2008 Woodie Awards
It was all Kassing's game at halftime
Kate Taylor
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: News
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"Kassing Appreciation Night" took place at the SJSU men's basketball game against Boise State University - the Spartans lost to the Broncos 67-69.
President Kassing was recognized during halftime and was awarded with the team-autographed game ball.
A voice recording by SJSU gymnast co-capitain Michelle Minotti played over the loud speaker recognized Kassing for his dedication to the univeristy's athletic program.
Former SJSU football quarterback Adam Tafralis, who made a halftime appearance, expressed his gratitude for Kassing's faith in and support of the football program.
"I love you for everything you've done," Tafralis said.
After handing the game ball to the Kassing, SJSU's athletic director Tom Bowen waited until the standing ovation and cheering subsided to say his words of thanks.
Prior to halftime, Kassing said he had no idea what was planned for the evening. He laughed when a game called "Where's Kassing" - similar to "Where's Waldo" - was played during a first-half timeout.
One student was chosen to search among the scores of Kassing-masked faces for the real President Kassing.
"He revived the football program that was almost gone completely by putting full support into it," Tafralis said. "We'd never had that before. We had administrators who didn't want us around, and teachers … that were petitioning to get us out. And he told them, 'Listen, we're going to have a football team. So you better support them, and they're going to be good.'"
Though Kassing passed off credit for the success of the university's football program to head coach Dick Tomey, he said he appreciated the recognition from the athletic program.
"What I've tried to do is create a set of circumstances where the intercollegiate athletic program here really becomes an important part of what happens," Kassing said in an interview. "Because people affiliate with the intercollegiate athletics - alumni do, the city does - so it's an important part of college life."
Bowen said Kassing Appreciation Night was the idea of SJSU student-athletes.
"The student-athletes wanted to do something to recognize the president for what he'd done for them in his tenure here," he said. "So we said 'how about a game where we could dedicate and bring the crowd together?'."
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