I agree, your QB is a DUDE. He MIGHT be the best QB we have seen (per my post yesterday), but the Big Sky produces a lot of capable pass offenses, and I know our coaching staff will respect the threat that he poses. I don't like to compare because surrounding talent, offensive systems, opposing defenses, etc. are so different.

Welcome to the board. I wish I could see the looks on your player's faces when they look out the plane window and realize that Sac/Davis looks more like Texas than Santa Barbara and San Diego :rofl:

After reading that last post, I'm reconsidering my plans to show up on Saturday night. Sounds miserable... All valid points BlueGoldAg, especially to modern parents. My dad would've given me a jacket and a toque, $5 for snacks, and not completely stopped the truck as he dropped me off and said "meet you right here at 10 o'clock." Three hours of tackling, fighting, and yelling at kids on the lawn with a football, probably lose a shoe and/or a tooth or something. Man, the 70s were a great time to be alive.

CAA Football: Bryant is bad. Villanova looked pretty darn good to me (yes, I watched the 1st quarter vs. Harvard). New Hampshire is probably their closest competitor I would guess as far as a "quality" program and they just got beat by six scores in the first round. The CAA is not the Big Sky or Missouri Valley. Not even close.

Regarding Brown, they went 2-5 and finished in sole possession of 5th place in the mighty Ivy League, aka the SEC of non-scholarship FCS football. Brown lost to playoff speedbump Harvard by 34 on the road and by a dozen or so at home vs. the Yalies. The Bears defeated Rhode Island by a TD in a game where they threw for a ton of yards but had a couple picks and a couple sacks.

The deeper I dig, the less impressed I become with Rhode Island's season. I respect their program as traditionally being competitive, and between them, Nova, and occasionally Maine and Monmouth, they are decent, but barely among the Top 15 teams in the country. Its like comparing the Big XII to the SEC. Sac, NAU, and Idaho State probably win that conference, just like Texas, Vandy, and Tennessee could probably win the Big XII title. However, anything is possible in a one game scenario. That is why they play the game and don't listen to me or my ill-informed opinions.

Great uniform concept possible with a University Farm School get up. Any pictures of the first team?

And the Sagebrushers is a SOLID mascot. I have Bushy Bill from the Dr. Pepper Fansville commercials pictured in my mind.

For the record, I was not advocating for short QBs or that all were successful :rofl: I'm with you, give me a taller cat any day of the week back there. However, the opportunities are far greater these days for shorter QBs than they were when Flutie and Warren Moon were playing.

Was I the only one who got up, grabbed their coffee, watched GameDay, then switched over to ESPN+ and selected the Rams of Rhode Island vs. the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils? It was hard on the eyes; the end zone camera wasn't white balanced, shadows everywhere, everything looked blue, the cameras couldn't eliminate the turf glare, it was painful. The only thing missing was the UC Davis Football press conference audio set-up and it would have been an absolute disaster!

I stomached one quarter of that game. URI got off to a fast start and CCSU couldn't get out of their own way. I switched over to The Game and only went back to Rhode Island a few more times. And every time I did, C. Connecticut was within a score. The entire game, they just sort of hung around. They even had a chance towards the end, but the QB couldn't reach the end zone on their Hail Mary attempt (announcers blamed the wind) and the game mercifully ended.

Here are my takeaways: this might be the best QB we have seen. Dude is cool, he extends plays, and he has a whip for an arm. Wind didn't bother him at all when I was watching. Receiving corps is a good looking group of dudes. Offensive Line looked undersized except at Left Tackle. Shorter guys, but they are a very solid unit and looked like good pass blockers. Tailback has numbers but didn't scare me.

Defensively, #8 is a dude. He can play. Reminded me of a slightly smaller version of #45 from Sac. He can rush the passer, play the run, drop into coverage, very versatile. Other than that, nothing stood out. CCSU didn't have a running game; RB was average, no real Tight Ends, weren't really committed to it. Central Connecticut attempted 62 passes and were only sacked once. One pick and no fumbles. From what I saw as a casual fan, they play sort of a bend-don't-break style of Defense, they play hard, but they are not overly impressive.

I like the 81% chance. Feels like at least a one TD margin, but I won't be surprised if it is closer. Don't discount the impact of that kickoff time either. We need to fill that place up and show well on TV. The Ags really responded to the energy and environment last home game. I doubt we can replicate, but playing at night in the Pacific Time Zone is a huge advantage.

