Tag: NCAA Football

15 Stanford football players showcased their talents at Pro Day

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By: Ana Kieu

JJ Arcega-Whiteside had hoped to turn a few heads Thursday in Stanford’s annual Pro Timing Day. He did just that in front of representatives from 32 NFL teams, totaling more than 100 personnel, including more than 20 position coaches, four general managers, and San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan Facing scrutiny and evaluation in the weight room and on the field, he ran 4.49 in the 40-yard dash and posted 34 inches in the vertical jump and 9’10” in the broad jump.

“I thought it went as good as it could go,” Arcega-Whiteside said. “I got mostly everything that I wanted accomplished.”

Once he strapped on his gold cleats and got loose, Arcega-Whiteside’s butterflies disappeared.

“It was nerve-racking for about six days because it’s Pro Day,” Arcega-Whiteside said. “At the end of the day, we’re playing football. As soon as I touched the field, it was like nobody else was here. Once you get here and get warmed up, the nerves go out the window.”

Some have speculated that Arcega-Whiteside (6-2 1/8, 223-pounds) could be a late first or early second selection in the NFL Draft from April 25-27.

“You always wonder,” Arcega-Whiteside said. “Wherever I go is where I’m going to go. I know the team that drafts me is the team I want to go to because they want me.”

David Shaw, the Bradford M. Freeman Director of Football, thinks someone will be happy they chose Arcega-Whiteside.

“I would say the two things I know for sure are that JJ Arcega-Whiteside can change field position and he can score touchdowns,” Sha said. “You can look at his game and pick it apart, but those are two things that have been consistent on this level, in high school, and will be consistent on the next level.”

Asked why Stanford has become a pipeline to the NFL, Arcega-Whiteside said, “We’ve got ballers here. I play with them and practice with them every day and they make me better. I’m just proud to be part of this program.”

Other former Stanford players who participated were Joey Alfieri, Jake Bailey, Isaiah Brandt-Sims, Jesse Burkett, Keller Chryst, Brandon Fanaika, A.T. Hall, Nate Herbig, Alijah Holder, Trenton Irwin, Bryce Love, Alameen Murphy, Bobby Okereke, and Kaden Smith.

Following a welcome from Shaw, players who did not attend the recent NFL Combine were available for classroom questions. Then, everyone moved to the weight room for the vertical jump, broad jump and bench press.

Former Cardinal standouts Solomon Thomas and Joshua Garnett, now members of the 49ers, were among the interested onlookers.

“Got some work in and came back to see the young bucks,” Garnett said.

Thomas did the same and sprinted down the back steps just in time to watch Alfieri hoist his first bench press.

“Come on, Joey!” Thomas yelled.

Nervous family members watched and paced in the back. While they were under strict orders not to cheer, current and former players picked up the slack, encouraging, clapping and cheering.

Burkett and Fanaika led the group with 23 bench press reps. Hall hit 18 reps, Alfieri completed 17, and Okereke had 16.

Brandt-Sims ran the fastest 40 time at 4.47 and Alfieri ran 4.49. Okereke timed 7.03 in the three-cone drill.

Alfieri’s vertical leap measured 33.5 inches, while Chryst also touched that same mark.

Late-season injuries sidelined Love and Irwin, but both were present and vocal supporters of their former Cardinal teammates.

“Right now, I’m just getting on the straight line running,” said Love. “Starting to get on the treadmill and all that. I’m feeling good. Workout-wise, I’m pretty much doing all the exercises I want to do. On-the-field, hopefully in a few more weeks.”

Love hasn’t given much thought to when he will be picked in the NFL Draft. He’s training in Pensacola, Florida.

“Right now, I’m just focusing on the things I can control,” Love said. “At the end of the day, making sure I am in the physical shape I need to be. From there, I know what I am as a player. I’m confident in that. Whatever team I go to, I know what I’m working for and towards.”

Stanford Pro Timing Day was broadcasted by ESPN3 and taped by the NFL Network. Notables in attendance included ex-Stanford standouts John Lynch, GM of the 49ers, and Christian McCaffrey, a breakout star for the Carolina Panthers. In addition to Shanahan, Oakland GM Mike Mayock, Buffalo General Manager Brandon Beane and New England Patriots Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio were also on hand.

