I'm with you 100% on the necessity of a statement from the admin. I see where you're coming from; perhaps the statement could include verbiage that we are focused on a national championship, building it to a national championship level, using the words NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP as the rallying cry.

From your perspective, what would fire-up the donor base more: jumping from today right into FBS, or talk of staying the course, focusing on the present, and a drive towards an FCS national championship?

Understood on Cal Poly not being Sac State, but it is one of Plough's pillar goals every year and I think the people in the building (players, coaches) look at it as a rivalry. As I stated many posts ago, I think the old trophy is buried somewhere in the depths of Cal Poly's existing, pile of crap football dumpster and someone needs to come clean and get that thing back. A BIGGER trophy may create more hatred towards them (joke).

I do disagree, however, on staying put in FCS for a little longer hurting the Aggie Ascent drive. Ascending with a plan > ascending unprepared. Plenty of improvements to be made at the stadium to bring it closer to FBS-ready, plenty of money to be spent to get to a consistent national championship contender (spend it on players, feeding them, summer housing/school, recruiting budgets, etc.). We're probably more prepared than Sac to make the jump today (minus all their newfound money), but not nearly as prepared as NDSU. That will be a decent barometer for us.

Absolutely. Plus the Griz are in transition. The door is open...

Be where our feet are... the allure of "FBS" and "playing more recognizable teams" is not what it's cracked up to be. A bunch of 5- and 6-win seasons (at best) and possible playing in some crap bowl game in a stadium filled 1/3 to capacity will get old in a hurry. People will blame the coach. You know where it goes from there. Then we're back on here crying for the "good old days" of losing in the Quarters with a team ranked in the Top 10 every year. Let's take care of our business, save some money, build a monster, and enjoy the ride.

Sac State was 7-5 or something this year with a much more talented roster than what they have today. Sure, we sell out the Causeway game and it's fun to whip their ass and take that ugly trophy, but they are toxic. The team to the south and the little horseshoe trophy now moves to game 12 and we'll sell that one out. We do not need Sac State.

Late breaking word on the street is that the NDSU to MWC deal for 2026 us done…

IF that is true, along with Bobby H. retiring and the changes at MSU Boze-Angeles are opening the door for the Aggies to be a very serious title contender next season. Money talks, suckers walk.

As far as the future NDSU-UC Davis football contracts, tear em up with the move. Maybe a small buyout at best.

Sac State offering $10m to the MAC and MWC to "pretty pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease" let them into an FBS conference for 2026. And they won't even take a dime of your TV revenue for the season. Several questions:

1. Where are they getting the money? Perhaps they raised enough from the lil' Yachty concert or from savings from a failed stadium project.
2. If that happens, what happens to Mississippi Valley State (Jerry Rice's alma mater), Youngstown, Rio Grande Valley, North Alabama, Maine, Tarleton, and Southern Utah games already scheduled? I'm sure the Stingers don't get out of those games for free. Where's that money coming from? Probably their guarantee money from Fresno State :rofl:

The ineptitude and decision making by the circus clowns running Sac State is truly unlike anything I've witnessed in college athletics. Keep it rolling!

Maybe make the first scholarship a two year deal with a buyout so the FCS program gets compensated for their investment.

That made me spit my protein shake onto the computer screen, so true. Man we couldn't get that right in '25. Onward and upward and out of the end zone, cheers to that!

Agreed. The Montana retirement and Montana State defensive coordinator bolting to the NFL (not to mention all their portal losses) has the Aggies in a prime position to contend for the Big Sky championship. The 2-deep will be strong and also still young. Another area of strength is the staff retention. Plough made a nice move with the special teams position while retaining a very good position coach. The RB guy leaving is a loss, but that is a plug-and-play position on staff with the talent in that room. I feel really good heading towards Spring Ball in April

Nicely done! Go Ags!

Summer housing is the key to success. If they aren't able to keep the best players in town, all day every day from the end of spring quarter to the start of training camp, They're not committed to competing for a national title. Period. Great to hear about the one apartment complex, hopefully they can find more to follow. Same with summer jobs, meals around town, etc. Someone is hopefully pounding the pavement to get all of that lined-up, then taking care of the two deep roster.

I agree with you about their willingness to burn a season early on. I was just looking at 3-4 clips of their highlight films from high school when I was doling out REDSHIRT tags. Those Edge players may be highly-rated, but neither one of those guys are ready right now. Who knows with a great summer session and maybe some doors opening ahead of them on the depth, but neither one is ready to deal with a 21 year old Division 1 dirtbag Offensive Tackle as of today! A kid like Few from last year's class came in at like 6'5" 240 and only played sparingly on the strong side until late in the season. He also played against a much higher level of high school competition and had more of a college ready body. I may be wrong, and I am all in favor of young guys playing IF they're the best guy and they're ready. The couple clips I watched on each told me they would both benefit tremendously from a year in the weight room and learning their craft. I'm not too proud to admit it if they prove me wrong, I just looked at a small sample size. Both have VERY bright futures ahead of them!