Caden has film showing that he can perform at a high level. His height will limit some of his opportunities, but his film will open other doors. There are coaches out there with bad QBs and in desperate situations to save their jobs. They will convince the money people that a kid like Caden is all they need. He's a winner. Then he'll have a choice to make, which he has earned.

NFL offenses are becoming more like college offenses, so there is a place for the shorter, athletic QB in the NFL to the right OC. Bryce Young is a great example, so are Tua, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Dillon Gabriel, the list goes on. Most of those guys were also 2-sport (mainly baseball) athletes in college, sound familiar? I'm not saying CP is an NFL QB, but to Sailorgabe's point, there are plenty of examples, and opportunities will follow.

Also, college football is professional football now. Quarterbacks make more in college than many QBs will on rookie contracts in the NFL.

Here are my Top 3 candidates for Cal. And Plough ain't going to Cal at this juncture. Maybe after one of these guys gets fired next, but not in 2025/26:

Tosh Lupoi would be a really interesting hire at Cal. Dude can flat out coach and get after it, but does he have the personality to recruit today's soft ass California HS football player? Reminds me a little of Aranda at Baylor; heck of a football coach, great mind and talent as a DC, but is he a head coach? Actually, he also reminds me a little of Ron Rivera, so maybe this is the guy.

Rolo may not be fun to work with or work for according to this thread, but he is an outstanding football coach and recruiter. And he is actually a good guy from what I know, and I'll leave it at that. He's used to doing less with more, and if you watched their upset of SMU, the players and staff love him.

Will Stein, another Oregon staffer, is a good fit. Likeable and humble dude, very personable, QB friendly, Offensive guru, has the temperament for California recruits, I like this one. He has also spent a lot of time recruiting California since he's been with the Ducks.

I too was a bit surprised by Wulff's firing in SLO, I thought they were close. They did load-up on transfers last year, which is typically the smoke coming before the firing. Two LA-area P4 candidates could emerge as the lead dogs in that one.

Portland State is a dumpster fire. They need to hire the right guy (everyone loved Barnum but that only goes so far) and get their recruiting mess straightened out, then address the facility situation. 20+ miles from campus to stadium is no recipe for success, just ask UCLA. Their ability to take anyone academically should make it easier to recruit there, but that also creates other headaches.

Signing off to load up the old Family Truckster with provisions, then pointing it north up the coast towards the Causeway. Safe travels to all Aggies heading to town to see that MOTHER LOVING (sic) WATER TOWER GET LIT AROUND 4:30 PM ON SATURDAY NIGHT!!!

I am with you 100% with that concern. A lot of it is the kicker I'm convinced. In modern coverage schemes (unlike when I played football a long time ago), the kickers are instructed exactly where to put the ball and all the coverage shifts in that direction. I feel like we have to be mis-hitting the ball and putting it in the wrong spot. That's my hunch; I can't see our schemes being that bad. at this level of coaching/play.

Great perspective, I had not taken that close a look at the schedule. 0 Sacks vs. Nevada is telling. My only concern, which I am sure has been addressed, is how we protect one of the edges in our play action protection. Mano y mano I think we're fine.

Perfect for all of us Californios to bundle up and act like we're watching a game out in Iowa or something!

Two teams that can both run the ball for 200+, it will be a matter of stopping them on the ground and Special Teams making some plays and creating field position. Ideally, the Ags will force the Go-Gos to play from behind and put the ball in the air. To do so, we'll have to protect the QB against what is statistically one of the best pass rushes in FCS football. Conversely, Marion will throw a ton of personnel groupings and formations at the Blue Force. Expect to see as many substitution matches as you've ever seen on Saturday. The Go-Gos will be running different groups in, and we will wait and send our guys out to match as late as the officials allow. Cat and mouse game that I'm really looking forward to. This thing is probably the Aggies by a TD or less and that is what I expect it to be unless we can force them to throw and/or force some turnovers and actually cash them in for once. Go Ags!

Mercer scored their points in the second half vs. UCD back in August as well (see above post about 2005 Stephen F. Austin game). Playing down there is just different. Hard coming out of those steamy locker rooms and getting up for the second half. That time of year, it rains daily at 3:30 no matter what. Throw in the chance of thunderstorms and other weather systems, coupled with lightning (which is what shuts games down when it strikes within a certain distance) and you have some major challenges to playing a complete game. And if you do avoid the rains and lightning, you're blessed with a blazing "90/90 day"; 90+ degrees with 90+ humidity. Miserable.

