Since 1970, to be exact. With quarterbacks like Kevin Daft, current 49ers starter J.T. O'Sullivan and current Aggies coach Bob Biggs calling signals, UC Davis had a winning record for 37 straight seasons.
Last year the streak ended with a 5-6 campaign - the Aggies' first sub-.500 mark since 1969, which is just before the time Biggs started taking snaps.
It showed in a defense that surrendered 416 yards per game, and on an offense that committed nine more turnovers than the opposition.
Out of the ashes rises a team that is, OK, the Aggies are 1-2, but with a convincing 38-24 win over Portland State last week. The Vikings may be rebuilding, but 588 yards of offense is impressive, and the Aggies have a tough schedule that includes Montana on Saturday at 1:05 p.m.
They began with a 13-10 loss at Bowl Subdivision program San Jose State - which threw an 18-yard TD pass on fourth-and-13, with eight seconds left - and then a 24-21 loss at No. 18 Central Arkansas.
The passing game caught fire in Arkansas, with sophomore Greg Denham - he sat out the San Jose State game with a sore knee - throwing for three touchdowns.
The running attack, led by 220-pound sophomore Joe Trombetta, complemented Denhem's 361 yards against Portland State with 227 yards. It was the Aggies' first time over 200 rushing yards in 48 games.
“I like our team. I like the chemistry,” says Biggs. “I like how they play hard for 60 minutes. If the kids keep playing hard and believe in each other, you've got a chance.”
UC Davis might have its best team since jumping into the Great West Conference and the FCS in 2004. The Aggies have gone 6-4, 6-5, 6-5 and 5-6 since the bump, with a total league mark of 10-9.
“We love it,” said Biggs, who was an assistant in 1982 when the Aggies lost in the Division II title game, and as head coach guided them to DII semifinal berths in 1996-97 and 2000-01. “It's been a fun transition, actually. For so long, we were an independent program having to go a long way to find a game.
“Not that we're not traveling a lot right now, but I just think some familiarity with the fans and the teams that we're playing - it makes it just more interesting.”
UC Davis' large enrollment possibly belies the fact that it's a strong academic institution.
“Davis is one of the top public schools in the country,” said linebacker Tyler Pringle, a senior co-captain. “The average freshman enrollee carries, I think, a 3.94 (grade-point average). Way up there.”
There's science and engineering as well as a “really strong social sciences department,” said Pringle, whose major is communications.
Yet he hadn't thought a whole lot about being an Aggie while running for 1,800 yards as a 205-pound tailback at Mira Costa High in Manhattan Beach. He figured he was heading for a junior college, but Davis asked him to walk on.
“I've been starting since my sophomore year,” said Pringle, now a 222-pounder playing strong side backer. “I hadn't considered really going there, but one thing that attracted me is I got the chance to stay in California.
“Things worked out pretty well.”
Davis is now FCS playoff-eligible, but needs to resurrect that winning tradition. Biggs may have the goods, including receivers Brandon Rice, a senior, and juniors Chris Carter and Bakari Grant. Grant and Rice are 6-foot-4; Carter is a 6-0 speedster who missed much of last year with injuries.
With them the Aggies' passing game has taken off. Senior guards Jonathan Compas and Mario Gonzalez have sparked a resurgent running game.
“On offense we returned everybody but our quarterback, and Greg Denham, from what I've seen, has done a tremendous job,” said Pringle. “I think we're a far better team than we were last year.”
The Aggies play a four-man front on defense that is assignment based. Biggs feels UM likes to zone-blitz more than his team; Pringle said the Davis philosophy is simple.
“Stop the run, and secondarily put pressure on the quarterback,” he said. “And if we put pressure on them, we should get some turnovers. Kind of a linear process of thought.”
Middle backer Mike Morales, a 230-pound junior, has drawn a line on 19 ball carriers in three games. Junior corner Jeremy Scott is second on the team with 18 tackles.
Biggs, a former CFL quarterback with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, may have another winner. He's built plenty of them in a job he never figured he'd even try.
“I thought I was smarter than that,” said the coach, who when he returned to Davis in 1978 coached the Aggies' freshman along with current Oregon coach Mike Belotti. “It's funny how life twists and turns. As it turns out, it's been a wonderful experience.”
Up Next: UC Davis at Montana
Saturday, 1:05 p.m. (MST)
Washington-Grizzly Stadium
(25,205, Sprinturf)
The Aggies, coming off their first losing season in 38 years, are looking to climb back to .500 in 2008 on the road, as the No. 4 Grizzlies' homecoming opponent.
Location: Davis, Calif. Enrollment: 30,685.
Series history: Montana leads 2-0.
Man in charge: Bob Biggs (UC Davis, 1973) is 120-56-1 in his 16th season at Davis.
Ones to watch:
1 Chris Carter (6-0, 195, jr., Danville, Calif.): Limited to three games in 2007, Carter is back to his old form - he was the Great West Conference Rookie of the Year in 2006 - with a team-high 20 catches.
12 Greg Denham (6-2, 199, so., Auburn, Calif.): A knee injury sidelined him for the opener, but since then the quarterback has thrown 86 passes, completing 56 for 657 yards and four touchdowns in two games.
99 John Faletoese (6-3, 292, sr., Carmichael, Calif.): An all-Great West player as a freshman and sophomore, Faletoese is back at full strength after an injury-marred 2007. He has 31 career tackles for loss.
To listen to this week's press conference of Big Sky Conference football coaches,
click here.
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