fine art of playing the linebacker position.
“Coach White’s been great. He’s been the one lining us up for success giving us the finer details of our assignments. He pushes us to be our best. He’s going to give us his best every day in the classroom and on the field. So, we have to be willing to do the same for him,” said Aguayo.
For the remainder of the week prior to the August 17 FanFest on the practice field, the message again is simple according to the Spartan senior.
“Focusing on our assignments and giving a ‘blue line effort’ — 100-100 every day. The one thing we can control is our effort and our attitude,” Aguayo said.
The FanFest begins with a 5:30 p.m. scrimmage followed by a 7:00 p.m. barbecue meal. To close out the day with the Spartans, the movie “Spider-Man; Into the Spider Verse” will be shown.
Tickets for the barbecue and movie are $25.00 each, but free to Shield 365 members. There’s no charge to watch the scrimmage.
Tickets for the San Jose State season opener versus the Northern Colorado Bears on August 29 and all home games are available at www.sjsuspartans.com/tickets.
From former all-conference offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer starting at a new position for the Atlanta Falcons to former fullback Shane Smith signing with the New Orleans Saints, it was an eventful first weekend for San Jose State University football alums in the NFL.
Schweitzer, a right guard since joining the Atlanta Falcons in 2016, was their starting center for the second week in a row. The Falcons lost to the Miami Dolphins 34-27. Schweitzer was one of three Spartans to start a preseason game in the NFL’s preseason week #1.
Isaiah Irving was a starting outside linebacker for the Chicago Bears in their 23-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers. Irving was not credited with any tackles.
Jeremiah Kolone started at right guard for the Los Angeles Rams against the Oakland Raiders.
MORE SAN JOSE STATE UPDATES: David Fales, QB, Detroit Lions — 5-of-14 passing with an interception for 62 yards and no touchdowns in the Lions’ 31-3 loss to the New England Patriots. Fales was sacked five times.
Andre Chachere, CB, Detroit Lions — Played in the 31-3 loss to the New England Patriots; not credited with any tackles.
Tyler Ervin, RB, Baltimore Ravens — Was an all-purpose back in the Ravens’ 29-0 shutout over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ervin rushed four times for five yards, returned a kickoff for 21 yards, and handled two punts. His 24-yard punt return was one of the longest returns in week #1. The 24-yard return set-up a 57-yard Baltimore touchdown drive.
Josh Oliver, TE — The 2019 Jacksonville Jaguars’ third-round draft choice did not play in week #1 due to injury.
Akeem King, CB, Seattle Seahawks — Was in on three tackles in Seattle’s 22-14 win over the Denver Broncos.
Dakari Monroe, CB, Kansas City Chiefs — Credited with two tackles, a pass break-up and one special teams tackle in Kansas City’s 38-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bené Benwikere, CB, Minnesota Vikings — Was in on two tackles and a pass break-up in Minnesota’s 34-25 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Shane Smith, FB — The New Orleans Picayune reports Smith joining the New Orleans Saints as a free agent on August 11. Smith played two games for the New York Giants in 2018 before he was released.
David Quessenberry, OL — Played as a reserve offensive lineman in the Tennessee Titans’ 27-10 triumph over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Boogie Roberts, DL — Saw action as a reserve defensive lineman and was in on a tackle in the Los Angeles Rams’ 14-3 loss to the Oakland Raiders.
Keith Smith, FB — Oakland Raiders’ fullback missed the game due to injury.
Jermaine Kelly, CB — Was listed as “not active” by the Houston Texans in their 28-26 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State Spartans football held its first fall scrimmage at CEFCU Stadium on a breezy Saturday. Popular rap tunes such as “Homecoming” by Kanye West and “Bring Em Out” by T.I. blasted at full volume, and fans and media members alike took advantage of the wind.
The Spartans took the field and made it obvious that they gave a 100 percent effort. Although the regular season hasn’t started yet, this was an all-around great effort by the team, who finished last season with a lowly 1-11 (1-7 Mountain West) record.