Under Shaw, the Cardinal has produced 30 draft picks, including six first-round selections since the 2012 NFL Draft, the most of any Pac-12 conference program. Andrew Luck was the No. 1 overall choice in 2012. In 2017, Thomas was taken third overall by the 49ers, the highest defensive pick in program history. McCaffrey was selected eighth in the same draft by the Panthers.

Stanford has produced 25 NFL Draft first-round picks and has had 263 players drafted by NFL teams since 1936. Four Cardinal players have been chosen in the first round in the last four years.

“They’re showing off all the hard work they’ve put in,” Shaw said. “We remind them your film is the most important thing. But you want to come out here and show you’re willing to work and execute. Our guys ran fast, jumped high, and as usual, knocked out all the interviews, because they’re great kids. It’s been a great day.”

Asked why Stanford continues to churn out so many NFL players, Shaw said it wasn’t by accident.

“We talk about recruiting the trifecta,” Shaw said. “We want high academics, high character and great football players. We want to bring in guys who have aspirations to play this game at the highest level. We want that to be the mentality here. We run NFL schemes in all three phases.”

Shaw and McCaffrey had a long conversation on the field.

“It was great to see him,” said Shaw. “He has always said he wants to come back during the offseason and be around this place. He loves this place and the people. It’s such a great time here, on the field and off. And his best friends are here. I love that fact that he’s here to be around our current players, because he’s the example of how to train hard, how to work hard and play at a high level. And at the same time, be a great person and a great leader. He’s doing the same thing on the next level, which is not a surprise to any of us.”

McCaffrey is a Love fan.

“Everything he brought to Stanford in college he can bring to the NFL,” McCaffrey said. “He’s an every-down back with all of the attributes you want in a back. He’s dedicated, he breaks tackles, he’s smart. It was an honor to play with him and watch him. Wherever he goes, he’s going make a team better.”

The second session of spring practice resumed this week and culminates with the Spring Game on April 13 in Cagan Stadium at 1 pm. An open practice will be held on Saturday from 10:10 am- 12:10 pm.

Stanford football’s Pro Day to take place on Thursday

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Photo credit: gostanford.com

By: Ana Kieu

The Stanford Cardinal football team’s NFL Pro Timing Day will take place Thursday at Siebel Practice Field starting at 11 am PT. ESPN3 will broadcast the high-profile event with Troy Clardy ’97 and Tank Williams ’02 on the call.

15 former Stanford student-athletes are expected to showcase their skills in the weight room and on the field. Those 15 include linebacker Joey Alfieri, wide receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside, punter Jake Bailey, wide receiver Isaiah Brandt-Sims, center Jesse Burkett, quarterback Keller Chryst, offensive lineman Brandon Fanaika, offensive lineman A.T. Hall, defensive back Alijah Holder, offensive lineman Nate Herbig, wide receiver Trenton Irwin, running back Bryce Love, defensive back Alameen Murphy, linebacker Bobby Okereke, and tight end Kaden Smith.

Stanford’s Pro Day will operate with a similar format to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis each winter.

The day will consist of classroom testing, weight room evaluations, on-field agility drills and football-specific position drills.

In the morning, select participants will begin in the weight room with measurables such as vertical leap, broad jump and bench press. After that, they’ll participate in the outdoor portion of the event. The outdoor drills are open to the public and admission is free.

On the field, select participants will be timed in the 40-yard dash, 5-10-5 shuttle, three-cone agility and position-specific drills.

Stanford will host its annual Cardinal and White Spring Game at Cagan Stadium on Saturday, April 13 at 1 pm PT. Admission is free and players will be available for postgame autographs.

Steve and Cheryl Caplan commit $1 million to San Jose State football

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State University announced Thursday that they received a $1 million gift commitment from Steve and Cheryl Caplan. The gift is the latest commitment in a growing list of seven-figure gifts that will support a new football operations center on the east side of CEFCU Stadium, Home of the Spartans. An additional $1 million from their estate will establish the Caplan Family Faculty Fellowship in the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business, the Caplan Family Teacher Innovation Fund in the Connie L. Lurie College of Education, and a Spartan Athletics Fund Scholarship endowment.

