Aug. 11, 2004
DAVIS, Calif. - UC Davis coach Bob Biggs and his staff welcomed 90 players to the opening of football practice on Wednesday as the Aggies began preparations for the 2004 season which starts on Sept. 4 against South Dakota State at Toomey Field.
Players began Wednesday with agility and testing drills and will continue conditioning before practicing in full pads for the first time on Sunday. The team will practice most mornings during the preseason with some double-day practices scheduled as well.
The Aggies are coming off a 6-4 season in 2003, marking their 34th consecutive winning campaign. UC Davis begins competition this season in the newly formed Great West Football Conference with the matchup against South Dakota State serving as one of two openers for the GWFC.
"It's great to get the kids out and feel their enthusiasm and energy," said Biggs, who enters his 12th season needing just four wins for 100 in his Aggie career. "I think we, as coaches, feel the same way. It's alway great to be out there the first day."
Biggs enters with a 96-34-1 overall record and leads UC Davis into its second of four years of reclassification from NCAA Division II to I-AA status.
Besides South Dakota State, the 2004 home schedule features the 51st annual Causeway Classic against Sacramento State on Sept. 25, a Homecoming matchup against Stephen F. Austin on Oct. 16 and a conference showdown with North Dakota State on Nov. 13.
UC Davis will have nonconference road games against Big Sky Conference members Weber State on Sept. 18 and Portland State on Nov. 20, and Division II member Western Oregon on Oct. 9. The Aggies will play GWFC road matchups against Northern Colorado on Oct. 2, Southern Utah on Oct. 23 and Cal Poly on Oct. 30.
Biggs said just getting back on the field leads to excitement for the season.
"So many times the (coach's) job is not football-related," he said. "It's all the other little details you have to take care of. But when you're out on the field and working with the players, they want to get better and you're trying to help them get better; that's when it's fun." UC Davis returns 48 letterwinners and 15 starters for the 2004 season.