“Defense did great today,”linebacker Tysyn Parker said. “We took a lot of the instruction in the film room in our defensive meetings and translated it onto the field.”
“I think, collectively, as a group, we’re playing better and we’re more accomplished, but our offense hasn’t been forming as well in practices — getting turnovers on defense — and our goal for the year is to prevent turnovers.”
Of course, San Jose State had the heart, talent and preparation. However, a powerful push on a snap stopped them short of a touchdown as defensive end Cameron Alexander went down with an apparent injury. Alexander, however, managed to get up off the field to get checked out by doctors.
At halftime, San Jose State players and coaches recuperated from a few frantic plays to gear up for the second half. “Headstrong” by Trapt played, and that, my friends, was the perfect song to motivate the Spartans, especially its lyrics, “Back off, I’ll take you on / Headstrong to take on anyone / I know that you are wrong / Headstrong, we’re Headstrong.”
The Spartans continued to play their best in the final minutes of the scrimmage. There was another Spartan first down that led to a punt on first down and offensive lineman Scott Breslin caught the punted ball.
Obviously, there were quite a few improvements to be made, but I’m fairly certain that the Spartans will address their issues.
“We executed,” defensive back Brandon Ezell said. “We did our assignment. We’re locked in.”
“We did our job. Still, some things to work on, but overall, we executed.”
“It’s coming fast,” head coach Brent Brennan. “There’s a lot of work to do and I’m excited to get back to work.”
“Alex Gallant, Hunter Nye, Jordan Cobbs, all those guys have been spreading like fire,” added Brennan.
NOTES: Former Spartan defensive tackle Boogie Roberts returned to the Bay Area for his first NFL game with the Rams at the Oakland Coliseum on Saturday.
San Jose State will host Retro Night at CEFCU Stadium on Thursday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m. versus Northern Colorado.
San Jose State University offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven is in his second season. It’s the first time in three years anyone can make that claim.
Put it another way. Spartans quarterback Josh Love has learned three different offensive schemes in his four-plus seasons as a Spartan.
Through the early stages of fall camp, many veteran offensive players have said how much more comfortable or second-nature the offense is to them compared to a year ago. Hopefully, that familiarity turns into more points.
“There’s no question those guys are playing faster with the concepts we’ve had in since last year. It’s knowing the signals, going through the coaching, the repetition. Those guys are able to really focus on the finer details whereas some of the young guys are still not playing as fast, because they don’t understand it. But the guys who have been here have a high level of understanding,” said McGiven.
The 2018 Spartans scored 49 more points than the previous Spartan group, but this year’s squad believes it is capable of much more. With eight practices in the books, the core of the offensive scheme is installed. Going forward, it’s practice, refinement, execution, and the added tweak or wrinkle for the unexpected surprise.
The offense will be on display Saturday, August 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the team’s first scrimmage of the fall inside CEFCU Stadium. McGiven hopes to see at least three things come out of the scrimmage.
“When we get into those scrimmage situations, I like to see a clean operation. Everything that is under our control pre-snap — no procedure penalties, turnovers, all those things besides the scheme that can cost you the game. You like to see it clean from that standpoint. And, I anxious to see the development of the young guys, see who can make plays and can push the starters,” McGiven said with the implicit understanding the offense will score points.
There is no charge to attend the August 10 scrimmage. Parking is available across the street in the Park & Ride Lot at 7th & Humboldt Streets.
Tickets for the San Jose State season opener with Northern Colorado on Thursday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m. and all home games are available at www.sjsuspartans.com/tickets.
SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State University Athletics and its multimedia rights holder, Learfield IMG College’s Spartan Sports Properties, announced Thursday that Real Talk 910 (KKSF-AM) in Oakland, Calif., will serve as the flagship station for Spartan football, effective through the 2021 athletics season.
