UC Davis: Big Sky Opener

[SWSiouxMN]

Time to turn the page to conference season. Lets get back on track and start 1-0 in conference play.

[Nodak78]

UC Davis. Lost to @‌Nevada, South Dakota at home, and sat @‌Hawaii.   they won't have much practice before Saturdays game. Let's put them away early and increase our record to 3-1 (1-0).

 

[ClassB]

Loss to USD was 27-17.

[ClassB]

With Week 1 and Week 3 out of the way, hopefully we can regain whatever focus our O Line had before week 1 and we can get back to business.

[homer]

Looking forward to Saturday and getting win #3. Time to shake up the offense and kick start things.

With how the Big Sky is looking, 6 wins isn't out of the question and it starts Saturday. With how our offense has looked, 8 more losses isn't out of the question either. 

[nodakhoops]

Tough loss In Fargo but we are still 2-1 and the real season starts this weekend. Big Sky is wide open. There is not a team left we can't beat and not a team left that can't' beat us. they can get to 3-1 with a win on Saturday and the easiest way to make people forget about NDSU is to go out make some noise in the conference and get into the playoffs. this team can go 5-3 in conference, but they could also go 3-5. Need to show up each week. Starts Saturday.

[geaux_sioux]

Here are the highlights from Hawaii. Can't tell much of anything from them but here they are.

[geaux_sioux]

Couldn't find the Davis highlights against USD but the Yotes ran on them pretty good.

[UNDColorado]

On to Davis. We are 2-1 when most expected us to be 1-2 at this point. Time to get some kinks worked out and show some dominance in the running game. It would be nice to take a 3-1 record out to PSU in two weeks. 

[UND-FB-FAN]

Tough loss In Fargo but we are still 2-1 and the real season starts this weekend. Big Sky is wide open. There is not a team left we can't beat and not a team left that can't' beat us. they can get to 3-1 with a win on Saturday and the easiest way to make people forget about NDSU is to go out make some noise in the conference and get into the playoffs. this team can go 5-3 in conference, but they could also go 3-5. Need to show up each week. Starts Saturday.

Very true. Most Big Sky Conference teams would lose handily to NDSU in the Fargodome as well, and even with that thinking, its time to move on and start thinking about the Big Sky Conference season. UND has an excellent opportunity to start the season 3-1 and 1-0 in the Big Sky Conference; that's certainly a step in the right direction.

Everyone get out to the Alerus Center on Saturday and support the UND football squad; they deserve support as they still have the opporunity to accomplish their #1 goal this season: win the Big Sky Conference and receive an automatic bid into the FCS playoffs. 

[GoAgs72]

The Aggies played well in losing to Nevada-Reno and Hawaii. They played very poorly with no game plan and zero energy against South Dakota. I have very little confidence in this team right now - the quality of players is pretty good but the coaching staff is not up to par. Coach Gould even said he was "befuddled" - in fact twice (after both South Dakota and Hawaii). If the coach doesn't know what's happening who does? Right now, many of us are picking Northern Colorado as our only win. However, some individual players are top-notch so they may shine in any one game.

[geaux_sioux]

The Aggies played well in losing to Nevada-Reno and Hawaii. They played very poorly with no game plan and zero energy against South Dakota. I have very little confidence in this team right now - the quality of players is pretty good but the coaching staff is not up to par. Coach Gould even said he was "befuddled" - in fact twice (after both South Dakota and Hawaii). If the coach doesn't know what's happening who does? Right now, many of us are picking Northern Colorado as our only win. However, some individual players are top-notch so they may shine in any one game.

Feel free to give us a preview of your team, I've always loved playing against Davis since that classic playoff game in 2001.

[UNDColorado]

The Aggies played well in losing to Nevada-Reno and Hawaii. They played very poorly with no game plan and zero energy against South Dakota. I have very little confidence in this team right now - the quality of players is pretty good but the coaching staff is not up to par. Coach Gould even said he was "befuddled" - in fact twice (after both South Dakota and Hawaii). If the coach doesn't know what's happening who does? Right now, many of us are picking Northern Colorado as our only win. However, some individual players are top-notch so they may shine in any one game.

Thanks for the brief overview. One question I had in looking at your schedule was why 2 FBS games? Thanks!

[GoAgs72]

I will work on the overview. Two FBS games - must only be for money because we could have scheduled some FCS teams. Even other Big Sky teams as part of the non-conference schedule. Many of us question playing FBS if we ever want to get in the FCS playoffs.

[ND WINS!!!!]

WE should be able to get this one at HOME, right? - We need a good showing, in terms of attendance.

[UNDBIZ]

Tom Miller @tommillergf

From Bubba Schweigert presser: S Zach Arnell indeed done for the year with leg injury. WR Clive Georges still a few weeks from returning.

[darell1976]

Tom Miller @tommillergf

From Bubba Schweigert presser: S Zach Arnell indeed done for the year with leg injury. WR Clive Georges still a few weeks from returning.

Is it too late for a medical redshirt?

[geaux_sioux]

Is it too late for a medical redshirt?

