an Jose State is Fresno State's oldest rival with matchups between these two teams dating back to 1921. The Spartans had led the all-time series for much of the rivalry, however, in 2002 the Bulldogs tied the series up at 32 wins a piece. Since then the Bulldogs have gone on to take a 40-36-3 all-time series lead. The Spartans will look to reclaim the lead though in the next few years.
he annual rivalry game between San Jose state and Stanford gets its name for Hall of Fame head coach Bill Walsh who played at San Jose State and coached at Stanford. The rivalry between these two Bay Area foes dates back to 1900 when Stanford shutout San Jose State twice 35-0 on October 11th and 24-0 on October 24th. The majority of these contests have been played at Stanford, so it is quite the treat when the Spartans get to play host.
Spartans Tailgate Guide
Atmosphere
If you’re looking to have a nice relaxing day in the California sun, then there is no better way to do so than by tailgating at San Jose State. One thing you won’t have to worry about when tailgating at San Jose State is running into bad weather. No matter whether it’s early or late in the season you’ll be greeted with absolutely gorgeous temperatures and beautiful blue skies as you pregame before a Spartans game.
A lot of San Jose State fans particularly the students like to go hard at the tailgate. You’ll find a lot of drinking games and even may see some keg stands when in San Jose, so come prepared to party hard and let loose before going into Spartan Stadium to cheer on the Spartans.
It’s not all hardcore drinking at San Jose State as you’ll find there is also a lot of school spirit on display as well. Make sure to check out the band’s pregame performance at the tailgate to get in the gameday mood and to get a full feel for the San Jose State pride found at every game.
The Fan Fiesta is the primary tailgate hub at San Jose State. At the Fiesta you’ll be able to set up your tailgate as well as take part in all the tailgating festivities San Jose State has to offer. The Fan Fiesta gives you the opportunity to partake in fun activities for the whole family and is also where you can find a variety of food and beverages if you don’t feel like bringing your own.
Located only eight minutes away from Spartan Stadium via car, San Pedro Square Market offers you a tailgate away from the tailgate. At San Pedro Square Market you’ll find the complete tailgate atmosphere including an 18,000 square foot plaza featuring all sorts of tailgating activities such as ladder ball, cornhole, and much more. You can also watch the game here as there is a 12-foot projector that is perfect for taking in night games.
The homecoming show is an excellent time for all involved and is a must if you’re visiting San Jose State for the homecoming game. The fire show and pep rally are outstanding and show off what being a Spartan is all about.
The pregame pep rally at San Jose State is an excellent way to get into the Spartans spirit before the game.
Where to tailgate
Fan FiestaThe Fan Fiesta is the primary tailgate hub at San Jose State. At the Fiesta you’ll be able to set up your tailgate as well as take part in all the tailgating festivities San Jose State has to offer. The Fan Fiesta gives you the opportunity to partake in fun activities for the whole family and is also where you can find a variety of food and beverages if you don’t feel like bringing your own.
San Pedro Square MarketLocated only eight minutes away from Spartan Stadium via car, San Pedro Square Market offers you a tailgate away from the tailgate. At San Pedro Square Market you’ll find the complete tailgate atmosphere including an 18,000 square foot plaza featuring all sorts of tailgating activities such as ladder ball, cornhole, and much more. You can also watch the game here as there is a 12-foot projector that is perfect for taking in night games.
Spartan Foundation Reserved TailgatingThese 20 ft by 20 ft tailgate spots accommodate up to two vehicles and are a great option for donors looking to tailgate. The only downside for those of you coming from out of town is that these spots require a minimum donation of $1,000, so don’t expect to see a lot of visiting fans if tailgating here.
Football Practice Field If you’re looking to have a huge tailgate party than you’ll want to reserve a spot at the Football Practice Field. The 50 ft by 50 ft spots here have plenty of room for everyone, so if you’re putting together a large gathering, this is your spot.
Spartans Stadium Guide
In Game
San Jose State has a surprising rich football history for one of the smaller schools in the FBS. The school has been home to two Hall of Fame head coaches, Bill Walsh and Dick Vermeil, as well as players including Jeff Garcia, Steve DeBerg, and Pop Warner.
One of the more unique aspects of Spartan Stadium is the fact that one-half of the stands feature a traditional double deck layout, while the other is a sloped single level. No matter what side you sit on though you’ll have a great view of the action of the field as there isn’t a bad seat in the house at Spartan Stadium.
It’s not just the unique stadium and strong history of the Spartans that makes attending a game at San Jose State worthwhile, the fans also create a great atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re at a major college football game. Despite the stiff competition from both the Raiders and 49ers as well as Cal and Stanford, SJSU still has its diehards who come out each week to cheer on their Spartans.
At the Jeff Garcia Hall of Champions located on the San Jose State campus, you’ll find a variety of different interactive exhibits displaying all the greatest moments in Spartans history as well as the greatest athletes. Stop by two hours before kickoff for the chance to relive the greatest moments in Spartans history before witnessing their current greatness on the field.
This new football facility is home to the Spartans’ locker rooms, coaches offices, meeting rooms, a hall of fame, and athletic training facilities. This athletic complex stands as a testament to how far the Spartans football program has come in the past few years and is an excellent thing to check out if you can.
All you need to do is form a circle with your pointer finger and thumb, while extending your other three fingers and everyone will know you’re a Spartan. The popular hand gesture is a great way for Spartans fans to show off their school pride to fellow fans and pumps up the crowd at games.
Sammy Spartan pumps up the San Jose State crowd like no one else as this mascot provides lots of in-game entertainment with his smooth dance moves and outrageous antics. Look for Sammy to energize the crowd particularly at big moments in the game.
The San Jose State Spartan Marching Band puts on a great show, so make sure to stay in your seat at halftime. In addition to putting on a great halftime show and pregame show, the band also does an excellent job throughout the game of pumping up the crowd.
Fight on for dear old San Jose State; Fight on for victory! We are with you in every way. No matter what the price may be! Onward for Sparta noble and true, Fight hard in everything you do! And so we’ll Fight! (RAH!) Win! (RAH!) March onward down the field and we will win the day! (CHANT) S…J…S…U S J S U S-J-S-U SAN JOSE STATE! (Repeat First Verse)
Alma Mater
Hail, Spartans, Hail!
Hail, gold, blue and white!
We pledge our hearts and hands,
To keep thy colors ever bright,
Forward we go!
We will not fail!
Sing to our Alma Mater,
Hail! Hail! Hail!
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