Size & Strength Conditioning Emphasis Leads Into Start Of Spring Practice

            The wind was whipping through the San Jose State University South Campus practice field on a bright, sunny morning as more than 90 Spartans took the field for the first day of 2020 spring practice.
 
            "… We've got a good-looking group of guys running around trying to figure it out. It's fun. It's fun to start again," said San Jose State football head coach Brent Brennan in his blue hooded sweatshirt, sun glasses and Spartan ball cap.


 
            To be prepared for the start of spring football practice, athletics performance head coach Gary Uribe's primary objective the last six weeks was increasing the Spartans' size and strength throughout the lineup.
 
            "We worked on power and explosiveness, but size and strength were two of the tenets we really wanted to address," said Uribe, now in his eighth season at San Jose State and his 19th season in college athletics as an athletics performance specialist.
 
            For the linemen, particularly, it's relatively easy to see size and strength increases, but it may be subtle for positions like the defensive secondary, wide receivers and running backs. Uribe and his staff handle the challenge by dealing first with the nutritional aspects of being a student-athlete.
 
            "First, we talk to them about nutrition, diet and caloric intake, because they need to get the right stuff in their bodies on this journey of strength and power we are taking," added Uribe who has his staff develop programs of back squats, front squats, hand cleans, power cleans, deadlifts and bench pressing to build strength and power.
 
            "I thought our guys were in great shape. They're ready to go," said Brennan. "Having spring practice like this gives us a bit of a benefit getting back to football a little bit earlier than normal.  And, then having a bigger lifting time on the other side.
 
            "As a program, we're starting to get healthier. We're starting to get a little more stability in our depth position by position. The best thing that it (team depth) does is that it creates real competition. That is what spring practice is all about."
 
            San Jose State will be back on the practice field Wednesday, March 4. The Spartans will be allowed to wear pads starting Friday, March 6, at 7:00 p.m. Parking for the March 6 practice is available in the Park & Ride Lot across the street from the west (7th Street) side of CEFCU Stadium.
 
            Season ticket renewals and new purchases for the 2020 San José State football season can be made by calling or by texting RENEW or NEW to (408) 924-7589.