For San Jose State University football head coach Brent Brennan the first day of practice in full pads and full contact mode was about "coming together" on the field and by five standout seniors with lofty goals when their football careers are completed.
The team practiced with game officials as players, coaches and officials experienced live situations for the first time this fall.
For the coaching staff, they now can pinpoint the progress made in the first week of fall camp, what is going well and areas for improvement. And, they are ready to learn what they have as they embark on week two in preparation for the August 29 season opener with Northern Colorado in CEFCU Stadium, at 7:00 p.m.
"It was a great day. It was intense the way it should be in full gear. We took turns making plays on both sides of the ball. Now, we're going to have some tape of playing real football that we can evaluate and see where we are at," Brennan said about the August 4 practice session.
"I love the way this team comes to work, the excitement, the energy and the enthusiasm they bring. Today, with pads on, I liked the intensity. There was some physicality and big plays. It's all part of that learning and growing process that goes in training camp."
While practice is the primary focus for players and coaches this time of the year, Brennan also can be proud of the number of seniors enrolled this fall in San Jose State University master's degree programs. From an athletics eligibility standpoint, tight end Brett Foley, punter Alex Galland, defensive back Chandler Hawkins, and offensive linemen Deano Motes and Quinn Oseland plan to add a master's degree to their San Jose State experience.
Foley, Hawkins and Motes could be considered "home grown" after earning their bachelor's degrees from San Jose State. Foley and Motes majored in business administration; Hawkins in psychology. Galland graduated from Yale majoring in mechanical engineering. Oseland majored in business marketing at the University of Minnesota.
"It means I'm getting as much out of this opportunity here at San Jose State as possible," said Motes, a 2018 Academic All-Mountain West award winner enrolled in a M.B.A. (master's of business administration) program.
"It (the M.B.A) will help me see more of the real-world applications of the things I learned in my undergraduate experience."
Foley also is enrolled in the M.B.A. program. He plans to be the first in his family to earn a master's degree and was something he had in mind when he came to San Jose State from nearby Archbishop Mitty High in 2015.
"…One of those key criteria I looked at (when choosing a college) was the fact they (San Jose State) allow people to pursue a master's degree and that is something I wanted to go after and I am happy to have that opportunity here," said Foley, a 2019 San Jose State University Dean's Scholar.
"It (a master's) will help immensely, especially in this area. I know a lot of high-level execs (executives) come to San Jose State for their master's program. It gives us a great opportunity to network with those people as a 22-year-old kid and learn as much as possible from them. It will help me down the road for sure."
Galland and Oseland began their master's degree program in public administration when they transferred to San Jose State last spring. Oseland enjoyed being Galland's classmate in some classes. They both see how their choice of public administration will expand their horizons when they enter the business word.
"…I will have a very wide array of skills and abilities and it will allow me to take on more and more responsibilities anywhere I go and add more value to whatever job I end up going," said Galland, whose summer job experiences included working for a leading manufacturer of helicopters.
"Here I wanted to stay with the business mindset, because I could keep 'stacking' my degrees. So, I went with the public administration program here. It made the most sense," said Oseland. "It gives a chance to see both worlds – the bachelor's at Minnesota gave me a look at the private sector. Now, I'm taking public administration courses and that gives me a look at the public sector. I'm getting an eye on both."
One could see early on that Hawkins would be a likely candidate for a master's degree. The three-time Academic All-Mountain West award recipient also is a 2017 Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholar who majored in psychology. He can be the first in family to complete a bachelor's and master's degree program.
"It means a lot to be in a master's program. I was focused on being the first in my family to achieve (being admitted into) being in a master's program and to continue my dream playing football, said Hawkins, who is enrolled in an educational counseling program.
A master's degree will help me a lot due to the fact I can learn a lot more and pursue opportunities at San Jose State and in the Silicon Valley. It also allows me to learn more about what I want to do career-wise."
Oseland agrees with Hawkins on the added value of a master's degree when his football career comes to a conclusion. As the 6-foot-6, 300-plus pound offensive lineman said, "A master's degree is something I can hold on forever."
"That's what college football is all about - graduating from college and playing your best football. The bonus of starting a master's program and getting on that path in furthering their education is something we preach to all of them," said Brennan.
"When you look at those five guys who are all good players and good examples of doing things right, doing things the right way and taking that step for their life in the big picture, it fits exactly what we talk about here.
"It's this holistic development of the young man. It's not just football; it's not just school. It's all of it – social life, school, football, post-grad opportunity – all those things coming together. When you have five guys like that, that have done it right and are in that position, that's exactly what we should be doing."
There is no practice on Monday, August 5. The first practice open to the public is Tuesday, August 6, at 9:40 a.m. The team's first scrimmage is Saturday, August 10, 5:30 p.m. in CEFCU Stadium. There is no admission charge.
Tickets for the San Jose State season opener with Northern Colorado on August 29 and all home games are available at www.sjsuspartans.com/tickets.