Bobby is BURNED OUT by College Football 2026. It's a shitshow out there, who can blame him. Especially at a place like Montana. Hopefully he can go up to his lake house and skip rocks and catch fish and get refreshed. He's an acquired taste but a good guy.

We don't give Plough enough credit for how he manages the program and the roller coaster of recruiting and agents and raising money for the cause at a place that is mostly but not all the way in compared to the Montanas and Dakotas of the world. Maybe he goes home and throws his patio furniture into the pool and kicks his dog, but he doesn't strike me as that guy. I really appreciate the way he is both passionate and realistic. Has a vision and isn't scared by it. Consistent on every level that we get to see. Go Ags!

Outstanding group! Kudos to the coaching staff, they put so much effort into recruiting and it is paying off with Top 5-10 classes every year. Davis guys...

PACIFICO's 5-CENT NEW AGGIE SIGNEE EVALUATIONS:

I think Gilbreath and Sylvester are the steals of the class...

Gilbreath will play early. 6' 185 as an freshman FCS corner is BIG. Faulkner is nice as well. And he hits, which you don't always say about Corners. The CB from San Bernardino is quality depth, will redshirt.

The Idaho Safety (John) fits a very specific need on the back end. Big cat that will fill it up and can deal with Big Sky TEs. And he's played in the Conference. He's a sleeper.

Kollock had crazy high school numbers. He's going to be in an absolute dogfight with Cleeland, maybe even Eason, we'll see. Shout out to SailorGabe. GREAT problem to have for Plough and Shelton. My early money is on Cleeland vs. PSU.

Looking at the film, both Sylvester and Herman are dudes. More dudes to go with some dudes already in the RB room. Dudes everywhere. The new Running Back coach will be happy.

Houseworth the Cal/Fortuna TE is a load! Classic, in-line run blocking TE that might surprise in the passing game but doesn't have to for another year.

JUCO LB Knudtson is a downhill guy, rangy, but only had 36 tackles in 11 games last season. Why? I obviously don't know the scheme he played in, and he has a good frame. Should be in the mix to play or back up depending on what the returners are like. The two young LBs will need to develop and are probably redshirts unless something happens. Not convinced the Johnson kid doesn't end up playing some Safety but we'll see. Nice athlete. The Portland kid will be a player eventually, he's all over the field.

I like the fact that we got into Hawaii with Honebein. Uses his hands well and has a motor. Redshirt. The kid out of Colorado is long and gets off like he's shot out of a cannon, but doesn't use his hands yet. Some vet will cave his chest in July and he'll figure it out at some point. Redshirt. Both of these cats are high caliber outside guys, we'll see them on the field in 2027 or 28.

As for the WRs, Parnell is 6'4" or something, will likely be a "tweener" WR or Hybrid Y. Not a burner but good ball skills at 6'4". Fay from Manteca is quick and has some giddyup.

Don't have time to go into the weeds on each of the OL signings but I trust Cody. None of them should see the field until their year 3/RS Sophomore season at best. That's the sign of a healthy program. Maybe I'll go back on them and evaluate the unit at some point as the dog days of a late spring ball start day drag on...

30-39 yards out, left hash, kicking to the north, seemed to be our Achilles heel in 2025. Hopefully this kid or one of the redshirts can figure this out.

AND he's a Receivers coach! Not too many WR coaches that have made great coordinators, much less Head Coaches. Not saying it can't be done, but most of them can't get on a board and draw pass protections or a defensive front 7. He'll have a lot of support there and will likely be the relationships guy, but I would not hand the keys of a blueblood program over to a WR coach... EVER :rofl:

Kids with the right measurables on the O-Line that can walk and chew gum stand to make a lot of money in the Portal if they have decent film. Those suckers are hard to find.

Skip will do a good job at Poly, I think its a home run hire.

I like the idea of recruiting and developing depth for deep playoff runs. Getting college kids to buy in to that philosophy is the secret. Belichick always talked about prioritizing an elite QB1, then building the rest of the roster from the 53rd man back up to the top. As we experienced last season, you're going to take some injuries so the reserves are critical. Plough mentioned throughout, "we're bring this guy in to compete with this guy." Enjoyed the pod, as usual

Spending some dough down there... I've noticed all the transfers heading to CP, going to be an interesting chemistry experiment. Reminds me of Sac State last year. Also, easier to get into Poly as a transfer than out of HS. I remember that from my recruitment 100 years ago.

That's funny. I'm still undefeated as a tomato selector at the grocery store thanks to my experience on the harvester. My wife will tell me when she wants it ripe by and I can make the right choice accordingly