Bob Dunning's prediction:

AGGIES over TULSA … this, from one of those “reputable” betting services: “The Tulsa Golden Hurricane will be too much for the UC Davis Aggies on both sides of the ball. Tulsa’s offense will grind out plenty of yardage and UC Davis will have a hard time moving the ball against a tough Tulsa defense. Tulsa Golden Hurricane wins, 41-0.” We shall see what we shall see. Take the Aggies by 4.

More Dunning predictions here: https://www.davisenterprise.com/sports/bobs-football-picks/

From the Davis Enterprise:

As he prepares his UC Davis football team for its season opener at the University of Tulsa on Thursday, Aggie head coach Dan Hawkins said this may be his best outfit since he took over the program in 2017.

“Top to bottom, I think it is,” Hawkins said. “Every coach has concerns at this time of year. What’s your Achilles heel? Injuries can always play a big part and that reality can keep you up at night.”

Hawkins shared more thoughts going into Thursday’s opener.

“But we are really solid everywhere and our guys will always play hard and play fundamentally sound football,” Hawkins said. “Our goal is to be great over the long haul, play our style of football and be the best version of ourselves that we can be. When you do that, everything else will take care of itself.”

The Aggies regularly open the season on the road against an FCS opponent, a mixed bag, according to Hawkins.

“Financially, it’s what we have to do to pay the bills,” Hawkins said. “But it’s also a good thing to spread the institution of UC Davis around the country and go to new places where we haven’t been before. I’m really in favor of that sort of thing. It’s always good to reach out and play these teams.”

The Aggies, who have never played in Oklahoma before, will receive $400,000 guarantee from Tulsa, which plays in 30,000-seat Chapman Stadium on campus.

That’s in addition to the $750,000 check from USC for a previously scheduled game for this weekend that the Trojans scrubbed. Chump change for USC, but pure gold for the Aggies.

More here: https://www.davisenterprise.com/sports/uc-davis-football-ready-for-opener/

From the Davis Enterprise:

Mandate goes into effect Sept. 8

At least 82% of UC Davis students are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data published this week on the campus COVID-19 dashboard. The percentage indicates that roughly 4 in 5 students enrolled at UC Davis for this fall have submitted proof of vaccination to the university, while nearly a fifth of the student body has yet to do so.

The mandate requires that students and staff submit proof of vaccination through an online portal before Sept. 8, two weeks prior to the start of the fall quarter. The deadline for UC Davis Health students and employees is Sept. 1.

“The policy requires, with few exceptions, that all students, faculty and staff be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus before they will be allowed on campus or in a facility or office,” UC Davis’ Campus Ready plan states.

“Students who are not compliant with the UC Vaccine Policy by Sept. 8 will be flagged to enter an escalation process beginning on Sept. 9,” Blouin said. “Employees who choose not to be vaccinated and no approved exemption, accommodation or deferral may face disciplinary actions, up to and including termination.”

More here: https://www.davisenterprise.com/news/local/82-of-ucd-students-vaccinated-as-deadline-nears/?utm_source=DE&utm_campaign=241caab602-Daily_Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_be64fee185-241caab602-171004309

If they like to get under the skin of their opponents, I hope we don't take the bait. The player that retaliates usually gets the flag.

Game notes are up: https://ucdavisaggies.com/documents/2021/8/30//FB_Notes_1_Tulsa.pdf?id=19615

The Pavilion has been renamed. It is now the University Credit Union Center.

DAVIS, Calif. - The University of California, Davis, has entered into a new, 10-year partnership with University Credit Union that will result in renaming and updating The Pavilion, funding student initiatives and increasing access to financial services on campus.

Originally prompted by the university's need to fund deferred maintenance of The Pavilion, the agreement has grown into a broader campuswide partnership with financial services and educational priorities that fit squarely within Aggie community values.

https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2021/4/6/athletics-uc-davis-and-university-credit-union-announce-new-partnership.aspx

I just subscribed to ESPN+ for $69.99 a year. They also have a deal going where you can get hulu, Disney+ and ESPN+ as a bundle for $13.99/month. That's a decent deal if you want those other 2 channels as well.

If Keelan gets cut again, I think he should consider the CFL where he could probably do very well. The downside is that he may make more money on the Raiders practice squad than as a full time, starting player in the CFL. However, getting to play the game he loves might be worth a bit of a pay cut. Heck, wouldn't it be great if Calgary picked him up and Maier was throwing to him again!

Jake ended up 30-39 for 307 yards and had one pass reception too. Calgary lost 18-16 on a Winnipeg FG with 38 seconds to go. Then Jake got his team down the field for a 52 yard FG attempt with 2 seconds to go but it was missed.

The announcers were falling all over themselves praising Jake. They said he takes control of his team and plays like he's been in the league for 8 years.

Jake: 16-16 and 168 yards in the first half.

13-9 Calgary with 3:10 to go in the half.

Jake is now 10-10 and the game tied at 6.

Jake starts off 5 for 5 in the first series.

The Aggies lost to #16 UCLA today 25-21, 24-26, 25-27 and 21-25. So two tough loses to Sac and UCLA. Both of these games could have gone either way but the Aggies couldn't take the close sets. I think this is a sign of a young team that is still learning to play together and how to finish. They'll get better as the season progresses.

The Aggies lost to the #6 Gators 25-21, 25-11, 25-18. Pretty good against the #6 team in the nation. The Aggies are a very young team and they have been led by 2 Freshmen so far: Olivia Utterback and Amara Aimufua. The team has 7 freshmen, 3 sophomores, and 3 juniors so the future is bright. The Ags play #17 UCLA Sunday in the Pavilion.

Could those games have been hotter that the first game played in Aggie Stadium where people were passing out and being carted away to the hospital? And to top it off, we got beat...God, what a awful game day the was!!

It's going to be a hot one in Tulsa next Thursday. 94 degrees for the high temperature with 41% humidity is the extended forecast. It should be slightly cooler at kickoff but it's still going to be sweltering.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/tulsa/74103/afternoon-weather-forecast/350144?day=7

It looks like I'll be ponying up for $6.99/month or 69.99/year for ESPN+.

Thanks for your service, 69aggie, I served also.

Hunter Rodriques on the CFPA preseason watch list:

DAVIS, Calif. -- UC Davis junior quarterback Hunter Rodrigues earned one of 44 spots on the College Football Performance Awards preseason watch list for its 2021 FCS National Performer of the Year Trophy, the organization announced Monday.

A human development major from Rocklin, California, Rodrigues took over the role as starting quarterback during the Aggies' shortened five-game season last spring. He completed 78 of 119 passes for 65.5 percent completion percentage, while totaling 931 yards and eight touchdown passes against four interceptions. Rodrigues ranked third in the Big Sky Conference with a 146.7 passer rating, and was bestowed with the team's Jerry Norris Award as the most valuable and inspirational player of the year.

Rodrigues is one of three Big Sky players on the CFPA watch list, along with Eastern Washington quarterback Eric Barriere and Weber State running back Josh Davis. The winner of the FCS National Performer of the Year will be announced on January 12, 2022.

https://ucdavisaggies.com/news/2021/8/23/football-rodrigues-makes-cfpa-preseason-watch-list.aspx