Ride high over that safety school Slostang!

I want to clarify that I do not believe we are going to get taken to the woodshed (just mentioned it would be a bummer if we did whilst live-streaming on FB to a new audience). I think those days are behind us - Hawk will do a much better job gameplanning and getting the guys in the right mental state of mind. Plus SDSU has had all of the illnesses and they have zero footage on our new offense and defense. So I'm telling you there's a chance. I think it'll be close at least for the first quarter.

I am quick to praise Kevin, but in any case a lot of people who have no affiliation with UCD or SDSU will see some portion of the game just because of the novelty. That's not bad (unless they see us getting taken to the woodshed).

I think the FB live stream announcement is actually huge news. From what I've read that's the future for sports broadcasting, and we're on the leading edge. Another good move by our young creative AD.

Great video - I saw Dr. Blue at the Spring Game and evidently, our new chancellor is very supportive of athletics and understands its importance for the overall university's mission. I think things are going to snowball here, folks, I really do. But Hawkins' comments re facilities spread all over campus making it difficult to run a program are spot on - lots of $$ needed to get us where we need to go. No surprise there. Time to get corporate sponsorship and alumni dollars flowing.

This is such a big deal for our University, and I am so grateful that it has occurred int he Dr. Blue era. The department website, social media, videos taken and posted have all made it appear that we have a division I sports program.

I'm old and as a result, prefer the old-fashioned look, but I understand several alternative uniform options is actually important to "kids these days." If they win 6+ games each year, they can wear whatever they want.

I think Hawk may be more strategic in his usage of the kicking game than ol' Field Gould...

@fugawe09, that's very good and sad insight into big-time college football. I am sure that is common practice at the upper levels of the sport. I'm torn because I love the product on the field but feel terribly for the majority of the players who won't make it into the NFL. I'll always cherish my time playing at UCD where nearly all of us were playing for the joy of it and focusing on our post-college careers (though someone seemed to go on to the NFL every 1-3 years back then). I missed several practices to study for an exam or prepare for a paper, and yet we were still very competitive. i believe we can still achieve success at the FCS level and focus on academics. Some programs are able to do this at the FBS level (Stanford, Northwestern, the academies). It's a cultural commitment.

I never questioned Gould's effort or how much he cared for the kids. He and his staff were good recruiters. He just wasn't good at his job and assembled a very inexperienced staff. It's a results business. No "A" for effort.

@BlueGoldAg I remember that well. It was a pathetic move and an early sign we we're in for a rough patch.

I don't know anything about our QBs behind Spencer, but I thought he did some good things when given a chance. But depth there and elsewhere are concerning in light of the injuries issue you raise. I am not sure whether that will be as big of a problem in the Gould era. I have no statistics to back this up but am fairly certain pre-Gould UCD experienced a more normal level of injuries than the past 4 years. Hopefully, Hawk has some secret-sauce plan for reducing injuries.

I am counting on at least 6 wins next year. I disagree that our recruiting wasn't better under Gould - that is one area I think Gould did well. He and his young staff just didn't do well with the talent they acquired. With improved (read: experienced) coaching and some key JC transfer talent, we will surprise people. Hawkins may not quite be Harbaugh, but remember Stanford went from 1-11 to 4-8 in Harbaugh's first year, 49ers went from 6-10 to 13-3 and Michigan went from 5-7 to 10-3. Don't underestimate the ability of solid coaching to substantially improve results in a short period of time.

Awesome work!

Great point @BlueGoldAg, and you are right @NewGuy, I do have some of that bias. I think while Gould was here I was like a UM fan wishing for a UCD equivalent to a "Michigan Man." I think that's why I and so many others on this board are excited to see what Hawk can do.

I could be misremembering the helmet thing during the Gould era based on results-clouded memory though - I have no photographic evidence.

Did not appear so. I remember helmets laying about. Disgraceful!

@OldAggieAlum, thank you for passing that article along. Always good to have the Aggie lineage and philosophy published on a national scale. After four years in the woods with Gould, I think we are back on the track Sochor laid out. And as a former player, I really hope Hawkins re-instates the no helmets on the ground rule referenced in the article. Seems like a small thing, but trust me, it is not.

This staff is so solid. Feels like the grownups are back in charge. This is one of those "pivot points" for our program. I am certain of it.