By Felix Peterson (@_felixpetersson ):
Brandon Spoulos’ journey to become a rugby icon at San Jose State started with a simple “yes,” in response to the enjoyment of laying hits on opponents.
The love for rugby has since stuck, and it’s not just because of tackling.
The Waterford, Calif. native grew up around sports, but not rugby.
“I grew up playing almost every sport I can think of, but before I came here I had never tried and almost never heard about rugby,” said Spoulos.
During the Fall 2015 semester, Spoulos — then a sophomore — was searching for something to do during his spare time.
“Brandon started off very inexperienced,” head coach Pio Sasa said. “But he loved the game so much that every day, every practice, he pushed himself to be a better player.”
That season, the Spartans finished 6-3 and made the playoffs as one of the better teams in the Pacific Western Rugby Conference.
Three years into his rugby career with the Spartans, Spoulos is now president and team captain.
It’s been the opposite since the start of the 2017 season as SJSU has not won a game.
But for Spoulos, results don’t mean much.
“Many players have left the team the last (couple) seasons, and I knew I couldn’t just pull out an all-star winning team on my own,” Spoulos said. “What I can do as a leader … is to keep the boys interested and making sure we have a good time.”
Someone who has seen Spoulos’ development is teammate and best friend, Aita Adeoye. They met in 2015 and have held together ever since.
“He is leading by example,” Adeoye said. “Any time something must be done, he does it and it just motivates us all.
For instance, he has never missed a practice because he upholds himself to high standards.
That was the reason, but not the main one Sasa chose Spoulos as leader.
“It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about the brotherhood and bringing together the team,” Sasa said. “That makes him a great leader.”
Leadership has been a skill for Spoulos since his early days, and when he took the role as captain of the team his senior year, he did it as a way to thank his teammates throughout the years.
“The first year I played, I met my current best friends. Those guys are what made me the rugby player and leader I am today,” he said. “They brought me into this sport … those are my role models of the game.”
With only three games remaining in his career, he wouldn’t mind finishing of with a victory or two.
“I’m going to think the same way in all of my last games,” Spoulos said. “This is it. I’m just going to make sure I have the time of my life.”
When the season ends and Spoulos graduates next fall, he hopes to move on and start a new chapter in his life with or without rugby, which to him is bittersweet.
“I will miss the team and the sport I have come to love,” Spoulus said. “But I always have a rugby ball with me, wherever I go and I´m looking forward to come back every year for the alumni game.”