I don't think so.

[UNDBIZ]

Is it too late for a medical redshirt?

http://www.athleticscholarships.net/2012/07/17/how-get-medical-redshirt.htm 

• The student-athlete must not have competed in more than 30% of the season or three contests, whichever is greater.

 

Not sure if he has a redshirt year to spare or not though.

[UND-1]

For all the score comparison lovers ....when looking at the Drake South Dakota score take into account that quarterback Andy Rice didn't play.  UND beat the livin hell out of him all game and he didn't even suit up the next week along with the starting offensive lineman that got knocked out of the game too.  To me they basically punted and got ready for Pioneer play.

UND was up 21-0 at half but started looking to next week or something.  Rushing O was bad though, yes.

[UNDBIZ]

For all the score comparison lovers ....when looking at the Drake South Dakota score take into account that quarterback Andy Rice didn't play.  UND beat the livin hell out of him all game and he didn't even suit up the next week along with the starting offensive lineman that got knocked out of the game too.  To me they basically punted and got ready for Pioneer play.

UND was up 21-0 at half but started looking to next week or something.  Rushing O was bad though, yes.

So 2 of the 3 teams UND has faced, the starting QB didn't play the following week, and not due to any cheap shots......

[geaux_sioux]

I'm not worried about our d. Drakes QB took a couple of massive shots against us. He earned my respect, he's tough as hell.

[darell1976]

For all the score comparison lovers ....when looking at the Drake South Dakota score take into account that quarterback Andy Rice didn't play.  UND beat the livin hell out of him all game and he didn't even suit up the next week along with the starting offensive lineman that got knocked out of the game too.  To me they basically punted and got ready for Pioneer play.

UND was up 21-0 at half but started looking to next week or something.  Rushing O was bad though, yes.

Kinda like UND did against NDSU, punted and got ready for Big Sky play.

[GoAgs72]

Feel free to give us a preview of your team, I've always loved playing against Davis since that classic playoff game in 2001.

Offense: The offense is led by Junior QB Ben Scott who, for the season so far, has completed 63.6% of his passes for 705 yards (235 per game). He looked good in his two outings against FBS opponents (Nevada-Reno and Hawaii) but struggled against South Dakota, where he threw all 3 of his interceptions. He performed very well when he took over half way through last season and Aggie fans are excited about his development. Since the departure of star RB Gabe Manzanares, the position has switched to a committee format. Our lead back is Jumior Manusamoa Luuga who is averaging 3.2 per carry, but only averages 51.7 yards per game. Luuga is also prominent in the receiving game. Our other main RB that is getting playing time is Freshman Josh Kelley. He is looking very promising as a future featured RB. He's averaging near 5 yards per carry and has had several impressive runs so far this season. We have a couple of receivers that have the ability to be nightmares for DBs, but they haven't been as consistent as Aggies fans would like. Our leading receiver right now is Junior Chris Martin who has posted back to back 100 yard games. He is a burner and has the ability to get separation down field for huge gains. Our other guy is Junior Ramon Vargas. Last season he took the field by storm mid season, posting several 100 yard games in the second half of the season. He hasn't been as productive this season so far, but he'll put some yards on you if coverage isn't there.

Defense: The defense doesn't really have any superstars to speak of, but they are looking to improve. Our leading tackler right now is Junior LB Russell Reeder. Freshman Safety Ryan Parenteau has broken into the lineup and got his first start of the season against Hawaii, where he had 6 tackles and a forced fumble. We have been able to force 5 sacks in 3 games led by Senior DT Kyle DeVaughn with 2. We seem to be struggling overall with forcing turnovers as we have only been able to get 1 interception and recover 2 fumbles. Our most glaring weakness right now is our ability to stop the run, opponents are averaging 222.7 yards per game against us. One of our up and coming CBs, Sophomore Isiah Olave, was injured pretty badly against Hawaii.

Special Teams: Our special teamers have been doing a pretty decent job so far this year. Our FG kicker is Senior Brady Stuart. Last year he was absolutely abysmal, bad enough to the point where we just started going for it on 4th downs instead of even attempting kicks. So far this year, he is 100%, making 4/4 kicks but he has not really been tested with crazy long kicks. Our guy handling kick offs is Junior Eric Kreitz who is averaging about 62 yards a boot. Our Punter is Junior Colby Wadman who has been handling the position ever since star Colton Schmidt (now with the Buffalo Bills) graduated. He can really boom them if necessary; his long is right around the 60 yard mark, but his touch is also top notch. We don't really have anything much of a punt return game, but we do decently well in kick returns which is headed by the aforementioned Freshman RB Josh Kelley and Junior CB Nate Walker.

Here's to a good game Saturday!

[GoAgs72]

I don't think this will be a blow-out in either direction. Massey rates North Dakota as 45 and the Aggies as 67 with a predicted score of UND 27, UC Davis 24. Sagarin ranks UND at 186 and UC Davis at 173. Both teams need a win and UND was one of our must wins for even a half-way decent season but then so was South Dakota and we blew that one.