“My favorite donor stories are those that begin with ‘They met while they were students at SJSU.’ Throughout a lifetime of giving back, Steve and Cheryl’s passion, commitment and love for San Jose State has never wavered,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Marie Tuite. “This gracious gift reflects their strong belief in and support of SJSU Athletics. However, more importantly, this gift also confirms their pledge to the educational mission of the university. Countless students will benefit from their impactful and inspirational gift. A sincere ‘thank you’ to two great Spartans.”

The Caplans first met at SJSU and recognize the role that the university plays in the economic well-being of Silicon Valley. They hope this gift will enable SJSU to continue its good work for future generations, help build a stronger foundation for Spartan football and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, and inspire friends and fellow alumni to invest in the university.

Spartans for Life
A 1965 graduate of SJSU’s College of Business, Steve is the retired owner and president of KBM Workspace, an office furniture and design company. He joined the firm when he was a senior at SJSU and purchased the company in 1984, helping it grow from a local dealership to a large company with business throughout the U.S. and Canada. He is a founding board member of the Tower Foundation of SJSU, an auxiliary organization whose sole mission is to serve the philanthropic purposes of SJSU. Currently serving his third term as a board member, Steve is also an active volunteer, helping alumni discover ways to support Spartan Athletics, including the development of a new football operations center.

Cheryl taught public school after graduating from SJSU’s College of Education in 1967. The mother of two boys, she served as a volunteer in the Loma Prieta School District and worked with the principal and superintendent, researching and implementing curriculum, and creating a preschool testing program that helped parents, teachers and children prepare for kindergarten. She became well-versed in the issues challenging education, including communication between families and schools, adequate funding and teacher preparation.

Steve’s goal with Spartan Athletics is to raise awareness and support the funding effort for the renovation of the east side of CEFCU Stadium. The Caplans believe that the future of SJSU Athletics is very bright, as there is a very cohesive team in place that understands the critical nature of the need for competitive facilities that will put the university on equal footing with others in the conference.

The Caplans have been on the boards of service organizations such as the San Jose Hospital, Samaritan Health Systems, The Health Trust, YMCA of Silicon Valley, KTEH/KQED Public Television, Santa Clara County Boy Scouts of America, the San Jose Rotary Club and Tahoe Maritime Museum and Gardens.

“Through this magnificent gift and with hearts full of appreciation, Cheryl and I acknowledge the gift of education we received as young adults,” said Steve. “We hope these gifts will enable San Jose State to continue its good work for future generations of students and student-athletes alike. We also wish to model philanthropic behavior for our family members, friends and future generations of Spartans.”

“The Caplans are longtime, incredibly dedicated supporters of San Jose State. This generous commitment is a testament to their deep and abiding passion for this institution,” said Vice President for University Advancement and Tower Foundation CEO Paul Lanning. “They believe in the importance of both academics and athletics as vital elements of a comprehensive university. We’re so thankful for their leadership as dedicated alumni, volunteers and donors to their alma mater.”

“Steve and Cheryl Caplan have been incredible partners with San Jose State football over the years,” said SJSU Football Head Coach Brent Brennan. “They are helping us connect with and inspire Spartans to invest in our program, and they’re leading by example through this most generous gift. I am grateful to the Caplans, as this gift represents another step forward in providing our program the facilities it needs to compete at the highest level in the Mountain West.”

To track fundraising progress and learn how you can support Spartan football, please visit sjsufootball.com or contact Deputy Athletics Director for Athletics Advancement Josh Thiel at (408) 924-1697 or joshua.thiel@sjsu.edu.

About San Jose State University
The founding campus of the 23-campus CSU system, SJSU provides a comprehensive university education, granting bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in 250 areas of study — offered through its eight colleges.

With more than 35,000 students and nearly 4,370 employees, SJSU continues to be an essential partner in the economic, cultural and social development of Silicon Valley and the state, annually contributing 10,000 graduates to the workforce.

