San Jose football departs, for now
Team, staff reported no positive COVID-19 tests
The San Jose State University football program will leave its temporary home at Humboldt State University shortly after its Wednesday morning practice and make the 320-mile trip back home to Santa Clara County.
The 141-person contingent of San Jose State players, coaches and personnel traveled to HSU on Oct. 2 to practice for the upcoming season. Santa Clara County, until downgrading its risk level on Tuesday, was in the most-restrictive “red” tier of coronavirus risk and was not allowing the team to engage in full-contact practice activities.
The state downgraded Santa Clara County to “orange” on Tuesday and San Jose State was cleared for full-contact football practice.
“We’re ecstatic,” San Jose State coach Brent Brennan told The Mercury News. “We’ve been up here for 10 days now. All these players, coaches and trainers have been displaced. It’s just another chapter of the crazy COVID story.”
San Jose’s season opener is slated for Oct. 24 at home against Air Force.
If Santa Clara County returns to a red tier, San Jose State may return to HSU — and potentially play its season opener there.
“Those are decisions made by people more important than the football coach,” San Jose head coach
Brent Brennan said. “… We’d love to play at home, you only get so many opportunities to do that. … But if that’s not available, and Humboldt is an option, we’d love to play here.”
HSU said in a Tuesday news release that “should Santa Clara County return to the red tier, HSU will consult with Humboldt County Public Health and SJSU about the viability of the team’s return to HSU to proceed safely for practice and/or competition.”
Before reaching an agreement to relocate San Jose State’s football contingent to HSU, neither university consulted the Humboldt County Department of Public Health, according to health officer Dr. Teresa Frankovich.
Every member of the San Jose contingent was tested for COVID-19 prior to traveling to HSU using the PCR, or polymerase chain reaction, testing type. The team was tested two more times within their first week on campus. No positive tests were recorded.
An San Jose State spokesperson told the Times-Standard the university estimated its cost for relocation and use of HSU facilities including its dorms and dining services at between $100,000 and $150,000.
HSU has not said if it is gaining any revenue from San Jose State, or simply requiring the university to cover its cost.