By Chris Estrada – Staff Writer
Playing on the road can be daunting. Whether they play outside on grass, on a court or in the water of a pool, the feeling for student athletes remain the same.
Every team has to deal with the unbiased feeling of uncertainty. Each year, schedules are created with games split between home and away.
Success is based on how teams capitalize in unknown territory. Travel comes with playing on the road and a key part is making sure the team stays focused. San Jose State assistant basketball coach Ryan Cooper believes a lengthy trip can take a lot out of players.
“If you are not prepared mentally and not taking care of your body and doing the right things on the road, it could get to you over time,” he said. “That’s why it’s important to stay locked in and focused on what we are there to do.”
Wyoming, for instance, is one of the hardest places to play because of the travel.
It’s the farthest away for the Spartans and sits 7,165 feet above sea level, making it the least desirable. A plane ride, followed by a three-hour bus trip to reach Laramie is not a pleasant trek any athlete.
Entering an opponent’s arena for the first time can be frightening. Head basketball coach Jean Prioleau says he makes sure his team stays grounded and focused on the reason they are there which is to play ball.
“We will get there the day before the game and we will practice that evening,” coach Cooper said. “ That will give the guys a feel for the environment. So the guys will have two opportunities to get a feel for what could be a distraction for them.”
In addition to Wyoming, New Mexico is another difficult place to play within the conference because of how loud fans are.
“If you’re a guy who hasn’t experienced that, it’s hard to simulate,” Cooper said. “It’s a fun environment to be in, but can distract you if you are not focused.”
Whether the team plays in front of 1,000 or 10,000 fans, Prioleau tells his team it shouldn’t make a difference and they should still be able to execute.
Facing big-name programs with ridiculous amounts of fans in attendance can be intimidating.
Shifting to football, during his five-year career at SJSU so far, senior wide receiver Justin Holmes has visited Auburn and Texas, places that can seat 100,000 people.
“When the situations come up in the game, like an important drive or someone scores an important touchdown, the whole stadium erupts,” Holmes said.
“You can feel the ground shaking. It’s crazy. It’s an amazing feeling playing in front of major crowds, but when the first tackle is made, you remember it’s just a game that is no different from playing in front of no fans at practice,” he continued. According to Holmes, the craziest fans are from Oregon State and Air Force. Beaver fans are roughly five feet from the away bench.
With a setup that close, players can practically feel the fans leaning over and yelling, making it the perfect opportunity to get in the opponents’ heads. As for the Falcons, Holmes said they have the most “talkers.”
“The cadets were crazy. They were talking a lot crap since their stands are set up similar to Oregon State’s,” Holmes said. “They scream, yell and go crazy. They definitely were the best hecklers.”
More times than not, playing on the road is a disadvantage. However, there are a few times where the best games are played as a guest.
The Boise State Broncos’ field is blue to represent their school colors. Holmes discussed how the color change wasn’t a distraction and how he enjoyed playing there.
In a 2016 matchup in Boise, he recorded six receptions for 106 yards with a touchdown for his best game as a Spartan.
“I thought it would be my only time playing there so I took it as an opportunity to do something cool,” Holmes said. Now to the pool, and just like other sports, fans of water polo are just as loud. For men’s water polo senior Cade Baldridge, instead of being intimidated by the away crowds, it pumps him up.
“When I score a goal, I’m going to get hyped and they are going to get quiet and shut up,” he said.
When SJSU travels to USC, the band is present in the stands, playing all game long and adding to the yelling and screaming from fans. UC Santa Barbara’s fan base however, gives the Spartans the toughest time from the stands.
“They are the worst,” Baldridge said. “They go to our roster and find things and yell out at us, but honestly you just got to tune it out.”
A lot of preparation occurs in being ready to play water polo on the road. No pools are identical. When the team gets to the pool for the first time, the players jump in and swim back-and-forth to become familiar with their surroundings.
“You have to understand the whole layout of the pool,“ Baldridge said. “Know where the clocks are, know where the crowd is going to be and how the chlorine is. Sometimes I open my eyes up and down just to make sure they are perfectly inclined with the chlorine.”
Playing away from home creates different atmosphere and can have its disadvantages. Cancelling out the noise and remaining focused on the main mission of winning the game is important for having success on the road.
Follow Chris on Twitter @estradadotc