The university is proud of the accomplishments of its more than 280,000 alumni, 60 percent of whom live and work in the Bay Area.

About San Jose State Athletics
SJSU sponsors 22 (nine men’s and 13 women’s) NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports programs for approximately 470 student-athletes annually. In football, the Spartans are a member of Division I’s FBS, the NCAA’s highest level of competition.

The Spartans’ primary conference affiliation is with the Mountain West. Selected teams belong to the MPSF, the WAC, and the GCC.

SJSU 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.

Dave Chaney to be enshrined in CEFCU Stadium Ring of Honor

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By: Ana Kieu

Dave Chaney, the first San Jose State Spartans football player to be a two-time All-America selection since the Spartans began playing the sport at the major college level in 1950, will be enshrined in the CEFCU Stadium Ring of Honor during the 2019 football season. SJSU AD Marie Tuite made the announcement.

Chaney was a linebacker on the 1969 to 1971 SJSU teams from his sophomore through senior seasons. The product of Greenfield, Calif., and King City (Calif.) High School played much bigger than his 5-foot-11, 210-pound listed size. In his three seasons, he established school career records for tackles, interception return yardage and interceptions returned for a touchdown. His 527 career tackles in just three seasons still remains a SJSU record 48 years later.

“There are 11 guys on the field at one time — 10 other guys out on the field with me. I don’t want to take all the credit,” said Chaney.

“There are not enough words in the dictionary. I’m in awe of the award. What can I say? I played with some great players and we had good teams. What do you say when someone drops a ‘bomb’ on you and catches you off guard.”

The 1970 second-team All-America selection cemented his spot as a first-team All-America in 1971 with his National Lineman of the Week performance in SJSU’s stunning 13-12 upset over #10-ranked and eventual Rose Bowl champion Stanford. Chaney was credited with 17 tackles (12 unassisted), 4.0 tackles for lost yardage, two fumble recoveries and a third-quarter pass interception on a day when Stanford had 95 offensive plays.

Chaney became the first modern era SJSU player to be selected as a first-team All-America. The two-time, first-team all-conference and All-West Coast honoree would become the first Spartan to accept an invitation and play in a Senior Bowl.

“There is no doubt Dave Chaney is one of the greatest football players in San Jose State history. His legend as a Spartan clearly has stood the test of time and lives on today. It is clearly time to have his name in our Ring of Honor for what he symbolizes as a San Jose State football player — an unparalleled playing career and a noteworthy professional career of accomplishments and service to his local community,” said Tuite.

Though he was a 1972 draft choice of the Kansas City Chiefs, Chaney elected to pursue a career as a high school special education teacher and was a successful tennis coach. His teams won 12 league championships and more than 400 dual matches in a 20-year coaching career.

This latest SJSU honor follows having his jersey #52 retired, being named to the SJS Sports Hall of Fame, and being named to the SJSU football All-Century team in 1995.

He’s also enshrined in the Salinas Valley Sports Hall of Fame and was named as the #5 greatest athlete in the Salinas area of the 20th century by the Salinas Californian.

Chaney is joining Bob Bronzan, Jack Elway, Claude Gilbert, John Ralston, Dick Vermeil, Bill Walsh and Pop Warner, best known for their coaching achievements; quarterbacks Steve DeBerg and Jeff Garcia; running back Gerald Willhite; and five-time Pro Bowl defensive back Louie Wright in the CEFCU Stadium Ring of Honor started in 1998 to celebrate the university’s history, tradition and excellence in sports.

San Jose State football showcased their skills in Saturday scrimmage

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Photo credit: @AnaKieu

By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — A lot went on this week for San Jose State Spartans football, including the 2019 SJSU Spartans Coaches Clinic, where the Spartans’ coaching staff connected and talked ball with over 100 coaches from the State of California. The Spartans, however, wrapped up the busy week with a scrimmage in CEFCU Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Last week, big plays highlighted SJSU’s first scrimmage. This week, SJSU was back at it for their second scrimmage, which was fairly low-key as there were fewer fans in attendance.

