San Jose State football: Brennan has Spartans’ attention on opener, not USC
San Jose State coach Brent Brennan has the Spartans on guard against taking Southern Utah lightly in Saturday’s season opener.
Few would blame the Spartans for taking at least a peek beyond the Thunderbirds. SJSU has the bulk of last season’s breakthrough team returning, is a three-touchdown favorite over a rebuilding FCS opponent, and has that enticing trip to USC looming in Week 2.
But Brennan need only point to 2018, an ill-fated 1-11 campaign that included a road game at a Pac-12 foe after what figured to be a tune-up at home against a FCS opponent in the season opener.
The Spartans stumbled out of the gate in that one, a 44-38 loss to UC Davis, then couldn’t muster a single point the following week in a 31-0 loss at Washington State.
SJSU finds itself in a similar predicament, at least scheduling-wise, to open this season. But Brennan says the only people looking past the opener are those outside the locker room.
“I think you have to respect every opponent, it’s really that simple,” Brennan said. “Our players hopefully have a long enough memory to remember when UC Davis came in here and beat us a couple of years ago. You all want to talk about the ‘SC game, and their parents want to talk about the ‘SC game, and their girlfriend wants to talk about the ‘SC game, and the fans want to talk about the ‘SC game, but none of it matters if we don’t play good football against Southern Utah on Saturday night.”
With school back in session this week and students on campus, there’s a certain level of anticipation after the program’s first winning season since 2012 in advance of the season opener at home.
A lot of it involves how many people will attend the game against Southern Utah, which went 1-5 in the Big Sky Conference last season.
“You haven’t played in front of anybody since 2019?” Brennan said. “How do we handle the boos and the cheering and everything in between through the course of the game?”
He added: “How are going to handle the crowd, how are we going to handle the parents being in town? Those distractions that weren’t distractions a year ago. Fans in the stands, students on campus, in-person class, family coming to town.”
Game day details
Gates will open up 90 minutes prior to the 7 p.m. kickoff, with COVID-19 protocols enforced at entry and inside the stadium.
Students, staff and faculty with a SJSU Tower ID simply need to present it and ticket at the entrance. Those without a Tower ID must show proof of vaccination (card, photo on phone or QR code).
Unvaccinated fans, as well as children under the age of 12, will be required to wear a mask at all times – with SJSU Athletics recommending all in attendance to wear masks regardless of vaccination status.