The seats on the east side of Spartan Stadium shortly after its completion in 1933.

The seats on the east side of Spartan Stadium earlier this week. The stadium was built 75 years ago.

Spartan Stadium turns 75

By: Matthew Kimel

Posted: 9/17/08

"San Jose State College should have a stadium," reported the San Jose College Times on Oct. 14, 1932. "With the crowds that would undoubtedly be attracted to such a stadium, and the games that would be possible if seating accommodations were offered, it would be a means of profit to San Jose State."

Nearly one year later, the Spartans won their first football game on the grass field at Spartan Stadium 44-0 over San Francisco State, according to the 2008 football media guide.

The original plans for the stadium, which is now 75 years old, called for 20,000 seats, a press box and a platform for cheerleaders and the school band, according to an article by Ralph Warner in the Aug. 30, 2008, Spartan Gameday football program. Only 4,500 seats were ready for the game against San Francisco State, however, Warner stated.

In 1949, Spartan Stadium underwent renovations to increase its seating capacity to 17,000, and a bleacher section was added that could hold 3,000 more people, wrote Warner, a senior journalism major.

"Spartan Stadium, an arena seating 16,833, is due for a face lifting," reported Gary Rubin of the Spartan Daily on Oct. 4, 1971. "Plans are underway to change Spartan Stadium into a 37,000 seat, all purpose stadium."

With these renovation plans, Jim Scheel, assistant athletic director of the time, said there "is a chance to get professional soccer in San Jose."

"Through the years we've had the North American Soccer League, Major League Soccer, The Women's Professional league and various international matches," said SJSU Sports Information Director Lawrence Fan, on some of the various professional soccer events, aside from SJSU men and women's games, that have been played at Spartan Stadium.

"I grew up in San Jose," said Joe Nedney, a 2008 inductee to the SJSU Sports Hall of Fame and the current kicker for the San Francisco 49ers. "I used to watch the Earthquakes play at Spartan Stadium in the '80s. Driving up through San Jose and seeing the upper deck in the distance, that was my first taste of what a big stadium looked like."

There are a variety of activities to which Spartan Stadium has hosted over the years said Fan, which include five Silicon Valley Bowl games, various high school football all-star games and a college football all-star game in the early '80s.

In 1975, SJSU defeated San Diego State 31-7 on ABC-TV in the first nationally televised football game at Spartan Stadium, he said.

"Back in the late '70s, Spartan Stadium was named one of the best places to watch a college football game by the Knoxville News Sentinel," Fan said. "What makes Spartan Stadium unique is the opportunity to be as close to the action as any facility that exists. There really is not a bad seat in Spartan Stadium. There are no obstructive views. Even if you're sitting in the upper deck, you're still on top of the action."

Nedney, the SJSU football all-time leading point scorer, said his greatest memory of Spartan Stadium actually occurred when he was a senior in high school and he was getting recruited to SJSU.

"I went to the San Jose State-Fresno State football game (in 1990) at Spartan Stadium. The winner went to the California Raisin Bowl, and the place was completely sold out. That was my first ever experience at Spartan Stadium. That was the reason I ended up going to State - because of the rivalry between San Jose State and Fresno State."

"It was loud and it was raucous," Nedney added. "San Jose State just beat the tar out of Fresno State. That was a really good day and I fell in love with San Jose State."

Sport legends, including but not limited to three-time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Walsh, 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne and Brazilian soccer great Pelé, have played at Spartan Stadium throughout its history, Fan said.

Nedney said it's an honor to know that he is a part of the 75-year history of Spartan Stadium with its legacy of players that have been on the field.

Spartan football players have experienced success on their home field and beyond over the past 75 years, as 141 professional football players have called Spartan Stadium their home field during their college years, according to the 2008 football media guide. At home, the Spartans football team has won 214 of 344 games and tallied 17 ties, as stated in the football media guide.

Spartan Stadium has held other events aside from sports, such as the university's commencement in May, held at the end of each academic year, which typically attracts more than 20,000 graduates, along with their family and friends, Fan said.

Fan said numerous musicians have preformed at the stadium as well, and the biggest crowd ever drawn at the stadium was approximately 37,000 for a ZZ Top concert.

"It's a stadium that has stood the test of time," Fan said.

When asked about the future plans of Spartan Stadium, SJSU President Jon Whitmore said he does not know of any plans other than to try to keep the stadium, in a news conference on Sept. 10.

"I do believe they are going to replace the grass turf with some variation of FieldTurf as the next step to have it more in line with what a lot of other institutions are doing," Whitmore said.

Some SJSU students said they feel that the stadium could be improved.

"There should be a big mural of Sammy," said Onyema Nkele, a sophomore biology major, referring to the Spartans' mascot, Sammy the Spartan.

Sophomore Jonathan Holifield, a business major, said Spartan Stadium would look nicer if it was turned into a dome.

"I think it's a good stadium," said Davion Taylor, a sophomore graphic design major. "It's real nice. I don't see any improvements that need to me made."