Classic rock, R&B, pop, and electro house blasted out of the speakers in CEFCU. The players took the field, practiced their runs, and created big plays. Last season, SJSU was unskilled in running the ball in some key situations against the Wyoming Cowboys and Nevada Wolf Pack, just to name a few Mountain West teams.

The position groups huddled and talked during the unofficial halftime of the scrimmage. After 10 minutes or so, the groups returned to their respective spots on the field.

It wasn’t long before SJSU got a first down and kept possession of the ball. Though, it was an arguable first down because the play was whistled dead by the officials. But I’m going to let you make your own call on the play.

A notable highlight was when a defensive player caught a ball that was initially kicked several feet into the air and stopped a potential scoring play by the offensive unit. Both the players and fans erupted in cheers as all eyes were on the field.

Shortly after, the defense forced the ball out and forced a turnover, which flipped the script. But let’s not forget that this scrimmage was purely spring ball. It’s clear the defense has improved, but they’ll need more than sacks. SJSU will face a tough test in its home opener against the Northern Colorado Bears on August 29th. Northern Colorado’s an FCS team, but they won two games in the 2018 and had one more win than SJSU. So SJSU has to make more than one solid defensive secondary play to hold off Northern Colorado.

Nine San Jose State football players are pursuing pro careers

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Disregarding a brief midday rain shower, nine seniors from the 2018 San Jose State Spartans football team stated their case to continue playing the game at the Spartans’ annual Pro Day activities this week.

Representatives from 22 NFL and CFL teams examined, measured, and tested defensive linemen Bryson Bridges and Boogie Roberts; quarterback Michael Carrillo; kicker Bryce Crawford; wide receiver Justin Holmes; defensive backs Dakari Monroe and John Toussaint; tight end Josh Oliver, and running back Malike Roberson.

Bridges, Holmes, Monroe and Toussaint participated in all the activities similar to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis–the vertical jump, bench press of 225 lbs, standing long jump, 40-yard dash, and three shuttle runs of various lengths.

Tight end Josh Oliver, the lone Spartan invited to the 2019 NFL Combine, and one of the best overall performers at his position, was measured for height and weight and participated in pass catching drills at the end of the testing session.

Monroe’s marks in the vertical leap of 35.5 inches and 11.70 in the “long shuttle” were among the best by a SJSU senior in recent years. In 2017, current Chicago Bears linebacker Isaiah Irving had a 36.0 inch leap and former New York Giants fullback Shane Smith was even better at 37 inches. In 2016, Cleveland Wallace III’s 11.43 in the long shuttle is the best time by the Spartan prior to Monroe’s time this year.

Big plays highlighted first San Jose State scrimmage

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By: Ana Kieu

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Big plays such as long touchdown passes, pick-sixes, and vice versa highlighted the San Jose State Spartans’ first scrimmage of the 2019 spring practice period.

SJSU was in full pads to conclude the second week of spring practice with a 70-plus plays scrimmage when adding in some special teams work.

“We had a great day. We had a bunch of fans and recruits here. We had our man, ‘DJ Brother Reese’ spinnin’ tunes for us. And, the guys ran around. Looked like the energy was great, intense and we made some plays on both sides of the ball,” said SJSU head coach Brent Brennan.

“We did a nice job of creating some turnovers and getting to the quarterback, threw it well and caught it well, and had some nice runs. We had a lot of young players trying to figure it out. So, it’s pretty exciting,”

The offense had the upper hand early. Senior quarterback Josh Love showed the form similar to the 2018 Hawaii game when he threw for 451 yards and three touchdowns. As the first signal-caller under center, Love completed 9-of-12 for 150 yards and touchdown passes of 13 yards to Leki Nunn and 37 yards to Tre Walker.

Freshman quarterback Nick Nash accounted for the offense’s remaining two touchdowns. Nash recently found community college transfer Lamar Housley streaking down the right sideline for a 96-yard touchdown play. Nash, the son of one-time Spartan wide receiver Kenny Nash from the 1980’s, concluded the offense’s scoring with a 4-yard run. Nash was the leading rusher in the scrimmage with 49 yards on eight carries.

