San Jose State Spartans football

The State Normal School at San Jose football team in 1910. Jerseys display a large "N" for "Normal"

San Jose State first fielded a football team in 1893 when the school was called the California State Normal School. They played a local YMCA team in 1893 and 1894. The Spartans achieved their first tie, a 6–6 decision against nearby College of the Pacific (this was also the first football game for Pacific).[2] The contest was played in late January 1896, but as was done starting in 1892, their game was counted in the 1895 academic year. The first regular football seasons began in 1898 and mostly consisted of games against local high schools and some colleges and junior colleges.[3] The 1898 San Jose State Spartans football team represented State Teachers College at San Jose during the 1898 college football season. In their first and only year under head coach Thad McKay, the Spartans compiled their first undefeated record at 5–0–1, and outscored their opponents by a total of 80 to 17. Many other milestones characterized the 1898 season, including the program's first shutout, and intercollegiate win (18 to 0 against College of the Pacific, also their first win overall), and their first season in which they participated in multiple games.[4]

During the 1930s and 1940s, the Spartan football program was considered a powerhouse, posting 12 consecutive winning seasons and earning eight conference championship titles over an 18-year span. The 1932 and 1939 teams went 7–0–2 and 13–0 respectively, the only undefeated seasons in school history, along with the 1898 5-0-1 season.[3][5] San Jose State first appeared in the national rankings in 1939 when the AP Poll ranked the Spartans No. 19 in week seven. The team would climb to No. 18 in week eight. Lloyd Thomas was the first San Jose State player to receive first-team All-America honors. Thomas played as an Defensive end on the 1936, 1937 and 1938 teams that fielded an insane combined record of 27–7–1. As of 2018, SJSU has produced over 70 All-America team members, including five first-team selections.[5]

Spartan Stadium (now known as CEFCU Stadium) was completed in 1933 with a capacity of 18,000. The Spartans won the first football game played in the stadium, 44–6, over San Francisco State on October 7, 1933.

The San Jose State Spartans football team served unexpectedly with the Honolulu Police Department during World War II. The team had just arrived in Hawaii to play a series of post-season bowl games against Hawai'i and the Willamette University Bearcats when the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. The team was stranded on the islands for a number of weeks following the attack, and players were employed by the local police department to help improve island defenses against a possible Japanese amphibious assault and as guards for military bases on the island.[5][6]

The Spartan football program posted just six winning seasons in the 1950s and '60s, but the 1970s would usher in a string of successful seasons spanning 20 years.

From 1971 to 1992, San Jose State posted 15 winning seasons, appeared in four bowl games and sent nearly 50 players to the NFL.[7]

SJSU's first win over a nationally ranked opponent occurred in 1971 when the Spartans defeated No. 10 Stanford 13–12 on November 13. Stanford would go on to defeat Michigan in the Rose Bowl that season.[8] SJSU's second win over a ranked opponent occurred four years later in 1975, when the Spartans defeated No. 15 Stanford 36–34 in a nationally televised game on September 27.[5] San Jose State also had victories over ranked opponents, No. 10 Baylor 30–22 in 1980, AP No. 19 ranked Fresno State 45–41 in a wild come from behind victory in 1986, and a 42–7 win over No. 23 Fresno State in 1990.[5]

During this period SJSU defeated what is now called Power Five conferences opponents 22 times and tied twice: a win over No. 10 Stanford 13–12 in 1971, a win over Cal 17–10 in 1972, a win over Utah 24–6 in 1974, a tie with Stanford 21–21 in 1974, a win over Oregon 5–0 in 1975, a win over No. 15 Stanford 36–34 in 1975 on a nationally televised game on ABC, a win over Washington State 31–26 in 1980 on a nationally televised game on ABC, a win over No. 10 Baylor 30–22 in 1980, a win over Stanford 28–6 in 1981, a win over Cal 27–24 in 1981 on a nationally televised game on ABC, a win over Stanford 35–31 in 1982 on a nationally televised game on CBS, a win over Oregon 18–13 in 1982, a win over Oregon State 17–13 in 1982, a win over Oregon 44–34 in 1983, a win over Stanford 23–10 in 1983, a win over Cal 33–18 in 1984, a win over Washington State 20–13 in 1986, a win over Cal 35–14 in 1986, a win over Stanford 24–17 in 1987, a win over Cal 27–25 in 1987, a win over Stanford 40–33 in 1989, a tie with Louisville 10–10 in 1990, a win over Stanford 29–23 in 1990, and a win over Minnesota 39–30 in 1992.

