San José State University

San José State University, commonly shortened to San Jose State and SJSU, is the oldest university in what became the California State University system. The urban campus has an enrollment of about 30,000 students, and claims to have more graduates working in Silicon Valley than any other college or university.

Sports

The university has participated in athletics since it fielded a baseball team in 1890. SJSU sports teams are known as the Spartans, and compete in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in NCAA Division I (I-A for football). The school has achieved an international reputation in judo, having won 38 out of 42 national championships in the sport (as of 2004). Additionally, SJSU students and alumni have won more than half of the U.S.'s olympic medals in judo.

Related Topics:
Baseball - 1890 - Western Athletic Conference - NCAA - As of 2004

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On December 7, 1941, the football team travelled to the island of Oahu to play the University of Hawaii. When Pearl Harbor was bombed, the game was cancelled and the team volunteered for duty with the Honolulu Police Department instead of returning home.

Related Topics:
December 7 - 1941 - Oahu - University of Hawaii - Pearl Harbor - Honolulu Police Department

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On April 21, 2004, the Academic Senate voted in favor of terminating the 110 year old football program and withdrawing from the WAC for budgetary reasons. The following month, the entire faculty voted by a 3-1 margin in favor of the elimination of football. Although these votes were only advisory, they were seen as putting pressure on the new president, due to be announced later that week. The university has had problems with the football program for several decades. The university has produced just one winning record in football following the 1990 season. Additionally, Spartan Stadium will require significant upgrades in the near future for the university to stay in Division 1-A.

Related Topics:
April 21 - 2004 - 1990

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On September 18, 2004, the SJSU Spartans football team hosted the "Read-2-Lead Classic," an event designed to boost attendance and save the program. The university expected a sell-out of 28,000. The paid attendance was less than 11,000. The Spartans ended the 2004 season with an average attendance of less than 7,000, the lowest in all of Division I-A football. Although the administration has announced another attempt to save the program, local insiders have all but written it off.

Related Topics:
September 18 - 2004 - Read-2-Lead Classic

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SJSU alumni have won 18 Olympic medals through the years, dating back to the first gold medal won by Willie Steel in track and field in the 1948 Olympics. Alumni have won medals in track and field, swimming, judo and boxing. Due to the pressure to maintain funding for football, several of these programs have been eliminated, including the historical track team known as "Speed City" which produced Olympic medalists and social activists John Carlos and Tommie Smith.

Related Topics:
Willie Steel - Track and field - Swimming - Judo - Boxing - Speed City - John Carlos - Tommie Smith

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Rivals

• Santa Clara University
• Fresno State
• Nevada