What Is 2011 San Jose State Spartans football

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2011 San Jose State Spartans football team represented San Jose State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 5–7 record under head coach Mike MacIntyre. They played their home games at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California, and competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

Key Facts

The 2011 San Jose State Spartans finished the season with a 5–7 overall record
Head coach Mike MacIntyre was in his second year leading the program
The team played home games at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California
They competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 2011 season
Quarterback David Fales made his debut late in the season, throwing for 1,100 yards in just 5 games

Overview

The 2011 San Jose State Spartans football team represented San Jose State University during the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), the Spartans were led by second-year head coach Mike MacIntyre and played their home games at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California.

The team showed signs of improvement compared to their 1–12 record in 2010, finishing the 2011 season with a 5–7 overall record. While they did not qualify for a bowl game, the season marked a turning point with the emergence of quarterback David Fales and a more competitive performance across the schedule.

Record: The Spartans finished the 2011 season with a 5–7 overall record, a significant improvement from their 1–12 mark in 2010.
Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre was in his second year as head coach, having taken over a struggling program in 2010.
Home Stadium: All home games were played at Spartan Stadium, a 30,456-seat venue located on the university campus.
Conference: San Jose State competed in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), which included teams like Boise State, Hawaii, and Fresno State.
Quarterback Emergence: David Fales made his debut in Week 7 and threw for 1,100 yards and 7 touchdowns in just 5 games, signaling a brighter future.

Season Performance

The 2011 season was defined by gradual improvement and key offensive developments, especially after the mid-season insertion of quarterback David Fales into the starting lineup. The Spartans began the season 0–4 but won five of their final eight games, showing marked progress.

Early Struggles: The team started 0–4, losing to teams like Stanford, Arizona State, and Louisiana Tech by an average of 20 points.
Turning Point: The Week 7 victory over Colorado State, 35–34, marked the team’s first win and sparked a 5–3 finish to the season.
Offensive Surge: After Fales took over, the Spartans averaged 28.6 points per game over their final five contests.
Defensive Challenges: The defense allowed an average of 34.3 points per game, ranking among the worst in the FBS.
Key Win: A 27–24 victory over New Mexico on September 24 was the first win under Fales and boosted team morale.
Final Game: The season ended with a 52–24 loss to BYU on November 26, highlighting ongoing defensive issues.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2011 season compared to surrounding years in key performance metrics:

Season	Overall Record	WAC Record	Head Coach	Key QB
2009	2–10	1–7	Dick Tomey	Adam Tafralis
2010	1–12	1–7	Mike MacIntyre (1st year)	David Pandya
2011	5–7	3–4	Mike MacIntyre (2nd year)	David Fales
2012	10–2	7–1	Mike MacIntyre (3rd year)	David Fales
2013	6–7	4–4	Chuck Martin	Derek Anderson

The table illustrates a clear upward trajectory beginning in 2011. While still below .500, the 5–7 record was a major step forward from previous years and laid the foundation for the breakout 10–2 season in 2012. The integration of David Fales as quarterback proved pivotal for the team’s future success.

Why It Matters

The 2011 season was a crucial transitional year that reestablished competitiveness for the Spartans program after years of losing. It served as a bridge between a rebuilding phase and future success under MacIntyre’s leadership.

Program Momentum: The 5–7 record demonstrated tangible improvement and gave recruits and fans reason to believe in the program’s direction.
Quarterback Development: David Fales’ emergence provided a long-term solution at QB, a position of instability in prior seasons.
Recruiting Boost: Competitive performances in 2011 helped attract higher-caliber recruits for the 2012 and 2013 classes.
Coaching Validation: Mike MacIntyre’s approach began to show results, justifying the university’s decision to retain him after a 1–12 debut season.
Conference Relevance: Winning three WAC games improved San Jose State’s standing in a conference that included strong programs like Boise State.
Foundation for 2012: The experience gained in 2011 directly contributed to the team’s 10–2 record and bowl appearance the following year.

In summary, while the 2011 San Jose State Spartans did not achieve postseason play, the season was a vital step in the program’s resurgence. It combined rebuilding with emerging talent, setting the stage for one of the most successful seasons in school history just one year later.