San Jose State appeared in the national rankings in 1975 for the first time in over 30 years when the team was ranked No. 20 in the AP Poll in week 13.[9] SJSU garnered its first post-season national ranking in 1990 when the Spartans finished No. 20 in the Coaches Poll.[3]

During this period games against rival Stanford from 1979 to 1982 pitted Stanford star quarterback John Elway against his father, Jack Elway, who served as the SJSU head football coach from 1979 to 1983. The two teams split the series 2–2, with the younger Elway defeating his father's team in 1979 and in 1980 the AP No. 15 ranked Stanford team won 35–21.The elder Jack Elway defeating his son's team in 1981 and 1982.[10] From 1981 to 1983 SJSU defeated Stanford 3 years a row.

There were 3 more Spartan victories over rival Stanford in a 4-year span in 1987, 1989 and 1990.

Two stadium expansions and renovations in the 1980s, with the addition of a Westside upper deck and Press boxes, increased the Spartan Stadium (now known as CEFCU Stadium) seating capacity from 18,000 to 30,456.

From 1993 to 2004, San Jose State had only one winning season in 2000 when the team finished 7–5. Despite a winning record in 2000, the team was not selected to participate in a post season bowl game. However, the team did garner two wins over ranked opponents during this period. The Spartans claimed a 25–22 victory over No. 24 Air Force in 1997 and a 27–24 win over No. 9 TCU in a nationally televised game in 2000.[5] The Spartans also defeated their rival the Stanford Cardinal 3 years in a row from 1998 to 2000.

By the spring of 2004, the combination of rising costs for the football program and budget cuts from the state led some San Jose State faculty members to advocate dropping football.[11][12]

In 2004, San Jose State defeated the Rice Owls 70–63 in a game that set the NCAA Division I record for total points scored and total touchdowns for a non-overtime game.[13]

James Jones catches a touchdown pass against Stanford in 2006 at Spartan Stadium

Coach Dick Tomey took over the program in 2005 amid Academic Progress Rate (APR) shortcomings that would result in severe penalties imposed by the NCAA.[14] After showing moderate improvement that year, the Spartans had a breakout season in 2006. It was the team's best season since joining the WAC ten years prior. Tomey guided the Spartans to a 9–4 record, a win over rival Fresno State, and a win over New Mexico in the 2006 New Mexico Bowl, thus ending the team's 16-year bowl drought. The 2006 Spartan squad produced two 2007 NFL draft picks in wide receivers James Jones and John Broussard.

From 2007 through the 2009 seasons, the San Jose State football program was hit with heavy NCAA sanctions for failing to meet APR standards. By the start of the 2009 season, the Spartans had lost 57 scholarships over a four-year period. By the spring of 2010, the NCAA penalties were lifted and a full complement of 85 scholarships was restored.[14]

The 2007 San Jose State Spartans football team was not as successful as the previous year's team, with the Spartans finishing 5–7 and 5th in the WAC. The post-season showed a positive result, however, with several players being named to all-star games including Dwight Lowery, Marcus Teland, Matt Castelo, and Adam Tafralis. The Spartans produced another draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, in defensive back Dwight Lowery. Lowery was named a 1st-team All-America winner in 2007.

The 2008 San Jose State Spartans football team gave the school its best start since joining the WAC. The Spartans jumped to 5–2 and led the WAC for 3 weeks until losing to Boise State. The Spartans finished the season in 6th place in the WAC with a conference record of 4–4, and a 6–6 overall record. Three players were picked in the 2009 NFL Draft, those being defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert, defensive back Christopher Owens, and defensive back Coye Francies

After playing an unusually tough non-conference schedule, the 2009 San Jose State Spartans finished 2–10 with wins over Cal Poly and New Mexico State. Head Coach Dick Tomey announced in November he would retire at the close of the season, thus ending his legendary coaching career. Tomey's record at SJSU was 25–35.

On December 17, 2009, Mike MacIntyre was formally introduced as Tomey's replacement. MacIntyre was previously the defensive coordinator at Duke University.[15]

San Jose State finished 1–12 in 2010 and 5–7 in 2011 under MacIntyre. In MacIntyre's third season, the 2012 San Jose State Spartans football team finished 11–2 including a win over Bowling Green in the 2012 Military Bowl. The 2012 team earned top-25 post-season rankings in the Associated Press (AP), Coaches and BCS polls. Kent Baer served as interim head coach for the Military Bowl because MacIntyre resigned to accept the head coach position at Colorado.

