What new revenue is Sac going to get?..Reportedly they get no share of the TV revenue, for several years. They are joining a conference that is only marginally tougher than the Big Sky, and teams have limited name recognition here, so ticket sales aren't likely to dramatically increase, and they are paying for opposing team travel. It was a puzzle how they were obtaining the cash to cover the NIL money they were disbursing, now that will need to increase. I don't think the consulting firm wrote their report based on the terms of the agreement they reached with the MAC. What they bought for 20+ million is an FBS label. A label is a marker for something, not the thing itself.

I think Plough signing the extension is very much like Polasek signing his. It keeps a crucial asset in place to make the move up. That's not a move I would want to make without a coach of my choice running the program.

And, "...Allow the university to plan for that move once they have moved all other sports into the conference later this year."

Actually playing in the MW for other sports for a year. experiencing that environment and seeing how we do in football next year or maybe 2, will be a better time for a definitive announcement? From an AD perspective.

I'm gonna be a bit harsh but it needs to be said:

1. The plan under the current renovation is to be complete within 5 years. Adding addition seating to that plan to increase capacity doesn't seem impossible. - Have you ever managed a construction project? Do you know the costs associated with building, especially in California? The zoning and environmental impacts that have to be done? Project overruns? Labor shortages? etc. Let's pretend the goal is for 2028, you think the stadium can do all this in 24 months? Not happening.


2. I think this whole changing this is possible, but its all guessing at the moment. I still think positioning ourselves in that lower FBS bracket instead of FCS before those hypothetical changes happen is a good idea. NDSU moved to the MW after the media deal was completed.

What is the benefit of paying millions dollars to join a conference you are not even sure will exist in 2030? What economic benefit does being grouped with the Ball ST, Reno, etc. have prior to the next TV deals? There is none. Whether this happens in 2029 or 2039 there is no incentive to rush playing FBS football. NDSU is a 10 time national champion with a national reputation and a state support, Davis is not even close to that. To compare NDSU to UC Davis is like comparing apples to oranges. NDSU is now on the hook for some serious $$$. That bill isn't going away, they will have to pay a lot of money.

You need to show how UC Davis can make more money moving to FBS vs just adding expenses.

3. I think the third one is more complicated, but I think joining the conference that all our other sports are in, continuing to compete in a regional conference like the MW, and increased exposure make it worth it, especially considering the MW schools we have close by.

I get it. You want to UC Davis on ESPN and playing bigger schools for the pure entertainment of it, but that is not how life works. Davis is not a big time sports school. It never was and it will never be. Davis at its core is a research university. Athletics are a byproduct of the university. That is it.

I want you to go to campus and go stand on our old field by Hickey Gym. Go look at that area. That was the site of UC Davis football for decades. I can't tell you the amount of time my butt was numb from sitting in those metal bleaches. The current stadium didn't come about till 2007. That means in 20 years we have gone form a DII school to people wanting Davis to join the MWC. That is a pretty big move already and you want us to move even faster? For what?

Here is what you have to understand. Everything costs money. A lot of money. I want you to start putting a price tag on ever wish you want to happen for UC Davis.

Example: "I want to move to the MWC by 2028." Breakdown how much that will cost and where you are going to get the money do make it happen. This will help you better understand the effort needed to move to the FBS.

I may be reading too much into things, but the Plough 5-year extension ends about the time we should be making a decision, or perhaps a move. Seems like a good time for him to get paid or move on.

He does appear to be very careful about alienating the Big Sky. The whole facilities upgrade thing does everything but say we are moving up in 5 years (maybe).

I do give him credit for being calculated with everything he does. I much prefer Rocko's style to Wood's.

That has to be one of the worst business deals I've ever see. It's completely unsustainable.

I'd like this as well. Put it out there, Rocko. What is our goal with football and the MWC? This would help fundraising and recruiting tremendously. He doesn't have to be an idiot about it like Wood, but he could set a goal. Big difference. "Football's goal is to move up by 2030...." Unless I'm missing something we don't have that. Perhaps he is unsure.

We are pretty much in the MWC.

Perhaps the school needs to better articulate that. In 2-3 years we will be FBS. If we can get an FCS title that would be nice.

Just copy what Cal Poly has done in one of the endzone areas. No need for Regents capital planning review and they will print money.

Some things I left out, due to length:

When the news about UCD being invited to join the Mountain West, broke, it surprised everyone - to put it mildly. But conference commissioners, university chancellors and athletic directors don't do this kind of thing spontaneously - especially in the current realignment-driven environment of college athletics. These are lengthy, give and take discussions. We all, or most of us, thought joining the MW for all spots it sponsored, except football was a great move. And the option for football, as explained then, was also seen as a great move. One we all agreed was played exceedingly close to the vest by Rocko DeLucca and Gary May.

The MW announcement was followed by the unveiling of a five-year facilities plan designed to boost several sports. Again, it seems well-thought out, and was well-received on this site.

Since then, Sac State continued to look for a way into FBS, and they finally found a will buyer. Not a big surprise, since Dr. Wood was committed to living or dying (Keeping or losing his job?) on fulfilling that promise. NDSU is also making the jump to FBS by joining the same conference we're soon to be a member of. Not really surprised after Coach Polasek signed a lengthy contract extension, and then explained his decisions he did. Then Tim Plough ALSO signed an extension here at UCD.

Do we really think Plough signs that extension if he was unhappy with the decision-making or the university's commitment to his vision for the football program? I don't.

Do we think that Plough is excluded from the room when those decisions are going down? I don't.

Do we think that Plough, DeLucca and May were all clueless about either the Sac State - MAC negotiations or the NDSU - MW negotiations? I don't. Certainly, there were legalities that ensured UCD was in the loop about NDSU - MW.

