BTW, we had a long-time local fan, possibly from Woodland, Latino, who I saw a year or two ago at a home game. He appeared to be slowed down, possibly by an ailment. Good natured guy. He may have been the same guy who wore a blue cape in the 1980s? He seemed self conscious about his decline.

Does someone here recall his name? We said hello and wished him well.

I'd differ slightly in the description. The original layout was volunteer based, but Coach Swimley had some sharp folks put together plans. The second-half was funded by the Dobbins Family, I'm guessing it was more 'professional', but campus foot dragging over gender equity issues delayed construction and shrank the project (inflation).

I mentioned problems in DII and the proportional aspect. Maybe the best route for some is a mid-level place like Cal. (Buchanan)

Every NFL team has seen Aggie Lan Larison, likely multiple times, and they'll see him at the NFL Scouting Combine, at private workouts, and maybe at an all star game. We've had a couple dozen players in the Show.

FWIW, Ivies and others bringing back the SAT.

You're only considering 2 or 3 factors. Look at how Jordan Allen disappeared. Injured, and quickly buried behind multiple other 4-star recruits. Bigger rosters, more competition, more chance to get injured competing against numerous 300-pound linemen and 4- and 5-star recruits.

Not to mention the lure of illegal angles. Steroids are present at even some DII schools, but I'm sure the pressures at SEC programs are off the charts. Student athletes at Davis are treated as individuals with limited amount of alumni or program pressure.

NFL Coach Ron Gould said the NFL will find you if you can play. Let's take two pertinent examples.

Heard of Alex Cappa? A 6'6" 235# TE / DE / OL, 0 stars, out of Dublin HS. ZERO. A nobody. Attended Humboldt State, DII no man's land. Never transferred. Balled out at the Senior Bowl, selected in the 3rd round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Current contract is $35M, but he'll be a free agent next year. (He's now 305#s.)

Jordan Allen, a 6'4" 238# LB / TE that we were very high on and Coach Gould's staff inked. A talent, another potential Keelan Doss find. RG departed, Allen bounced to CCSF, where he was a 4-star coveted Juco top-20 recruit. He went to Tennessee, played a handful of games in 3 years, transfered to Weber, and poof. Over. Four schools. He could have had stability here, stood out, and family support locally.

We've had a number of defensive players make the NFL - Mike Wise, Bo Eason, Casey Merrill, etc. It seems the twins could be a top-tier defensive force next year, instead of the risk of being a small fish in a big FBS pond.

(Minus 10 points.)

https://images.app.goo.gl/bTgQknukjhRWBCKBA

FWIW, Cody Hawkins sacked his DC before the last game. "The move comes after the Bengals surrendered 478 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in a 77-42 loss to Eastern Washington on Saturday, dropping the club to 5-6 on the season."

CH tabbed Webber's co-defensive coordinator, Grant Duff, as his new DC.

In Cofield, Knoos, and McEnroe, the Camarillo Acorn says we got the three best defensive players in Ventura County.

He did, at a late date which essentially guaranteed Laird one year as HC.

It didn't turn out so great for Hornet basketball. From 6 league wins under Coach Laird, increased to 7 with lots of transfers, but only 4 last year w DP.

Only one DI win this year w interim coach, then likely at least one rebuilding year. I'd say that hiring doesn't-commit Coach David Patrick was a poor choice by AD Mark Orr.

Coach Laird wasn't flashy but provided stability and had the team on an upswing. The high school gym and minimal support means only a local coach has a chance of staying for even 3-5 years. Orr likely felt jobbed by Coach Katz' late departure, and DP left in late May. He has a history of moving every two years or less.

Gale previously broke some big plays in prior seasons.

FCS championship game on a Monday night.

One of your top members refers to us as the "Dung pile".

But it seems like building on the west side is really complicated by the press box / Edwards Room. Unless we tear that down, and add in corporate suites w seating above?

I believe it's the first time we elevated a career position coach. In RG defense, he likely inherited Biggs' minimal budget, and it sounds like Hawk helped increase that. Did we also increase scholarship dollars under Hawk?

Josh Gale

2024: 16 rec / 208 yds / 1 TD
2023: 26 rec / 335 yds / 4 TDs
2022: 7 rec / 283 yds / 4 TDs

Winston Williams

2024: 34 rec / 265 yds / 6 TDs
2023: 3 rec / 61 yds

Ian Simpson

2024: 16 rec / 185 yds / 3 TDs
2023: 14 rec / 87 yds / 0 TDs

They probably keep in contact w recruits they connected with but didn't sign, as well as star camp attendees.

He's in high demand, and the early moves are completely understandable. Coaches like him, Nathaniel Hackett, Khari Jones, Burl Toler, Gus Argenal (basketball) move, learn from lots of people, absorb, and move on.

Up-and-coming African American coaches are in especially high demand. It's easier, and more visible, to hire a black coach than a black chemistry professor.

Welcome to the Big Sky, Coach Plough.

FBSchedules.com: Mercer, UC Davis to play in 2025 FCS Kickoff

"As part of the agreement, Mercer will pay UC Davis a $25,000 guarantee for the game and ESPN will provide the Aggies with 400 complimentary tickets. The contest, which has not yet been officially announced by ESPN, can be moved to Macon, Ga., if it cannot be played in Montgomery."

https://fbschedules.com/mercer-uc-davis-to-play-in-2025-fcs-kickoff/#google_vignette