Anthony Soto, Aggie alum and former wide receiver 2009-2012 is the Mercer Offensive Coordinator and QB coach. Plough was passing game coordinator during three of Soto’s years playing at Davis. Soto later had a quality control role under Ron Gould. 2014-2015.

Yeah, I remember Anthony Soto, wow, so we have a connection in this game down in Montgomery. I guess I'm not surprised, that's a good thing to know

Soto and the head coach are a tandem, coaching at 3 schools together. Soto was assistant head coach at the previous stop.
Mercer’s freshman QB who started six games transferred last week to Oklahoma.
Davis may have half the defense starting lineup show up for the first time in summer camp.
A real challenge for coaches on both teams to get their teams ready in week 0.

during the Alumni Zoom this week, Plough said that when they were watching the playoff selection show and they announced Mercer, he was thinking 'why does that sound familar?......wait, isn't that the team that we scheduled for a zero week game?'. He was also commenting on the neutrality of the site of this neutral site game!

Neutrality, ha, it's in the South and it's a 3 hour drive for Mercer, and a 2 hour gather and haul to SMF, then a 4.5 hour flight to Montgomery with a 1 hour bus load and drop off for Davis. Hardly neutral if you ask me! Still, a great opportunity for the program, and in the spotlight, love it...now let's not suck on the field with all of college football watching.

Now compare it to the average Cal road game,

Insanity!

Football Game Slate to Open the 2025 Season on Saturday, August 23 will be the following -- not entirely sure what time or which network is covering each game:

Tarleton State @ Portland State
UC Davis vs. Mercer at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, AL
Incarnate Word @ Nicholls
NC Central @ Southern at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta, GA. Interesting note, Center Parc Stadium is the current home of the Georgia State Panthers -- and was formerly known as Turner Field, the home of the Atlanta Braves up until 2016.

Stanford @ Hawai'i
Kansas State @ Iowa State at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland
Fresno State @ Kansas
Sam Houston @ Western Kentucky

Anthony Soto brief recap of coaching background and 2025 Mercer team.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5cCR3cusUD/

I’m looking forward to the Mercer game, its going to be a good test. Don’t know if i need to subscribe to ESPN to do so.
Mercer had an outstanding team last year, particularly on defense, where they led the nation in sacks and were very tough to run against. They lost most of the defensive stars to transfer or graduation, but they return a standiut sophomore defensive end. They had a QB who started the last half of the season, who transferred to Oklahoma, after spring practice, but their early season starter was out with injury, threw for over 1000 yards and can run. They have veteran running backs, including a 230# guy. Their head coach played O-line at Ohio State, is the son and grandson of football coaches, and has a staff most of whom have been with him for awhile, and they’ve had great success at D2 before moving to Mercer last year and making the quarter finals. They put in a whole new offense last year, so may be more polished this year.. They emphasize being physical. Davis will have a largely rebuilt defense, with possibly just the Connor twins as returning starters, i expect the Davis defense to be good, with more pass rush, but probably not as stout against the run, but they’ll only have summer camp to integrate key players on defense.

Anyone up for an East Bay watch party for the game?

Walnut Creek is a pretty central location (lots of Davis peeps in Contra Costa County). I'm thinking Stadium Pub. Ran into some Montana State alums there last year.

Any interest? Definitely willing to change the location to a different city!

Sounds like a good idea -> i think youth soccer doesn't even start by then!

I can park and walk from my work with no hassle that Saturday, I'll be there.

Gah! Our daughter's first game of the season is the 23rd. Time tbd...

Anyone know what the travel roster size is for FCS neutral site games? Is it 57 58 if the team flies or stays over night? FBS neutral site games have roster limits of 70, but apparently FCS doesn’t have a neutral site rule.
I don’t know Mercers travel plans, but according to the somewhat dated travel rules I have read if they bus to the game and don’t stay overnight they could bring the whole squad.

I was wondering the same thing!

I’ve come to the conclusion that Davis gets to bring 58 players, and Mercer will likely bus and bring as many as they want. Mercer likely will not stay overnight for an afternoon game. If anyone knows different please reply.

This is an issue I've never known anything about- travel roster size.
This sounds like a pretty big disadvantage for one team if they have less backups than their opposition.

If it was an FBS team, like Tulsa, Oregon State, Washington etc, they could bring 70.
Against Cal or Stanford, because they bus, no limit. But against an FCS team 58.

It sounds unfair but no more so than every FCS road game. Bad rule in general, saves a trivial amount of money.

Gametime is 6:00 pm local (Central Daylight) and with it being on ESPN it likely won’t be over till nearly 10:00 pm local (11:00 pm Eastern for Mercer who are from Georgia). I guess they could bus back, but it would be late.

I'm about 5 hours away from Montgomery and will be going to the game. I'd love to meet up with other alums who are traveling to the game. Does anyone know the team hotel? I'll try to get a room there.

way to represent!

For anyone making the trip, be sure to tag us on IG or X so we can share it for some “fan footage!”

Heard on the latest @Aggie Pride Podcast that they got the inside scoop on the starting QB against Mercer, but were told to keep it under wraps. Look at you guys being true insiders! :eyes:

Lunch with the coach today. Maybe he’ll spill the beans!

5

i suspect he will and you will be sworn to secrecy.

0

no one is forcing you to read the forum bud

6