• 2024 Week 1: UC Davis @ UC Berkeley
    RE: game notes

    - Can’t seem to spell Lehigh correctly (transfer punter).
    -Griz is a registered trademark with one “z” not two. Those Montana fans can get riled up quite easily.
    -team and stadium information headers have no spaces between words.
    -had to chuckle at “Just call us UC Davis” section in which they stipulate “no hyphens, periods or other forms of punctuation” when the document is rife with incorrect or inconsistent punctuation such as ellipses being used instead of periods for complete sentences, and inconsistent capitalization for first words in “by the numbers section” list entries. Also, I am wondering what an agate is besides a stone, as in “UCD is acceptable for agate”.

    I stopped at page 5 with my edits. Doesn’t anyone edit these things? I’d do it for no charge, or maybe an have an English major or faculty member put a set of eyes on it? I suspect any and all errors will be pushed into subsequent editions. A bit embarrassing for an institution that prides itself in its academics?
    I am perhaps too picky (just ask my wife).
  • 2024 Big Sky Scores
    Mellot is not taking care of the ball. I think Montana State has recently been a very good running team. New Mexico is focusing on stopping the run and Mellot has never been an exceptional passer. When forced into an obvious passing situation, the odds of success go down.
  • 2024 Big Sky Scores
    MSU adjustin by running the ball. They have a good offensive line and a good back. I did notoce that their no. 1 back doesn’t have the extra gear to break away for a TD.
  • Looking Ahead to the 2024 Football Season Discussion
    There is no way UCD would have lost to EWU if Larison had not gone down middle of 3rd quarter. He was absolutely going through EWU defense like a hot knife through butter.
  • Looking Ahead to the 2024 Football Season Discussion
    I think Idaho will be 2-2 coming into the game with UCD. Albany loses their QB that made the difference in their game with Idaho last year and I believe the receiver that burned Idaho. I also think they will handle Adeline Christian. In any case a big game for both teams.
  • Looking Ahead to the 2024 Football Season Discussion
    controlling the line of scrimmage, as always, is a big part of winning teams. It’s not sexy but just look at SDSU and NDSU - their dominance has in large part been due to line play.

    Just got a couple tickets to the Montana game in Missoula. Not many left first hand - likely to be resale through 3rd part sites in the near future. Hope we don’t freeze to death at this night game on Nov. 9.
  • Looking Ahead to the 2024 Football Season Discussion
    Jackson Cloud always gives good interviews and Mitchell Dixon’s was very good.
  • Aggie Pride: A UC Davis Football Podcast
    I noted that when asked who was the best downfield blocker amongst the wide receivers, without a second’s hesitation he named CJ Hutton. That guy is all effort.
  • 2024 Week 1: UC Davis @ UC Berkeley
    No doubt Miles will be the QB. He has the experience and there is no way you start a freshman (even redshirt) unless the upper classmen cupboard is bare. I think switching OC was a challenge to MH last year. I think Cody Hawkins did a very good job at OC and was helpful to QBs as he was one. No matter the intent of “Shredville”, a strong running game with Lan Larison leading, accompanied by a good defense will be important. Can’t overlook what wins championships.

    Would be nice if the Ags would have a big body receiver emerge to embellish the otherwise rather small receiving crew.
  • Aggies @ The Rose Bowl in 2027 and 2029
    Awesome. I’m definitely thinking about traveling to one of those. Great venue.
  • 2025 Football Recruiting
    Agreed. As QB is the most important on a team, healthy competition and a good backup or two to account for possible injuries is desirable. This year’s roster shows 6 QBs (Hastings last year but no other seniors). Seems a bit heavy. At other institutions there may be multiple portal moves at QB, but that is not normal at UCD unless a grad transfer.
  • 2024 Week 1: UC Davis @ UC Berkeley
    Not as much of a puzzling situation when one has graduated (I am pretty sure that is Buchanan’s situation). Castles did the same thing last year and likely got more exposure in the SEC with Tennessee and although going undated was picked up by the Eagles. Just for the record, I am not in favor of all the hop-scotching prior to graduating.
  • 2024 Week 1: UC Davis @ UC Berkeley
    highly doubtful. Home team is Cal and is scheduled to be on ACCNX (ACC network“extra”) which is owned by ESPN. ESPN would not broadcast on two of its channels for a game like this. I would assume Big Sky football will again be on ESPN+ this fall, but would include only those big sky conference games or games against other non-FBS schools.
  • 2024 Week 1: UC Davis @ UC Berkeley
    well good question. Just looked up an article that says Cal and Stanford will get partial media rights from ACC of about $25M per year until year 7 or so then a full share. Don’t know if anything developed from the potential suit and liability of those jumping the PAC-12 ship. Of course who knows what Cal will be forced to pay former athletes for NIL as recently ruled. It’s a chaotic landscape. But $500,000 or so these days is becoming chump change. As Cal is not likely to set the world on fire and has precedence playing UCD, my guess is that they will honor the game.
  • 2024 Week 1: UC Davis @ UC Berkeley
    Assuming the game is not bought out by Cal, it will be on the ACCX network. That is available with sling orange sports extra (I toggle that on for college football come end of August). I am sure it is on other streaming services. It used to be on the PAC-12 network but surprise surprise that does not show up in that package anymore. I think the late August heat of Stawberry Canyon is much preferable to Davis heat. Cal gets to look forward to going to Auburn the first week of September. Welcome to the ACC and attendant humidity.
  • Looking Ahead to the 2024 Football Season Discussion
    As usual, these pre-season polls don’t reflect much serious research and are “safe” based mostly on last season results. Three teams from MVFC and three from the Big Sky in the top 10. I find it hard to believe 6 from the 2 top conferences in FCS will populate the final top 10, but it is also a bit difficult to predict the “surprises” that will certainly pop up over the season.

    I have sac state at 8-4 or 7-5 (2 L from FBS) and
    Idaho at 7-5 (also 2 FBS but tougher than Slac). I think both the Ags and Weber are better positioned than Idaho for success next season.
  • Transfer Portal 2024
    he looked good against Sac and was their best option last year - just a very weak team around him. I suspect he is just searching to get on a team with more visibility. I think like a lot of kids these days - thinking the transfer portal will solve all their problems.
  • Finally, a Business Major
    I don’t know if the new program is exclusively undergraduate, but there are research opportunities in areas such as econometric modeling - although the utility of that is limited compared to undergraduate programs/degrees.