SEA is the best tackling and pass rushing Secondary team of all time, or at least that I have ever seen. Had to be in order to hold up and pressure the way they did in Dime. New England didn't have the Tight End depth to bang the Dime. The Rams ran more 13/12 pers than anyone and those were the Seahawks' worst games Defensively, although they found a way to win when it mattered most (thanks, McVay). First round 49er game might have been different with Kittle and a healthy TE room. You look at the recent Aggie recruiting class and there is a smallish LB and some good tackling DBs from the few clips I've watched. You're right and we will see more Dime/Nickel than traditional Defensive packages. We need to do a better job with downhill run teams.

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

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.

No arguments here. Illinois State ran it up our tailpipe. Massive issue. URI popped a long one on us for 63 of the 172 yards rushing, which, I know you can't discount, but if I recall the play, we blitzed and they hit it perfectly. Regardless, no excuse, but not really concerning. Sac State was a massive issue. 65 rush attempts for net 335! I had never seen anything like that, and it wasn't exotic. Not sure if that one was scheme, available personnel, or, most likely, both. From the stands and a couple Mexican lagers into it, I vaguely remember not liking the way we were defending the edges until late in the game. If I recall, we hit a couple edge pressures/games and made adjustments down the stretch which won the game. In-game adjustments > opponent's offensive stats.

As for our scheme, it seems that we're playing with three Safeties on the field most of the time and only two LBs. That's modern football I guess, and I understand the need to match personnel and body types, but I think there is also a time and a place to take one of them off the field and add an LB. Maybe our Safety personnel was better than our next LBs up. I trust the DC to make that call and adjust accordingly. Stop the run, hit the QB, and take away the football. When we did that, we typically won football games and will do so in the future (so profound :rofl: ). The four we lost, the opponent probably went for 200+ on the ground.

This off-season will likely be spent addressing the run defense. I trust our DC, I think he is outstanding and a very sharp guy. He, along with that staff, will figure it out.

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.

"Seven years of college down the drain. Might as well have joined the f*&%ing Peace Corps." If only Bluto had been a USC Trojan/Montana Grizzly.

Agreed on all fronts with both of your last posts. While interns are great, what I am saying is to create positions with actual athletic department professionals. You're probably looking at $1-2m in salaries, benefits, etc. for 8-10 positions, but they would generate at least that after a year pretty easily, and more as it grows. What's the old saying, you have to spend money to make money.

SailorGabe, the wine side of it is really underutilized. There has to be some winery out there or mega corporation that owns a wine portfolio that would get involved. Easy marketing and promotion. Plus the craft beer side of things, plenty of breweries around. Cal Poly added an 805 area to their north end zone, we can go bigger and better.

Aggie merchandise in general sucks. All bookstores suck, and they probably have the rights in the stadium. Until that is improved, until Adidas provides better offerings, and until they produce gear that people actually want, it is going to remain sucky. The college bookstore racket is real.

A tomato fight after the game would be outstanding. A BBQ pit would be outstanding. A concert area would be a nice touch. I've actually seen a high school in SoCal with a similar set up; tailgating area with a stage and a DJ, couldn't believe it. Student bands were up there shredding, fun atmosphere but no booze. Simple adjustment for a public university.

The Aggie Walk deal is a solid tradition but they come in really early. Not sure how you dress that up and get more people participating.

I've read about a former 4 Star, 30-something Linebacker currently residing in Missoula who might be interested

Hahaha! We need to find odds on him making it out of training camp in 2026.

"Fine" makes it sound better than it was. We trailed 42-17 with 4 or 5 minutes to go. Key team stats, and it was a team loss: ISU held the ball for 35 minutes, went 5 of 8 on 3rd Down, 1 for 1 on 4th down, 2 for 3 in the Red Zone. The Ags had the ball for 24 minutes, 6 of 11 on 3rd Down (good), 0 for 2 on 4th down, 4 of 7 in the Red Zone. Efficiency and executing situational football matter more than individual stats, which are very misleading. Especially when you're down big late in the 4th Quarter and the opponent is sitting back in coverage.

Missing two more starting Defensive Linemen did hurt the cause, injuries and sickness, but teams that advance to Nashville are all dealing with the same issues in December.

