I agree on not following the Hornets plan.

I also don’t like following the Oaklandamentogas A’s plan of supposedly funded. Let’s get shovels in the ground and see the confirmed $ in the bank. We’ve heard a lot without a lot to see after the fact over the years.

The prior Rec Hall setup had tall bleachers that folded inward, making it more intimate and holding noise in. Not sure why the old corner food spots can't be reused.

What happens to students use of Rec Hall, it seems the campus has taken it over.

RH got jumping when the top bleachers were utilized for big games/midnight madness or whatever we called it then!

Speaking for myself, winning an FCS national championship is not a pre-req for moving up; it is my opinion that given the current trajectory, we are heading in that direction. Even if the Ags never win that specific game, its a moonshot and having a consistently elite FCS team will make the transformation to FBS easier because it means that we have better players, financial commitments, etc. Better prepared for the rigors that schedule and competition will present.

I see no issue with NDSU moving-up. I would consider them better suited today for the move than UC Davis.

RollOn is spot-on with trying to lock in the fee number now, it will only go up if not addressed.

Bottom line is that no one is every fully ready for that transition. My "argument" is to make it as painless as possible by continuing to build up what we have until the time comes in the next 3-5 years. Have a clear path with tangible goals. Novel concept.

I like this post! :100:

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!

The thing that makes the arse pucker up for me in paying the $17 mil to go FBS now is the forthcoming College Football Super League scenario in the next 5 to 6 years.

What if the relatively new FBS program doesn't make the cut and is relegated down?--->If that happens, what makes that situation significantly better than being in FCS?

(don't get me wrong - I want to see UC Davis as prominent a football and overall athletics program as possible. as a newbie family, we donated what we could in the Fall Quarter and will again in the Spring).

I do have a question about donations. What is the cutoff period when the benefits of your donations are for this academic year or the next academic year? Or perhaps the benefits of your donations are based on the regular calendar year?

solutions need well defined and committed plans…we’ve been given plenty of concepts, but nothing concrete.

aligned with their fiscal year. So, donations up to June 30 lock in your benefits for 2026-27 season.

“ 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.

A digital board with needs....like "Help support our local athletes...our goal is fund XX parking passes...food...etc" Put a QR code so people can donate and see where their donation is going. Love this idea.

This was the image the AD tweeted a couple of years ago. We’re currently working on the right half. I wonder if they’ll add boxes to the left side as well (under the second deck).

Correct. The budget is 50m. 2/3 of revenues are derived from student fees. 2/3 of expenses are scholarship costs. Admin has been cut substantially which is why there is not much marketing going on. Equestrian was a big blunder.

We've got at least eight Associate ADs. It doesn't take a crew to market on campus, it takes common sense and maybe some creativity. When the Aggie Pack got going there wasn't a huge support staff, it was actually modest.

At least circa 20 years ago, it was usually on the cable network that carries the non NFL Bay and Sac teams. It has had multiple name changes over the years. It usually aired on the Sacramento channel which is viewable in the Bay (except for Kings in the Bay and vice versa except W's in Sac).

Interesting data from 2024.

Click on the links and when you hit the web page click on "Where the Money Comes From"

North Dakota State
29% of Revenues from Donors/Corporate Sponsors
15% of Revenues from Ticket Sales
30% of Revenues from Tax Payers/Student Fees

Sacramento State
3% of Revenues from Donors/Corporate Sponsors
1% of Revenues from Ticket Sales
87% of Revenues from Tax Payers/Student Fees

UC Davis
9% of Revenues from Donors/Corporate Sponsors
2% of Revenues from Ticket Sales
80% of Revenues from Tax Payers/Student Fees

Another big thing for me: Joining the MW for football gives us a HELL OF A LOT larger exposure than playing all our games on ESPN+. Imagine how many alumni could be aware of games...

THE CALIFORNIA WAY!!! TAX, TAX, TAX.