Walker, the team leader in receiving yards with 714 in 2018, showed off his big-play explosiveness as the receiving leader with four receptions for 105 yards and the 37-yard touchdown play.

The Spartan defense scored on interception returns of 43 yards by junior safety Bobby Brown, II, and 24 yards by senior linebacker Ethan Aguayo. The defense also was credited with five quarterback sacks–two of them by sophomore defensive tackle Jamaar Hardy.

“I think we’re moving that way. And, I think recruiting is a big part of that,” Brennan said when asked about upgrading the overall speed of the team. “We have a handful of guys that will join us this summer that will add to our speed and length that we need.

“I thought the offensive line and Josh (Love) did a nice job picking up some of the pressure. It was fun. I thought the players had a great time. It’s just another step for us and we need to keep taking steps in the right direction with this team.”

SJSU hosts its next scrimmage on Saturday, March 23 at 11 am PT.

Weekend scrimmage on tap for San Jose State football

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Photo credit: sjsuspartans.com

By: Ana Kieu

Linebackers Christian Webb and Lionell Wiggins share a lot in common. They are in their first spring with the San Jose State football team after joining the Spartans last fall as community college transfers. They contributed mainly as special teams players last year and are looking to earn spots in the linebacker rotation in their senior season.

“My first spring as a Spartan has been amazing. I really love the environment. It’s a great chance to learn plays and get used to the system than when you come (than) in during the fall,” said Webb, an Orange Coast College transfer.

“Spring has been going very well. Having a new linebackers coach in Coach (Scott) White and having him open his hands up to me and show me my assignment and what I am supposed to do on each and every play, it’s been going quite well,” said Wiggins, a transfer from San Jose City College. “He keeps coaching me and helps me get better as a player,” His older brother is former SJSU defensive lineman Larnell Ransom who was a Spartan from 2002 to 2004.

When Webb and Wiggins are on the field for Saturday’s first full-contact scrimmage, they will be keeping their eyes on a wide receivers group hoping for big things. Those WRs are Tre Walker, who came on strong at the end of the season to finish as the team leader in receiving yards with 714, Bailey Gaither, who averaged 20.4 yards per catch, JaQuan Blackwell and Leki Nunn. All four players have the most experience in the WR group.

According to WR coach Kevin Cummings, he will be looking for big plays from his group, not just in the passing game, but in the running game, too.

“This Saturday, I want guys to be physical. It will be the first time our guys can be ‘live’ in their blocking. I want our guys to be very physical in the run game, because we have to be a better run team this year. We know that. It starts with the receivers getting out on the perimeter and giving the running backs space to run,” said Cummings.

“For the linebacker corps, we want to make sure we want to grade out high first. We want to do our jobs and know our responsibilities. After that, we want to be explosive. We want to make plays and have ‘100-100’ effort,” Webb added.

When Webb referenced ‘100-100,’ it also could refer to he and Wiggins giving it a 100% effort in the classroom, too. Webb and Wiggins are two more of the program record-setting 29 SJSU football players to be named Academic All-Mountain West for last season.

“That was a huge accomplishment. It shows I’m not just a football player. I’m also a student as well. They say we’re ‘student-athletes.’ You have to be a student, first, and an athlete, second,” said Wiggins, a sociology major.

The first SJSU football scrimmage of the 2019 spring practice session is Saturday, March 16, 7:30 pm in CEFCU Stadium. There is no admission charge.

Two major gifts support San Jose State football operations center

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By: Ana Kieu

San Jose State University is pleased to announce that it has received two major gifts to support a new football operations center on the east side of CEFCU Stadium, home of the Spartans. Thomas Thompson, ’72 Behavioral Science, and his wife, Jane Bradley, have committed $500,000 to support the development of the new football facility, with a remaining percentage of their trust to establish the Thomas E. Thompson Athletics Scholarship. SJSU Athletics is also proud to share that an additional gift of $500,000 has been committed to support their football center by an anonymous donor.