Ron Caragher, previously the head coach at San Diego, became the SJSU head coach following the conclusion of the 2012 football season. Caragher finished 6–6 in 2013, including a year-end 62–52 upset of No. 16 Fresno State. However, the team went 3–9 in 2014, 6–7 in 2015, and 4–8 in 2016. On Nov. 27, 2016, Caragher was relieved of his duties as head coach after compiling a 19–30 (.388) win–loss record and only one bowl appearance over four seasons.

San Jose State playing against San Diego State in 2019

Oregon State wide receivers coach Brent Brennan, who was a San Jose State assistant under Tomey and MacIntyre from 2005 to 2010, took over as head coach in 2017.[16] In Brennan's first two years as head coach, the Spartans won just three games. This included a 1–11 season in 2018. Despite the poor record, five of the team's losses in 2018 were by fewer than nine points, and three were by a field goal.[17] The 2019 team improved to 5–7, missing bowl eligibility by one win.[18] The Spartans also showed promise by defeating Arkansas on the road in 2019 for the program's first win over a Southeastern Conference team. Additionally, the 2019 Spartan team defeated Army, making the Spartans one of only 20 teams in college football to defeat all three FBS service academies (Army, Air Force, and Navy).[19] Brennan received a contract extension at the close of the 2019 season.[20]

The 2020 season was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with restrictions imposed by Santa Clara County prompting the team to conduct preseason practice at Humboldt State University. The pandemic also resulted in the cancellation of all four non-conference games and two games against Mountain West Conference opponents. Santa Clara County public health orders also forced the Spartans' last two home games to be relocated to Aloha Stadium in Hawaii and Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.[21]

The abbreviated 2020 campaign would be a breakout year for the Spartans, who won each of their six regular season games for their first 6–0 start since 1939. The Spartans also cracked the AP Poll top-25 for the first time since 2012 and debuted in the College Football Playoff ranking at No. 24.[22][23]

The Spartans qualified for the Mountain West Conference championship game for the first time, where they defeated Boise State 34–20. In addition to giving San Jose State its maiden win over Boise State, the victory gave the Spartans' their first conference championship title since 1991.[24] Brennan was named the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year and also received the 2020 Lombardi Foundation national Coach of the Year award.[23][25]

The Battle for the Valley Trophy

The Bulldogs and Spartans rivalry dates back to 1921 and have played each other 83 times as of 2020. San Jose State's biggest rival is California State University, Fresno, due in large part to the two schools' geographic proximity and long history of competing in the same conferences.[26]

Fresno is the largest city in the agriculturally-rich San Joaquin Valley. San Jose is the largest city in the metropolitan capital of the high-tech Silicon Valley. The two schools are separated by approximately 150 driving miles. Beginning in 2013, the winner of the game is awarded the Valley Trophy.[27][28]

In 1986 the Spartans defeated the AP #19 ranked Bulldogs 45–41 in a wild come from behind victory. In 1989 the Spartans nearly upset the AP #25 ranked Bulldogs in Fresno 30–31. The Spartans defeated a AP No. 23 ranked Fresno State team in 1990.[5] 42–7. In 2001 a #23 ranked David Carr lead Bulldog team defeated the Spartans 40–21. San Jose State led the series from 1949 to 2001, but Fresno State tied it at 32–32–3 with a victory in 2002 and recaptured the lead in 2003. In 2005 a #21 ranked Fresno State team defeated the Spartans 45–7. In 2013 San Jose State handed the No. 16 ranked Fresno State a year-ending 62–52 upset.

Fresno State has the longest win streak in the series with 12 victories in a row from 1991 to 2005.

As of 2020, Fresno State leads the football series 42–38–3.[29]

Bill Walsh Legacy Game

The two teams have played each other 67 times since 1900. Stanford's, Palo Alto and San Jose State's, San Jose campus are only approximately 20–25 miles apart from each other in Silicon Valley. They first played each other in San Jose, CA in 1900.[8] In 2007, following the death of San Jose State alumnus and former Stanford Cardinal coach Bill Walsh, the near-annual game played between the two schools was renamed the Bill Walsh Legacy Game.[30] The 2013 game, a 34–13 win for Stanford, was the final scheduled game between the two schools, reportedly due to the two schools' inability to agree on a home-and-home arrangement for future games.[31][32][33] Throughout the over-100-year history of the series, most games in this series have been played at Stanford. Only the 1900, 1995, 2001 and 2006 games have been played in San Jose.

