Undefeated Spartans Make Football History

After a perfect 3-0 start to the 2020 campaign, San José State football is the real deal

In early October, San José State University (SJSU) prepared for this year’s unique college football season at Humboldt State University's (HSU) campus in Arcata, CA. Now it’s November, and the team is 3-0 for the first time since 1982. 

“Two months ago, we didn't think we were playing football this year,” SJSU Spartan head coach Brent Brennan said. “Now, the goal is to keep moving forward and finding ways to improve.” 

Due to Santa Clara County health restrictions, the Spartans were unable to use their university facilities until the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) board approved of it. Rather than stay stagnant, Brennan and the team traveled north to their California State counterpart, HSU to train.

After three losses by three or fewer points for last year’s squad, there was reason for optimism coming into 2020. All tight losses are upsetting, but the blown leads were unacceptable. The team needed to learn how to put together a complete, 60-minute effort. 

Brennan believes the team’s two-week training stint at Humboldt was beneficial. 

“It felt like freshman dorms,” Brennan explained. “We were all together…It was healthy for our camaraderie.”

Whatever they did up there, it worked. 

Last Friday, the Spartans defeated the San Diego State University (SDSU) Aztecs by a score of 28-17. The Aztecs had won the previous seven contests between these two teams; the previously one-sided matchup had been anything but a rivalry. This year felt different for the Spartans. 

The victory against SDSU was the team’s first under Brennan’s leadership since he became head coach in 2016. The win was well-deserved, but the Spartans did not make it easy for themselves. 

The first half featured a 10-0 deficit and an injury for starting quarterback Nick Starkel. Luckily, the second half was a different story, led by the team’s defensive adjustments and timely throws by backup Nick Nash. Finally, the Spartans ousted San Diego. 

Brennan, who had preached the importance of his team’s preparation, sees his message beginning to translate to on-field success. The team fortified its run defense and, most importantly, built depth over the past year. The Spartans now have a roster that is deep and talented beyond the starting twenty-two players. Improved off-season recruiting can be noted, but more distinctly, the internal improvement has been vital. Numerous upper-classmen are flourishing into everyday Division I NCAA football players.

“From a mental and physical standpoint, our guys are growing up,” Brennan said. “They have played a lot of football. We still have a lot to improve on. But learning when is winning is much better than when you don’t.”

Coming into this year, the Spartans had won only four Mountain West Conference (MWC) games under Brennan in his three years with SJSU. This year, they have already won three conference affairs. 

Brennan and his coaching staff have done an exceptional job leading this group during uncertain times. The Spartans’ fourth-year head coach touched on the difficulties of playing in the midst of a pandemic and a social justice movement.

“Being involved in college athletics,” Brennan explained, “I have a really unique opportunity to be involved with young people as they grow and mature. The last eight months have given us a whole lot of material there. As an adult leading young men, I want them to learn how to face adversity.” 

The entire SJSU football team has played as a cohesive unit on the field. Off the field, they are a family. Brennan also confirmed that every single player on his team registered to vote in the recent United States election.  

“The stuff we’ve done together over the last few months has helped up on the football field,” Brennan said.

The team has improved every year since his tenure began, but this is the first year Brennan’s team has shown their stripes. When asked about the Spartans historic start to the season, Brennan deflected the question. Just a month into the season, Brennan knows his program still has a lot to prove.

“Until we’ve actually done something, I don't think we can put anything in historical terms,” Brennan noted. “We played three games, we got five left. It is a result-orientated business. No one cares what you did last week. It will be historical if we play well this week, next week, and the week after.”