Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Jason Shaughnessy of Delta Upsilon fraternity cheers with inflated balloons that were given out before the Homecoming game at Spartan Stadium. RYAN BALBUENA / DAILY STAFF [Click to enlarge]

Members of the Spartan Marching Band play for various tailgate parties before the start of the Homecoming game. RYAN BALBUENA / DAILY STAFF [Click to enlarge]

Ramon Perez, a senior majoring in liberal studies, barbeques at one of the tailgates before the game. RYAN BALBUENA / DAILY STAFF [Click to enlarge]

They also showed up for the football game.

San Jose State University's Homecoming game against Boise State University ended with a 45-8 defeat for the Spartans, but the events surrounding the game showed that SJSU can boost attendance, at least at a tailgate party.

Preparations for the big game began when fraternities and sororities started decorating their floats on Friday. The groups were formed and began brainstorming sessions last Monday. Four groups made their floats on campus to bring awareness of the game.

Christina Rodriguez, a sophomore art major and Delta Gamma sorority member, said that late hours and hard work went into planning her group's float, which featured two large football helmets and a scoreboard made of tissue paper and fishing wire.

She said that working with Theta Chi and Gamma Zeta Alpha, the fraternities in the group along with her sorority, was a good experience.

"It helps improve relationships with the fraternities," she said. "Everyone helps out."

On Saturday, the floats traveled behind the Spartan Marching Band in a parade that started at Spartan Village and headed into the tailgate area.

Prior to the game, the tailgates served as a place for the SJSU community to come together. Johnny Brown, a senior psychology major and Sigma Nu fraternity member, said that tailgates were an opportunity for graduates to catch up.

"It's a chance for all the alumni to come back and see what's going on," he said. "It's a special time especially if you're a member of a Greek organization."

Lee Brandenburg, an SJSU and Sigma Nu alumnus, graduated in 1952 and serves on the advisory board of the fraternity. He said college students need to live it up while they can.

"More beer, more booze, more sex," he said. "Keep the tradition going. It's what's needed. You only go to college once."

Other graduate expressed different reasons for coming. John Croll, an industrial studies alumnus from the class of 1973, said part of the reason for showing up was to boost attendance in order to preserve SJSU football.

"We have to save the program," he said. "It's the only way to save it."

Steve Vargas, a senior kinesiology major and Kappa Sigma member, attended his fraternity's tailgate, and said that attendance seemed to have dwindled in his time at the school.

"I've been going to State for a while," he said. "They used to have rallies on campus. Now it seems like the group is smaller. The turnout used to be huge. I think there could be more interaction."

Sandra Aguirre, a junior administration of justice major, said that tailgates and football games can rally SJSU students.

"It's about getting together, interaction and school spirit," she said. "It contributes to spirit."

George Henderson, better known as "Crazy George," has been leading cheers at games since 1968, when he was a cheerleader at SJSU. Since 1975, the alumnus has been cheerleading for professional teams and SJSU games. He said that he intends to increase school spirit - by any means necessary.

"I'll just go out there and threaten their lives if they don't yell," he said. "But they'll yell because I'm scary."

Scared or not, the SJSU athletic department reported that 10,497 fans showed up to the game to support the Spartans.

Athletes also shared in the Homecoming enthusiasm. Nick Gilliam, kicker for the Spartans, said that Homecoming is a good time for getting together and enjoying the events.

"It's a chance for everyone to get involved," he said. "It's a fun day, a fun time."

Punter Bryce Partridge said that he was excited to play at home.

"I'm just pumped up that it's one of our home games," he said. "It feels like it's been a long time, and that it's Homecoming makes it even better."

Homecoming also celebrated the coronation of its king and queen, Jason Chorley and Chrystal Day.

Day, sponsored by Delta Gamma sorority, said that being chosen as a candidate was a privilege.

"I just think it's a big honor just to be nominated out of my house," she said. "It was hard to be chosen because there's a lot of awesome girls."

Chorley, sponsored by Beta Theta Pi fraternity, said that winning the title could not be summed up in words.

"You can't explain it," he said. "It's just cool."

The king and queen are in charge of some of the Homecoming events for next year, Chorley said. Part of his plans are to get more students to the games.

"I'll try to boost attendance in whatever way," he said. "Everyone wants to see the place full."

The stands on Saturday's game grew emptier as time passed and the point gap widened. However, the day wasn't a total loss, said Emily Garcia, a communications alumna (2001).

"I had fun," she said. "I came out to support our team. It was good to support and promote."

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