In 1950 SJSU lost to #7 AP ranked Stanford 33–16, in 1953 SJSU lost to #16 AP ranked Stanford 54–0, in 1969 SJSU lost to #16 AP ranked Stanford 63-21 and in 1970 SJSU lost to #4 AP ranked Stanford 34–3. SJSU's first win over a nationally ranked opponent occurred in 1971 when the Spartans defeated No. 10 Stanford 13–12 on November 13. Stanford would go on to defeat Michigan in the Rose Bowl that season.[8] SJSU's second win over a ranked opponent occurred four years later in 1975, when the Spartans defeated No. 18 Stanford 36–34 in a nationally televised game on September 27.[5]

The games from 1979 to 1982 pitted Stanford star quarterback John Elway against his father, Jack Elway, who served as the SJSU head football coach from 1979 to 1983. The two teams split the series 2–2, with the younger Elway defeating his father's team in 1979 and in 1980 the AP #15 ranked Stanford team won 35–21.The elder Jack Elway defeating his son's team in 1981 and 1982.[10] From 1981 to 1983 SJSU defeated Stanford 3 years a row.

There were 3 more Spartan victories in a 4-year span in 1987, 1989 and 1990. In 1993 a AP #23 ranked Stanford team narrowly won 31–28. In 1997 a AP #17 ranked Stanford team narrowly won 28–12. In 1998-2000 there were again 3 more SJSU defeats of Stanford in a row. In 2001 a AP #12 ranked Stanford team won 41–14. In 2011 a #7 ranked Stanford team won 57–3. In 2012 a #21 ranked Stanford team narrowly won again 20–17. In 2013 a #5 ranked Stanford squad won 34–13 in the final match up of the two South Bay (San Francisco Bay Area) rivals.

On July 23, 2014, at the Mountain West Conference football media days event, San Jose State coach Ron Caragher revealed that the two schools were having "initial conversations about resuming their football series by moving to a neutral site at the new Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara."[34] San Jose State athletic director Gene Bleymaier later stated: "Even if we have to look out to 2020 and beyond, I'd like to get a long-term agreement in place with Stanford."[35]

Stanford has the longest win streak in the series winning 11 in row from 1900 to 1953.

Stanford leads the series 52–14–1 through the 2021 season.[36]

Dick Tomey Legacy Game

The two schools first met in 1936 and were each lead by legendary coach Dick Tomey, who died in 2019. Tomey was a successful head coach with Hawai'i from 1977 to 1986 and was a coaching icon with San Jose State from 2005 to 2009. The winner of the rivalry game each year takes possession of the Dick Tomey Legacy Trophy. The Rainbow Warriors and Spartans have played each other 44 times as of the 2021 season.

In 1941 the San Jose State Spartans football team served unexpectedly with the Honolulu Police Department during World War II. The team had just arrived in Hawaii to play a series of post-season bowl games against Hawai'i and the Willamette University Bearcats when the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. The team was stranded on the islands for a number of weeks following the attack, and players were employed by the local police department to help improve island defenses against a possible Japanese amphibious assault and as guards for military bases on the island.[5][6]

In 2007 a #16 ranked Hawaii team narrowly defeated the Dick Tomey lead Spartans at Spartan Stadium 42–35.

Hawaii has the longest winning steak of the series winning 7 in a row from 2001 to 2007. The Spartans won in Hawaii in 2020 and 2021.

Hawaii leads the series 22-21-1 as of the 2021 season.

El Camino Real Rivalry

The rivalry between the two Cal State schools dates back to 1935. Named after the historic 600 mile El Camino Real (California) that connects the 21 Spanish Missions in California, stretching from the San Diego Bay in the south, to the San Francisco Bay in the north. The Aztecs and Spartans have played each other 45 times as of the 2021 season.

In 1977 the AP #16 ranked Aztecs defeated the Spartans 37–34 in Spartan Stadium in a closely contested match up helping the Aztecs, and future Spartans coach Claude Gilbert, to finish 10–1 on the season.

In 2014 there were conversations between the two programs of creating a trophy from an old Mission Bell or a Mission bell markers replica to be in possession of the winners of the rivalry game.

