Agreed. Last year was the first real chance. Had Lan not been injured no way the Eags win. He had about 250 yards rushing when he was injured mid 3rd quarter and EWU was simply unable to stop him. At the end of the third quarter it was 24-20 UCD. Aggies did not score after Lan got injured. Of course it’s all ifs and buts.

I think you are correct with Toomey attemdance. But with both “moving up”, a new stadium, and more than twice the student population, current attendance is still not impressive. Again I think due to student demographics and west coast blase attitude toward college football.

No. Not that I am aware of. A sweep is a run …. the issue arises when it’s a pass. And a pop pass is behind the line.

Almost got them there in 2022 though.

Correct, if caught behind the line of scrimmage all bets are off. And if beyond the line of scrimmage linemen cannot downfield block. I remember the latter when Tehran Thomas’ TD run was called back in Fargo (I was there) due to him catching the ball maybe 1/4 yard beyond the line of scrimmage while a lineman was engaging a defender. A major turn in that close game (2019).

agree with the student enrollment not being a factor in a competitor

@Jdur There are 40,000 students, not fans at Davis. Way back when I was a student in the late 70’s the attendance at home games at Toomey were typically 7-10 k, and I remember the Nevada Reno game having 13,000 (SRO). I think the capacity of the Toom was maybe 8,000 at best even with the end zone bleachers. Student enrollment then was about 18,000 to include graduate students, so by simple proportion one would think there would be at least twice the number of students attending home games. I don’t see that. I think a main factor is changing student demographics, with fewer being exposed to football prior to college. Add to that the general cultural malaise towards college football in California (especially Northern). Given this, I fail to see how playing a mountain east school for instance would draw significantly more attendance than current trends. I watch what SJ State games I can get and when the drone pans from above I don’t see more than maybe 5-6k people on the stands. Cal’s stadium is never more than half full unless game day comes.

In the south, it doesn’t matter who you play - the stadium is packed. Tennessee could play Sisters of the Poor and there would be 105,000 in attendance. Even at NC State there is not much difference. They had 58,000 (near or at capacity) when they played Western Carolina, a FCS team not even in the top 10.

Anyway I don’t know what the answer is to getting attendance figures bumped up.

My weather app (weather underground) shows 15 mph winds at kickoff. That could affect the passing game somewhat. Certainly not like the winds in Brookings during the playoff game a couple years ago.

Agreed. Whether or not UCD football stays FCS or moves up, it is a positive sport/experience to enjoy and rally around. I posted an article earlier about the trend of students enrolling at schools on the south for enjoyable weekends to include football. Georgia Tech was the main photo (rambling wreck rolling into the field with students in the background cheering). I watched the Colorado game - stadium packed, students having a great time. Now Aggie football is, of course, not at that level of enthusiasm with either most students or alums, but dropping football just seems like a Debbie-downer approach.

In watching the EWU - Sac game-
Sac had only 7 possessions. Their downfall was really the third quarter. Eastern took the kickoff, went tempo, marched right down the field and scored. They then had a successful on-side kick and again tempo for another score. That was followed by a pick of a Conklin pass. Sac could just not get off the field. EWU rushing game seemed to wear them down, and vesparas got key escapes of rushes, and the running QB, Taylor, gashed them. Conklins stats looked good but he was not super sharp, with a real bad INT and some missed throws.

Keys - keep Vesparas in the pocket. Sac seemed to overrun him in the pass rush and he just took the opportunity to escape and run. Otherwise he throws almost exclusively shot passes like slants to Chism.

Stop the rushing QB. He is only going to run. Only 1 pass from him. In the same vein slow down the run and just get off the field.

Gonna have to score. Hopefully some of the momentum from poly will carry over.

Win the turnover battle. This will be crucial if it gets to be somewhat of a shootout. There were only 3 punts in the sac game all others were scores with the exception of a short missed field goal by Eastern. 9 possessions for Eastern to 7 for Sac was the difference.

I too noticed that Tompkins ditched the brace. I think that frees him up more for his quick jukes and moves laterally that I would think be more difficult with a brace. It seems like he is getting back to his old self.

I would say only if in the case of lame hiring people. Certainly in engineering, agricultural sciences, and faculty hiring at universities, there is no problem in name recognition.

would be nice to have another bigger back for short yardage. Right now only Larison fits that bill.

Genetti seems to have a bigger leg than Bell. I think I’d stick with him for kickoffs.

Harper is a bit nifty with his feet.

No personal fouls! Two fouls is inexcusable.

So ineligible for next week. You just hurt your team. Selfish.

Fisher has some juice.

Quit the trick plays and get Larison and Hastings out.

I guess Plough can’t hear me.

Man I’d take out Larison and Hastings. No need to get hurt. Of course then Hastings throws another pretty ball.

Maybe pull Hastings and Larison now. No need to risk injury.