No idea why I went on a Southern weather rant. Here's a scheduling suggestion: start playing the Ivy schools OoC. Cal Poly and San Diego have hosted Ivy League opponents, and we're a much easier sell as far as like-institutions to the Ivy admin that pays for the trip. Plus we'd offer a better guarantee and it will better prepare the Ivy teams for their new playoff autobid.

I agree with the comment about avoiding the Pioneer. There is occasional recruiting value to show face down in San Diego, but no benefit to playing ANY of the other Pioneer schools. They are Top 10 D3 programs most of them as far as level of play.

Duly noted Doc! All I care about is beating their asses this weekend and they can go off on their adventure. I just hope they survive it (the FBS Independent adventure).

I agree 100% per my post on the wrong thread again (I think its on the Causeway thread) :rofl: Go Ags!

SJSU just fired their Defensive and Special Teams Coordinators as they wrap up a miserable 3-7 season. Nevada, aka. the other Tahoe team, sits at 2-8 with victories against the Go-Gos and, you guessed it, San Jose State. WHY WOULD WE LEAVE THE BIG SKY/FCS TO BE A PART OF THIS?!!! Group of 5 football sucks, the stadiums are mostly empty, and they play for The Snoop Dawg, Famous Idaho Potato, LA, Hawai'i, and New Mexico Bowls, possibly the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. Is it worth the additional TV revenue? I would rather aspire to win the Big Sky and FCS titles than go play a bunch of crap programs (half the current MWC is sub-.500 and they'll be left behind by the "new" PAC 12 schools) and money games.

Idaho was so insightful in bailing on the FBS pipedream, kudos to them and the Big Sky is better with them. Boise will never come back, but Nevada should. The Go-Gos should come back with their cowboy hats in hand. The Ags can stay put for another decade+. Even with the facility upgrades that dropped today, it's still not the best stadium or atmosphere in the Conference. Keep building the foundation, develop players and coaches, raise money, and we'll know when the time to jump is right.

Just one man's humble opinion...

This is classic! The Aggies have already won Round 1 of The Final Causeway without playing a snap. I love what Dr Mike said about the fairgrounds :rofl: Substance over flash...

I had the same thought about momentum and our last 3. I feel like this has become a must-win.

Haha! Exactly

Do you think Nevada or SJSU wants to play UC Davis at this juncture? Nothing to gain, everything to lose from a recruiting standpoint. If I were Choate or Kenny I would want no part of that game. Their FCS games need to be against schools they don't recruit against. Cal and UCLA are different stories. UC schools helping each other out, big Aggie alumni/recruiting/fan bases in both regions, I'd try to play both those games as often as possible.

Regarding the schedule, the Go-Gos are facing an identity crisis, and I'm not talking about which cowboy hat to wear or what check is the president going to write that the football program will have to cash. Nor are they the victim of atrocious Big Sky officiating any longer. I'm talking about who are they? Here's what we know:
*FBS Independent beginning in 2026
*They have two games schedule for next year. From an athletic administration standpoint, that is a nightmare on November 19. The Go-Gos allegedly play @ Fresno State and host Youngstown State according to the web. Also, some sites have them playing Southern Utah and Lamar. I'm not sure how much I trust random websites that aren't official, but this points to them not closing the door on FCS opponents. Their plan may be a slow rise with a hybrid schedule, I haven't followed it close enough.
*Ironically, the date UC Davis is slated to host the Hatters of Stetson, is also listed as the date that the Go-Gos are hosting the Penguins of Youngstown. This tells me that IF one of the parties wanted to keep the Causeway alive, that was the open date to do it and it didn't get done for whatever reason. My guess is that the Ags needed a home game on that date and the Go-Gos wouldn't oblige for obvious reasons. Davis isn't the one needing games so they got a home cupcake before the Griz come to town. Winning the Big Sky > keeping the Causeway alive.

So who is CSU Sacramento? From all appearances, they're a self-declared FBS program that will need to fund an additional 35+ scholarships and play their games at a renovated horse track while begging for games. Can someone say Cal State Northridge... add a bunch of scholarships, play at Devonshire Downs, travel the world, ooops, not sustainable, drop football. Stay in your lane. I hope they don't ever come to this for the good of the game.