Hawkins talked about the global crises of the last hundred years — world wars, The Great Depression, a previous pandemic — then focused on the current COVID outbreak: “People have endured things as hard or harder, and for longer. While that doesn’t make today any easier, it does provide perspective …

“Hey, look. You’re still getting a degree from UC Davis. You’re still playing Division I football, you’re still in a culture that loves you, supports you and helps to develop you.

“Our guys get that, our parents get that,” says a proud coach. “We were thankful to get out there for 15 days and play football.”

“A lot of people want to play the victim. We can just as easily play the victor.”