“Both of these gifts come from long-time football season ticket holders and steadfast supporters of our Athletics program,” said Marie Tuite, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “They are also keenly aware of the importance and significance of completing the funding for the football operations center. Tom and Jane believe in San Jose State and support the mission of the entire university. Our anonymous donor may be one of my favorite individuals–he simply wants us to build the football center and enhance the opportunities for our football program. I’m offering a sincere and gracious ‘thank you’ to these terrific Spartans.”

By supporting the creation of the new SJSU football operations building, these gifts will enable future generations of Spartan athletes to pursue an education while playing NCAA Division I  sports.

Bringing Sport to New Heights
At 6-foot-8, Thompson gravitated toward basketball at a young age, playing in high school and community college. He later transferred to SJSU. Thompson was the first in his family to graduate from both high school and college–achievements that made it possible for him to pursue careers in juvenile probation, construction management, trade association management and real estate. He and his wife are grateful for the opportunity to give back to his alma mater.

“Jane and I want to show our appreciation to SJSU and to assist future students,” said Thompson, a long-time fan of SJSU football and basketball. “San Jose State provided my only opportunity for a good education at essentially no cost, and a great foundation to help me later earn a graduate degree. With the scholarship, we hope that students will have the chance to play football or basketball while earning a degree, just like I did.”

The anonymous donor, who graduated from SJSU in the 1960s, is also a loyal fan of Spartan football.

“I am making this gift because I believe the football program is moving in the right direction under the leadership of Marie Tuite and Coach Brennan,” the anonymous donor said. “I know there are other Spartans like me who care deeply about this program and want to see it thrive. It is my hope that other Spartans will join the growing group of donors in doing what they can to provide Coach Brennan and the program with the resources necessary to compete in the Mountain West.”

“Our momentum continues to build as we move closer to our goal of creating modern, vibrant spaces for our student-athletes and our fans,” said Paul Lanning, vice president for university advancement and CEO of the Tower Foundation. “We are so excited to see donors like these and so many others investing in the future of SJSU football, Athletics and the university.”

To track fundraising progress and learn how you can support Spartan football, please visit sjsufootball.com or contact Josh Thiel, Deputy Athletics Director for Athletics Advancement, at (408) 924-1697 or joshua.thiel@sjsu.edu.

About San Jose State University
The founding campus of the 23-campus California State University system, SJSU provides a comprehensive university education, granting bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in 250 areas of study–offered through its eight colleges.

With more than 35,000 students and nearly 4,370 employees, SJSU continues to be an essential partner in the economic, cultural and social development of Silicon Valley and the state, annually contributing 10,000 graduates to the workforce.

The university is proud of the accomplishments of its more than 270,000 alumni, 60% of whom live and work in the Bay Area.

About San Jose State Athletics
SJSU sponsors 22 (nine men’s and 13 women’s) NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports programs for approximately 470 student-athletes annually. In football, the Spartans are a member of Division I’s FBS, the NCAA’s highest level of competition.

The Spartans’ primary conference affiliation is with the MW. Selected teams belong to the MPSF, the WAC, and the GCC.

SJSU 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 institutional, conference or national recognition based on outstanding academic performance.

San Jose State/Mountain West Tournament podcast with Ana Kieu: Men’s basketball sets sights on Mountain West tournament; Spring football madness; plus more

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Photo credit: @SJSUMBB, @SJSUSpartanFB, and sjsuspartans.com

On the San Jose State podcast with Ana:

1. SJSU lost to Wyoming 81-71 and was unable to get a win for Oumar Barry on Senior Night last Wednesday.

2. More than two dozen SJSU student-athletes called donors to thank them for their support of the Spartan Athletics Fund and SJSU’s 22 Division I sports programs last Wednesday.

3. SJSU closed out the 2018-19 season with a horrifically embarrassing loss 121-81 at Fresno State last Saturday.

4. SJSU has been putting in work in spring football to prepare for the 2019 season.

5. What does SJSU need to do to beat the No. 6 Air Force Falcons in the first round of the Mountain West Conference men’s basketball tournament?

Ana recorded the San Jose State podcasts each week for SportsRadioService.com. Catch Ana on the San Jose Earthquakes podcasts as the Quakes’ season progresses.