As part of the agreement, Real Talk 910 will broadcast all Spartan football games live each season. The 2019 games can also be heard on PowerTalk 1460 AM (Salinas/Monterey), Power Talk 1360 AM (Modesto), and PowerTalk 1280 AM (Stockton). Broadcasts will begin with a 30-minute pregame show, the in-game broadcast, and conclude with a 30-minute post-game wrap-up. San Jose State football radio broadcasts will feature play-by-play announcer Justin Allegri, a.k.a. Voice of the Spartans, and analyst Kevin Richardson, who are entering their seventh season together.
“We’re delighted to be affiliated with San Jose State University as the flagship radio station for Spartan football,” said Kathryn Wilcox, iHeartMedia Markets Group President for the Northern California Region. “Our audience enjoys local content on Real Talk 910 and we are proud to offer programming affiliated with such a respected institution. While I don’t have any ‘lucky loafers’ like Coach (Brent) Brennan, we’ve still pulled out a win to be partnered with the team!”
In addition to tuning to Real Talk 910 during football season for game broadcasts, fans can also visit the Spartans’ official Facebook page for a live broadcast of the weekly Brent Brennan Show from the Hukilau restaurant in San Jose’s Japantown. The one-hour live show with the head football coach airs each week, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. PT, beginning Tuesday, August 27.
“We’re thrilled Real Talk 910 and the iHeartMedia Marketing Group are joining our Spartan Athletics family,” said Marie Tuite, San Jose State University Athletics Director. “We’re looking forward to this new broadcast agreement and appreciate their commitment to deliver exceptional, informative and entertaining Spartan football game day experiences over the airwaves for our fans.”
For those unable to tune in to Real Talk 910, the Spartan football broadcasts will also be available via the TuneIn app. In addition, Learfield IMG College’s Spartan Sports Properties, will oversee all aspects of the radio network on behalf of the university.
Real Talk 910 AM is the leading media outlet in the San Francisco market with multiple platforms, including its broadcast stations; live events; data; and its digital businesses and platforms, including mobile, social and its own iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s free all-in-one digital music, podcasting and live streaming radio service — with more than two billion app downloads and more than 130 million registered users.
About iHeartMedia San Francisco Bay Area
iHeartMedia San Francisco Bay Area operates KIOI-FM, KISQ-FM, KKSF-AM, KMEL-FM, KOSF-FM, and KYLD-FM, and is part of iHeartMedia. iHeartMedia is the number one audio company in the United States, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month — and with its quarter of a billion monthly listeners, has a greater reach than any other media company in the U.S. The company’s leadership position in audio extends across multiple platforms including more than 850 live broadcast stations; streaming music, radio and on demand via its iHeartRadio digital service available across more than 250 platforms and 2,000 devices including smart speakers, digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables, smartphones, virtual assistants, TVs and gaming consoles; through its influencers; social; branded iconic live music events; and podcasts as the #1 commercial podcast publisher globally. iHeartMedia also leads the audio industry in analytics and attribution technology for its marketing partners, using data from its massive consumer base. iHeartMedia is a division of iHeartMedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: IHRT). Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
About San Jose State Athletics
San Jose State University sponsors 22 (nine men’s and 13 women’s) NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports programs for approximately 490 student-athletes annually. In football, the Spartans are a member of Division I’s FBS, the NCAA’s highest level of competition, and compete in the Mountain West.
San Jose State has 10 NCAA team championships and 52 NCAA individual titles. 62 Spartans competed in one or more Olympic Games. SJSU athletes have won seven gold, six silver and seven bronze medals at the Olympics. Annually, about one-third of the student-athlete population earns either an institutional, conference or national recognition based on outstanding academic performance.
About Learfield IMG College
Spartan Sports Properties is the San Jose-based Learfield IMG College team that works alongside the athletics administration. Learfield IMG College unlocks the value of college sports for fans, brands, universities and conferences. The company is a longtime advocate for intercollegiate athletics and the student-athlete experience. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield IMG College Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.
