Hanzad Spirit Award Winner Martin Selznick

San Jose State University has more than 400 student-athletes. They compete in 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sanctioned sports at 13 different venues on and off campus. What is one thing that most of these student-athletes, sports, and venues have in common? It is that the 2007 Arm & Pat Hanzad Spartan Spirit Award winner, Martin Selznick, is probably cheering for them and his beloved Spartans.

The Arm & Pat Hanzad Spartan Spirit Award was first presented in 2001 after the death of Arm Hanzad who devoted much of his adult life supporting San Jose State athletics, its student-athletes and coaches. The Award is given “In recognition of Arm & Pat’s lifetime commitment to the university and their enduring love, spirit and enthusiasm in support of Spartan Athletics and SJSU Student-Athletes.” The recipient must regularly attend both men’s and women’s athletics events and show their “love, spirit and enthusiasm for Spartan Athletics and Athletes while always supporting SJSU in a positive manner.”

Martin Selznick is the personification of this ideal. His love for San Jose State athletics goes back 37 years to 1970, when he attended his first Spartan football game as an undergraduate. The opponent was UC Santa Barbara and the Spartans won, 28-14. That win ignited his passion for and support of Spartan athletics that continues to this day.

By his own account, Martin attends between 125-150 Spartan athletic events each year. The vast majority of them are in and around the Bay Area, but he did travel to Tempe, Ariz. earlier this season to watch the Spartan football team play Arizona State. He was in Albuquerque, N.M. for the Spartans victory over the University of New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl last year, and has traveled to as far away as Hawai’i with the football and baseball teams.

His only regret is not going to Lincoln, Neb., for the 2000 football season opener, but he plans to join the basketball team the next time they travel to Europe. “If I can go on a trip with the Spartans and it doesn’t conflict with work, I’ll be there,” says Selznick.

Martin, who graduated from San Jose State in 1974 as a geography major, geology minor and with a teaching credential, estimates that he attends an average of two San Jose State athletics functions per week, with some weeks having as many as four events. “I maintain season tickets for San Jose State football, baseball and men’s and women’s basketball. So, I attend all those games, but I will go to as many different sporting events as I can,” adds Selznick, an educator from the preschool to the administrative levels since earning his bachelor’s degree and teaching credential.

Initially, Martin attended mostly San Jose State football games. Then in the mid-90’s, when he felt comfortable in his career, he decided that he wanted to increase his support of the Athletics Department and give back to the university and the community. He began to increase his support by attending more athletics events, making financial donations and joining several Spartan Athletics support organizations. He is an active member of the Quarterback and Diamond Clubs and serves on the on the Board of Directors of both the Spartan Foundation and the Rebounders, the men’s basketball booster club.

“The cost of attending a single professional sporting event is prohibitive and to purchase season tickets to a professional team is outlandish. I know that supporting college athletics, in my case San Jose State, is money well spent,” says Selznick. “These athletes play for the love of the game while they pursue their education. If that doesn’t get you going nothing will.”

Asked to name his favorite sport, Martin starts with football and before you know it he has named just about every sport San Jose State competes in. “I’m a fan,” claims Selznick enthusiastically. “It’s just plane fun to go to the games. The people who support San Jose State Athletics are the best. The fact that I’m receiving and an award for doing something I love is amazing.”

“When I received the letter announcing that I was to be presented with this award, I was shocked and amazed. I had to read the letter three or four times before it sank in. The neat thing is that in the mid-90’s, I had football season tickets behind Arm and Pat. So, to receive an honor in their name is really special for me.”

San Jose State University, its student-athletes, students, alumni and friends of the program salute Martin Selznick for his unyielding support and are honored to recognize him as the 2007 Arm & Pat Hanzad Spartan Spirit Award winner.

Richard Stern is a volunteer in the San Jose State sports information office.