Spartan Daily - Serving San Jose State University since 1934

Issue date: 10/9/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Tommy Wright Running back Sammy Morris is interviewed after an afternoon walkthrough at SJSU's football practice field. The Patriots are staying in San Jose and using SJSU's athletic facilities this week to avoid excessive traveling. New England played at San Francisco last Sunday and will play at San Diego next Monday.

The NFL's New England Patriots, last year's AFC champions, started practicing at the SJSU football practice field on Wednesday afternoon for their Sunday night game against the San Diego Chargers.

"We appreciate the opportunity to use the facilities," New England head coach Bill Belichick said. "It's a good setup here, they run a good program."

Last week, the Patriots defeated the 49ers in San Francisco and decided to stay in California instead of flying back to Massachusetts to avoid jetlag, Belichick said.

Five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour said the extended stay in California saved the Patriots approximately 10 hours of travel time.

"It's good if we can take advantage of it," Seymour said. "I think it will pay dividends."

Belichick said it was nice to be in California and it gave the team a chance to spend more time together.

Patriots' quarterback Matt Cassel, who attended USC prior to being a seventh-round draft pick in 2005, said he liked the setup at SJSU and was glad to be back in California.

"It's nice; look at the sunshine," Cassel said. "It's beautiful; you can't complain."

Belichick said Spartans head coach Dick Tomey has been great in terms of cooperation and making things work out for the Patriots.

"They've been very accommodating," Belichick said.

Tomey said the two teams don't conflict at all.

"We're going to stay out of their way," he said. "They are going to stay out of our way. They've got work to do; we got work to do."

Tomey said he didn't mind sharing the field with the Patriots because he wanted to see linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

Continued...

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