The one that looks good is the trip to the San Diego gone on the team charter. I did that tee we I seasons ago up to Montana and it was a great experience!

I'll be there.

I think getting the club suites built, and then announce new seating on the other side with a MW football announcement in 2028 or something sounds plausible. An announcement like "UC Davis has been ascending, and today we announce our transition to the FBS as a member of the Mountain West conference, in addition to a renovation of the east side of UC Davis Health Stadium will prepare Aggie Football for the future".

Oh by the way, I’ve made a few posts as DavisDude on https://wcsboard.com/forum/8-sports-forum/

Multiple members welcomed me to the board and hoped for more Davis fans, so if anybody wants to join, come on over. Spread the word of the Mighty Davis Ags.

wcsboards seems to be the biggest group of Mountain West/ New Pac fans online.

Nothing about paying 15?, 18?, 20+? million(I've seen many different numbers) to join the MAC is appealing to me.

I think Sac will struggle big time in the MAC. Has an FCS team with less success tried to make this jump? I get the 3 seasons with Troy Taylor were great but nothing else in their history suggest they will succeed at FCS let alone FBS. And on top of that the travel will be horrible. A bunch of 3-9 or 4-8 seasons playing the likes of Eastern Michigan isn’t going to capture the interest of the region.

I get wishing we were moving faster but I want nothing to do with Sac’s “fake it till you make it” game plan.

in what world though do Stanford and cal invite Davis? Athletics wise we are much more similar to the mountain west members than p5 programs like cal and Stanford. I would love to be in a conference but don’t see that happening with them realistically (especially if we stay an FCS program). Getting on a national stage with the MW seems important.

To be honest, if we did want that to happen eventually moving up to an FBS level program in the MW before this implosion of conference stuff seems like a no brainer. Close that gap between the programs while we can. I appreciate your perspective but don’t see how staying in the FCS makes us more marketable to a potential conference with Stanford and Cal in it.

Speaking of academics, the MW aligns more with Davis academics wise too than the Big Sky. Flagship universities in the states they are in vs directional, regional schools. That’s not a knock on those schools, but just the reality size, endowment and student-body wise.

It would have been awesome if the old Pac12 would have stayed and we would have eventually gotten an invite.

Before you go crazy with the MW talk, just keep in mind the conference might not even exist as it does now when the next TV deals are negotiated. The conference realignment isn't close to being done. There are real geographical and financial problems out there in college football that need to be fixed. All I'm saying is be patient. Who knows maybe in 2030...Stanford, Cal, UCLA....all are looking for a new home...and they might be looking for a high academic school in a growing TV market is all I'm saying.

I'm in agreement with a small capacity at Aggie Stadium. I think the planned renovations are right on target for what we need.

I've always thought our issue was getting students and alums to love football (and the gameday experience in general). UM, MSU, NDSU and the entire South love football and their gameday experience. If there is no passion for the experience itself, it really hard to show up for stuff consistently. Davis has shown the ability to show up for select major events (Stanford basketball 2005, D2 Break-the-Record Nights, Causeway football, as examples).

The potential is definitely there. And I think we will experience some really cool stuff at Davis in our lifetimes.

I am pretty sure that with a better product people will come.

Hell, I almost drove up from LA because of the playoffs. The only thing that stopped me from doing so was a pesky cold.

Without any inside knowledge, i think the decision of Locker coming to Davis reflects on the quality of our program, and the respect Coach Plough has earned in the "recruiting marketplace".

Well we have coaches on the team retweeting this..

Amen to that. I think we are luck to have such a guy who not only provides program stability, but also is such a good face/spokesman for the University - and is also a very good coach.

I agree. There is fatigue, since fans have been body-bagged over the past 5-10 years now. Our fan base did prove itself under more enjoyable circumstances though.

I think Davis has shown the potential to show up to Cal/Stanford/SJSU if we are in the MWC and playing on a more level playing field.

I'm more worried about the Yolo / Solano community for home games, to be honest.

“ What is the cutoff period when the benefits of your donations are for this academic year or the next academic year? ”
I’m not exactly sure, i think it’s by academic year but not positive. I do know that we are just now making our Champion Aggie donations now for next season. Edit, i see Dr Mike clarified it as fiscal year.

You need to listen to Tim on this. He’s very clear about the current needs and how the funds will be used. He talks about it at the coach’s luncheon, podcasts, FB posts, etc. My wife has been so impressed with the direction the program is going under Tim, that she insists we double our donation this cycle. Go Ags.

How do you expect the Ags to elevate their game and move towards fbs if you refuse to donate now as some folks have suggested. Get the check book out and be part of the solution!

I don’t know why Davis doesn’t have a digital bill board on I80 to advertise. Could have one on both sides of the freeway.

How long have you been following Aggie athletics?

- the community helped fund Rec Hall, which had a larger capacity for both hoops (8,000?) and concerts ($10,000?). ($120 million today at 15,000 a seat x 8,000 mixed use field house design)
- donors helped fund and build Dobbins Stadium, which would have been nicer except the campus dithered w gender equity politics while construction prices rose
- donors helped fund Aggie Stadium
- donors just funded a $50 million top-notch high-performance facility
- a single donor (?) funded the new field hockey facility
- Etc.

After just a year, UCLA and others are tired of cross-country travel. Twenty teams travel to the East Coast bc of football and USC?

If the rent-a-player model continues, FBS has bigger problems for non-marque programs. What happens if the Aggies lose not just Pinnick, but Larison, Buchanan, and others? That's another FCS advantage. Continuity, emotional attachment.

+1. Missing our DE / edge rusher / veteran team leader was huge. Too much after losing the Connors.