There were certainly bright spots (zero sacks allowed), but in the playoffs, there are no moral victories. You play the players you have available and fight to the death. That's football. They were better than us that day in all phases, on to the next.

Here we go! Nice job Akiltopmack99 of providing some tangibles. I think this is a great starting point. Dealing with the City might be an issue, but we can at least continue improvements on the water tower (it was nice this season but nothing too spectacular). With some of the technology I've seen on TV games and by visiting other stadiums, they can turn that tower into a disco ball, they can turn it into a football, they can basically show highlights on it. Let's juice that thing up!

Over the past months since I've joined this board, I've heard that we already have a small support staff that works hard and is responsible for everything from fundraising to game experience. I've read that everything costs money. I've read that we need to join the Mountain West yesterday and take on the SJSUs and Nevadas of the world. Well, if we are growing the program, I will assert once again that we need to grow the Department and support staff infrastructure. A few, hard working staffers is the D2/small FCS model. Let's act like where we're going. Hire a small team to spearhead nothing but the 1000 at $1000 campaign. Give them an end date, pay them right, give them an operations budget, and get it done. Create a game experience team, and all they do is sell advertising inside the stadium, run promotions, and focus on the experience. I'd hire Akiltopmack99 as part of that crew. Let Rocco and Flush and Plough handle major donors and corporate partnerships with a small team. Have a special event steam. This is no knock on the people doing the yeoman's work right now, but there are not enough of them! Expand and create positions and teams and act like an FBS program.

Final recommendation: a culinary team responsible for in-stadium vendors and concessions, maybe handle the catering for the new suites and seats, and, wait for it, THE BEER and WINE GARDEN! I'm not just talking about a small patch above the home side 30 yard line. A freaking real-deal beer and wine garden. Exhibit A, once again, is Colorado State's New Belgium Porch. I've been there, I've experienced it, and it is the best investment into the stadium that UC Davis can make.

Thanks for the perspective. I've only been on the bandwagon for 25 years and that's from a distance. I honestly don't have a great understanding of what drives the Aggie alumni base since I ain't one. I've just looked at a lot of college football, seen a lot of programs drop the sport and others make a go of it way over their skies only to get stuck in football purgatory, hoping at best for that bid to the Toilet Bowl sponsored by Ajax. Personally, I like the concept of playoffs and to be a part of those every year at the D1 level took a lot of work by UCD. They've gone from hoping to get in to expecting to get in. Plenty of teams would kill for that. I support a move to the MWC if and when our facilities are ready and the program (players and coaches, support staff, operations budget) is funded at a level to be competitive in the MWC. We don't need to be Cal or Fresno St., but we need to be on par with UNLV, New Mexico, and even North Dakota State before it makes any sense to move-up to me.

Illinois State came down to those missed opportunities in the red zone and an inability to stop the Inside Zone run and big plays by the Defense. While the Defense has plenty of blame to go around (invisible Linebacker play, timely busts in coverage), there was plenty of in-game blame to go around:

Aggies fake a FG attempt from the +13 yard line trailing 14-10 with 5 minutes to go in the 1Q and come up way short. This play is followed by a 90+ yard TD pass to extend it to 21-10, we survive and get it back, and first quarter ends 21-17. Easily could have been 14-13 after 1st if we kick and both sides hold. Or 21-20 more likely given the way the defenses were both playing.

2nd quarter begins with a failed 4th down attempt from the +3. No points on the board, left them on the field. The two teams trade FG attempts (we block theirs and miss ours) to go to the half 21-17. Again, we should have been up by this point in time if you include the 1st Quarter decision and the missed scoring opportunity from the +3. Being down probably led to the decision to go for it.

ISU scores on opening drive of the 3Q and lead 28-17. We strike quickly with a long pass down to the 20 YL where the ball is fumbled and recovered by ISU. ISU subsequent drive and score, Ags now trail 35-17.

We trade punts, drive deep to the ISU +2 YL, and have a pass intercepted in the end zone. Another long drive and ISU TD, 42-17 Red Birds.

