SJSU & Army Agree To Football Series

Steeped in major college gridiron tradition since the 1890's and carrying its golden school colors along both national coastlines, San Jose State University and the United States Military Academy (Army) have agreed to a four-year, home-and-home football series beginning in the 2018 season. Tom Bowen, San Jose State University's director of athletics, made the announcement locally.

courtesy: San Jose State Athletics

The Spartans will host the Cadets for the 2018 and 2020 games and San Jose State will travel to Army for the 2019 and 2021 contests. All four games will be non-conference contests.

"The opportunity to play Army in an extended series of games is a distinct honor for San Jose State and our football program. It's one we pursued with great interest and vigor," says Bowen, a close professional colleague of current Army director of athletics Kevin Anderson dating back to 2001 when the two were University of California athletics administrators. "We realize these games will be highly attractive and mutually beneficial to both institutions, their football programs, their fans and their alumni."

The regular-season games with Army at famed Michie Stadium will be the first for the Spartans in the state of New York and in the northeast region of the United States. Previous San Jose State teams played Eastern Time Zone games against the Universities of Virginia, Florida, and Miami.

Army has not played a regular-season football game in the state of California since the 1983 Army-Navy game in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., 350 miles south of San Jose.

The future series with Army is the latest for San Jose State with the nation's service academies. When the Spartans first entered the Western Athletic Conference, the team played Air Force in 1996 and 1997. San Jose State and Navy have a four-year, home-and-home series commencing in 2011 and running through 2014.

The institution's two head coaches also have a long-standing association and friendship. Dick Tomey is San Jose State's football head coach. Rich Ellerson is in his first season at Army. Ellerson was a Tomey assistant four times. They first worked together at the University of Hawaii in 1977 and again in the 1981 through 1983 seasons. Ellerson reunited with Tomey at the University of Arizona from 1992 through 1995 and in the 1997 through 2000 seasons.

Follow Inside Sparta on Twitter and Facebook

---

Keep up on all the latest San Jose State team and recruiting news by signing up for a Total Access Pass. For as little as $7.95 per month you'll have access to all Scout.com Network content including videos. Your support allows Inside Sparta to continue bringing you the very best in Spartan news. Sign up today and get a 7-Day free trial!

---

Don Hoekwater is the Publisher of Inside Sparta. You may contact Don with any questions, comments, or tips at

Better yet, join the rest of the Inside Sparta community in discussions of this article, and more, on the Inside Sparta Discussion Forums!