SJSU Spartans have the longest win streak in the series with 11 wins in a row from 1938 to 1952.

As of 2021, San Diego State leads the series 23-20-2.

Battle for the Victor's Bell

The Spartans fiercest rival since 1921 is now a historical rivalry since the Pacific Tigers disbanded its football program in 1995. The Tiger-Spartan game was played 72 times between 1921 and 1995.

Pacific, or the University of the Pacific, was founded on July 10, 1851, in Santa Clara. It was originally named California Wesleyan College, but one month later, it petitioned to have its name changed to the University of the Pacific.[37] In 1871, the campus was moved to San Jose, to an area that came to be known as the College Park neighborhood, and opened its doors to women, becoming the first independent co-educational campus in California.[38][39] In 1911, the name was changed to College of the Pacific (COP).

Due to the private versus public institutional rivalry, and very close proximity of the two schools campuses, a natural cross-town rivalry was born early on.

In 1923, the campus relocated from the Bay Area to the city of Stockton[40] becoming the first private four-year university in the Central Valley;.[40] In 1925, the San Jose campus was sold to Santa Clara University, who moved its Santa Clara Prep to the campus and renamed it Bellarmine College Preparatory. Although now approximately 75–80 miles apart the Spartans and Tigers continued their bitter rivalry albeit in a 'Valley versus Valley' Rivalry (Santa Clara Valley vs. Central Valley (California)), very similar to the Valley Rivalry (Fresno State–San Jose State football rivalry) the Spartans currently have with the Fresno State Bulldogs.

In both schools first collegiate game in program history, the Spartans achieved their first tie, a 6–6 decision against nearby College of the Pacific (this was also the first football game for Pacific).[2] The contest was played in late January 1896, but as was done in 1892, their game was counted in the 1895 academic year. During the 1898 college football season the Spartans compiled their first undefeated record at 5–0–1, and achieved the program's first shutout, and intercollegiate win (18 to 0 against College of the Pacific, also their first win overall), and their first season in which they participated in multiple games.[4]

In 1949, in a game which drew national attention, the Victor's Bell was unveiled. The Victory Bell would go to the winner of subsequent Tiger-Spartan games. The Victor's Bell was 2 feet tall and was waist high on a rolling cart. The Bell was half black with a orange 'P' for 'Pacific' and half blue with a gold 'SJ' for "San Jose'. The winning teams players, students, alumni and fans would rush the field to ring the Victory Bell and display it on their home campus until the next San Jose State-Pacific match up. The Spartans lost the 1949 game 45-7 giving #10 ranked Pacific Tigers their second undefeated season (11-0) and first since 1923 (7-0). 2 years later in 1951 the Spartans would finally be able to ring the Victor's Bell after a 7-0 win at Spartan Stadium.

The Fresno State Bulldogs are the only other rivals the Spartans has faced more than 72 times in its over 125 years of football history.

The Spartans won the series at the end of the 1995 season 43-23-6.

• UPI National Player of the Year

Mike Perez, QB (1986)

• WAC Defensive Player of the Year[44]

Travis Johnson (2012)

Jarron Gilbert (2008) (Co-DPOY with Hawaii's Solomon Elimimian)

Two former SJSU player has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bill Walsh attended San Jose State where he played quarterback from 1953 to 1955. He went on to win three Super Bowls as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Dick Vermeil graduated in 1959 with a Master of Arts from San Jose State College (now San Jose State University),[45] where he was the backup quarterback. Vermeil won a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams.

Two former SJSU players has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Willie Heston attended San Jose State where he played halfback from 1898 to 1900, before transferring to the University of Michigan and winning the very first Rose Bowl Game in 1902. Heston was named the greatest Halfback of the first 50 years of college football history.[46] Terry Donahue was a freshman walk-on Defensive tackle for a year at San Jose State before transferring to UCLA and winning the Rose Bowl with the UCLA Bruins. Donahue was inducted mostly for his contributions as Head Coach, leading his alma mater the UCLA Bruins to multiple Rose Bowl victories. Two Former Coaches are also enshrined into the College Football Hall of Fame, mostly for their contributions while coaching at other schools. Pop Warner lead his teams to 4 National Championships at Pitt and at Stanford. John Ralston led Stanford to multiple Rose Bowl victories.

• Dwight Lowery

As of March 18, 2021, there are eight former San Jose State players in the NFL:[52]