by By Mark Emmons memmons@mercurynews.com , San Jose Mercury News

San Jose State had just intercepted a pass against Idaho, and Burns the Spartans' defensive coordinator and secondary coach was understandably thrilled. But then it sunk in which Spartan had made the play.

That's my son.

As safety Tanner Burns came off the field, "I got teary-eyed," Keith said.

Football teams tend to refer to themselves as families. But Keith and Tanner Burns clearly realize this is a rare situation, and both even call it a blessing. How many college athletes, Tanner asked recently, get to play for their dads?

But it's also a rarity that comes with added pressure. The son is acutely aware that he is watched more closely because of his last name. He, more than any other Spartan, must earn his place.

That's why the call Tanner received from his father after the 19-9 victory Sept. 26 over Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo was so rewarding. Check out the Western Athletic Conference Web site, Dad said. Tanner had been named the defensive player of the week for his 11 tackles, interception and fumble recovery.

"My whole life, even in Pop Warner, I've heard, 'Oh, he plays because his dad's a coach,' " said Tanner, who leads the team with 40 tackles. "But the more plays that I've made, people have to come to realize that maybe his kid is OK."

Dad always knew.

High-energy dad

Even in a sport that breeds high-octane coaches, Keith Burns, 49, stands out. He's a charismatic whirlwind of enthusiasm, preaching a message that life is too short to have a bad day. And when practice is over, he jogs at least six miles not missing a day in more than a year.

"It's the Dr. Pepper," said Tanner, a sophomore. "I wish I had his energy, because that's one thing I didn't get from him."

At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, the son has a slighter build than his Hummer-driving father. He is more reserved and apt to answer questions with a "yes, sir" or "no, sir." He also likes to joke that he got his athletic genes from his mom.

Keith and Yvonne grew up five miles from one another in the Dallas area, but they didn't meet until both were in college . Keith was a safety at Arkansas and, after graduation, the young couple embarked on a nomadic path as Keith climbed the coaching ladder.

As Keith logged the insane number of work hours expected of every college coach, Yvonne often would be the one playing catch with their three boys. In addition to Tanner, oldest son K.C., now 22, was a pitcher at San Jose City College , and they also have an 8-year-old, Davis.

"Even as a little girl in Texas I was playing football in the yard with the neighbor kids," Yvonne said. "That's just how you grow up there."

Meanwhile, Keith was taking seriously what often passes as clich? coaches can be father figures to young athletes. It comes naturally for a man who lost his own dad his senior year of college .

Three of his recent SJSU defensive backs are in the NFL Dwight Lowery, Christopher Owens and Coye Francies. And every week they text him. One message from Owens, sent before the Cal Poly game, read:

You are the best coach I've ever had. I couldn't ask for a better man to impact my life. I love you.

"I get chills reading this," Keith said. "That makes this job awesome. You get to form that kind of relationship with these kids."

Not always fun

As Tanner grew up, he got to know star players such as Jason Sehorn and Keyshawn Johnson on his father's teams. Being a coach's son was cool when Dad was a successful coordinator at USC and Arkansas.

But he also saw the dark side when Keith went 7-28 in three seasons as Tulsa's head coach from 2000-02.

"It's hard when you read things in the newspaper or hear things on the radio about your dad," Tanner said. "Kids at school would treat you differently, and even some of their parents. But we're a real close-knit family, and we dealt with it."

Keith landed at SJSU in 2004, and Tanner began to feel like a Spartan before it ever was official. But while being named second-team All-Mercury News his senior year at Valley Christian was a nice honor, it didn't exactly signal that he was a blue-chip prospect.

"You're always looking for the biggest, strongest, fastest in recruiting," Keith said. "Tanner is not that. But he's a competitor who always has been productive."

As his son drew interest from other WAC and Mountain West schools, Keith was determined not to put too much pressure on him to attend SJSU even though head coach Dick Tomey had offered a scholarship when Tanner was a junior.

"I once read a quote from John Elway about how he regretted not playing for his dad," Keith said. "John knew he could have helped him. But more importantly, he missed the chance of sharing that experience with his father."

Keith paused.

"I also never mentioned that to Tanner."

This son of an SJSU coach chose the Spartans, but he knew that even his new teammates wondered if his father had pulled some strings.

"We've been around the football block long enough to know how it works," Yvonne added. If Tanner fails to make a play, "people notice that first because his dad is a coach. I'm sure that's always in the back of his mind."

Blossoming early

The tough start for SJSU (1-3) includes the 56-3 pasting in the opener against USC. But Tomey had advice for his defensive coordinator afterward: Look at the game film as a dad.

Tanner, who even Tomey agrees probably was pressed into a starter's role before he was ready, had nine solo tackles and forced a fumble.

"I know if I were just a dad in the stands, I would enjoy his success more," Keith conceded.

But Tanner, who lives at home and swears the football talk ends at the front door, craves the X's and O's, because this is the first time his dad has coached him.

That even includes the criticism. Tanner intercepted a pass on the final play of the Cal Poly victory, but instead of falling, he ran around and lateraled the ball in some unnecessary showboating much to his father's chagrin.

"I knew my dad was mad as soon as I pitched it," Tanner said. "I have lived with him for 19 years."

Contact Mark Emmons at 408-920-5745.

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