We all know how it ends (42-31 bad guys). But how's this for missed opportunities:

Fake FG from the +13
Turnover on downs from the +3
Missed 51 yard FG
Fumble on the +20
INT on the +2 YL

I will be the first guy to say we didn't play well enough to win from the Defensive perspective, but don't be fooled by late game stats and 42-31. Football is a team sport. Come on Spring Ball!

Was the game a regional, ESPN game, or was it broadcast in the Sac Metro and Bay Areas? I am all about reviving that rivalry at the earliest date possible. It's just not going to happen for a couple seasons so we'll have to make the best out of the semi-rivalry to the south.

I highly doubt UCD got paid a cent by the MWC or by NDSU for passing on the first shot at moving up.

Tuliaupupu: Seven seasons at USC, heading into his 9th total/2nd at Montana. The logic behind this ruling tells me the Connors bros. are screwed with a legitimate hardship. This guy apparently has received at least four, possibly five, medical redshirt seasons at USC alone and a mystery season followed by a victorious appeal in Missoula:

USC
2018 Medical redshirt
2019 Re-injured in fall camp, another medical
2020 Knee injury prior to fall camp, another medical
2021 Listed as REDSHIRT JUNIOR by USC, did not see the field but survived the season
2022 Appeared in all 14 games for USC, Special Teams player
2023 Injured in training camp, another medical?
2024 End of bio at USC. Here's what they said heading into camp: "Tuliaupupu, whose USC career has been slowed by foot and knee injuries, will look to compete for playing time on the defensive line as a redshirt senior in 2024."

MONTANA
2025 Here's his pre-season Griz bio: "Transferred to Montana after playing 21 career games at USC with 22 total tackles (13 solo), 4 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery in two seasons of action for the Trojans… Will join the program in time for summer workouts with one season of eligibility remaining"

Good run of bad luck for Tuliaupupu, but no idea why the NCAA perpetuates these careers like that.

I'm with you 100% on the necessity of a statement from the admin. I see where you're coming from; perhaps the statement could include verbiage that we are focused on a national championship, building it to a national championship level, using the words NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP as the rallying cry.

From your perspective, what would fire-up the donor base more: jumping from today right into FBS, or talk of staying the course, focusing on the present, and a drive towards an FCS national championship?

Understood on Cal Poly not being Sac State, but it is one of Plough's pillar goals every year and I think the people in the building (players, coaches) look at it as a rivalry. As I stated many posts ago, I think the old trophy is buried somewhere in the depths of Cal Poly's existing, pile of crap football dumpster and someone needs to come clean and get that thing back. A BIGGER trophy may create more hatred towards them (joke).

I do disagree, however, on staying put in FCS for a little longer hurting the Aggie Ascent drive. Ascending with a plan > ascending unprepared. Plenty of improvements to be made at the stadium to bring it closer to FBS-ready, plenty of money to be spent to get to a consistent national championship contender (spend it on players, feeding them, summer housing/school, recruiting budgets, etc.). We're probably more prepared than Sac to make the jump today (minus all their newfound money), but not nearly as prepared as NDSU. That will be a decent barometer for us.

Absolutely. Plus the Griz are in transition. The door is open...

Be where our feet are... the allure of "FBS" and "playing more recognizable teams" is not what it's cracked up to be. A bunch of 5- and 6-win seasons (at best) and possible playing in some crap bowl game in a stadium filled 1/3 to capacity will get old in a hurry. People will blame the coach. You know where it goes from there. Then we're back on here crying for the "good old days" of losing in the Quarters with a team ranked in the Top 10 every year. Let's take care of our business, save some money, build a monster, and enjoy the ride.

Sac State was 7-5 or something this year with a much more talented roster than what they have today. Sure, we sell out the Causeway game and it's fun to whip their ass and take that ugly trophy, but they are toxic. The team to the south and the little horseshoe trophy now moves to game 12 and we'll sell that one out. We do not need Sac State.

Late breaking word on the street is that the NDSU to MWC deal for 2026 us done…

IF that is true, along with Bobby H. retiring and the changes at MSU Boze-Angeles are opening the door for the Aggies to be a very serious title contender next season. Money talks, suckers walk.

As far as the future NDSU-UC Davis football contracts, tear em up with the move. Maybe a small buyout at best.