Going back to my proposal to spend money to make money by expanding the Athletic Department staff to include specific "teams" to attack various areas of operations, the 9% Donors/Corporate Sponsors is 20% less than NDSU (which is laughable given the locations of the two schools). To me, those are two distinct areas for fundraising; donors (private, alumni) and corporate sponsors, and require specific personnel/teams to address those areas. Until we grow the Department, the current staff, bless their hearts, are going to wear too many hats and be stretched too thin to get that place to where it can potentially be support-wise.

This goes to show what I was saying about football meaning something completely different in North Dakota, both to the University and the community.

Insane how Sac is in worse shape than us, yet still somehow printing money to improve the program and move up. I'm still enjoying watching the two programs go about things in completely different ways.

To be fair though......across the entire FCS the average is 69% Revenues from Tax Payers/Student Fees. Its not 80%, but its still high.

https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs

When you look at the averages across the board, Davis isn't that far out of whack.

Yeah I think JMU is something like 68% tax payers and student fees and they just moved up.

I, too, enjoy watching the two programs side-by-side. Crazy how far apart they are in so many ways.

Student freed from a large student body are way more predictable that corporate gifts which can fluctuate based on the economy/program interest.

Nice stadium picture…that’s not even close to what we are working on. We are working on 8 luxury boxes and done meeting space.

The right half looks pretty close to what is being worked on now…

https://theramblinroundup.com/2026/02/10/mountain-west-eyes-dtc-streaming-as-new-revenue-path/

Mountain West Eyes DTC Streaming as New Revenue Path

"Participating schools are expected to include Air Force Falcons, Wyoming Cowboys, New Mexico Lobos, UTEP Miners, UNLV Rebels, Nevada Wolf Pack, San Jose State Spartans, Northern Illinois Huskies, Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, and North Dakota State Bison."

If the exclusion of UC Davis is correct, then I'm wondering how we can watch basketball if the game is not on linear TV.

(Link to the podcast where he talks about this)

Some great stuff was talked about from Sam Herder who I see as the most credible FCS/G5 reporter):
1. He sees us as one of 3 teams that will move to the FBS (Sac State, Tarleton, UC Davis)
2. He talks about NDSU moving as important because it situates them as a member of the FBS for now, and promises them a seat if the power 4 separates from the g5
3. He talks about how there is a chance that the g5 merges with the top of the FCS, but the g5 could also try and keep fcs teams out of that new level of division if the power 4 split happens (with the g5 teams not wanting to water down their already relegated new league)
4. Sees the NDSU move (and any FBS move) to give teams head starts in recruiting, infrastructure, positioning if a power 4 split happens that teams still in the FCS wont have
6. Does not see Montana State and Montana, SDSU or other Dakota schools moving to the FBS soon
5. Sees UC Davis as one of those teams that could fill the hole with NDSU leaving (at least before UC Davis moves)

His analysis really suggests to me that UC Davis to the Mountain West is likely not a matter of if it happens but a matter of a few years.

They are openly suggesting they are going to move to the FBS in the contract extension post? Seems like the most straightforward admission of plans so far.

In today's evolving college football landscape, opportunities at the Football Bowl Subdivision level continue to grow. With this extension, DeLuca, the athletic department and Plough have reaffirmed their shared commitment to the long-term success of Aggie football on the national stage.

I’ve written quite a few media releases and this isn’t an admission of anything. It’s the typical big dreams and big words format to make it sound like something, at least is terms of the future of the programs status.

Love signing Plough….would also love to see the contract terms which I believe would tell us a LOT more than a glossy statement about a contract.

I think them even mentioning the FBS as a goal is something they have steered clear of in most of the messaging. Heck, its wild they include that in this press release like 4 days after saying they are "committed to the fcs". I see this as a signing that suggests plough sees no reason to move to a mw school or pac12 school when Davis will probably be in the Mountain West for football before that contract is up in 2031.