About a quarter of the 2009 San Jose State football team spent their last Saturday morning before the final scrimmage of preseason camp as campus ambassadors to students seeking to move into their living accommodations for the 2009-10 school year. Students moving into the established on-campus housing structures like the 12-story Joe West Hall and the nearby smaller brick buildings had just 30 minutes to unload and move their belongings into their homes.

Whether it was newcomers like freshmen defensive backs Chris Hill of Carson, Calif., Jason Simpson of Redwood City or Ronnie Yell of San Diego or seniors such as linebacker Eric Bucholz or offensive tackle Garrett Faulconer, the Spartan movers were careful, quick and kind.

“We wanted to let people know we athletes care about our students. Especially for the freshmen, we wanted them to get off on a positive start,” said Faulconer, the Spartans’ biggest player participating at 6-foot-7 and 330 pounds. He pointed out the challenge to help was made even more difficult with dollies and hand carts being occupied for longer than they should have and elevator stoppages delaying the movements of his teammates and others.

 “I think most everyone appreciated it (our help), especially since they only had half an hour to get their stuff in,” added the psychology major from Anaheim.

“I think everyone that participated put out a good image for San Jose State. We made a good first impression, especially the guys on the team who will be living there,” said Bucholz, who believed the overall gratitude from the students and their parents moving into their new living environment was very fulfilling. “We were out there working as hard as we could. Whenever someone needed help, there always was a football player ready to respond.”

Collectively, they took loads off the backs of pick up trucks, out of trunks and back seats and eased the minds of their fellow students. Like a moving company jingle, every Spartan was a moving master.

Following the first day of the fall semester on August 24, the football team returns to its regular morning practice schedule on August 25 in preparation for the September 5 season against #4-preseason-ranked University of Southern California in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. 

Click on the link above for a gallery of photos from the campus move-in day.